Steve Kemp – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Steve Kemp’s baseball career is really the story of a young star who showed tons of promise, but then ran into some brutal injuries that changed everything. The left-handed outfielder burst onto the major league scene in 1977 as the Detroit Tigers’ top draft pick. He quickly made a name for himself as one of baseball’s most hard-nosed, hustling players.

Kemp played 11 years in the majors, from 1977 to 1988. He racked up a .278 batting average, 130 home runs, and 634 RBIs while suiting up for five different teams. His best season was 1979, when he made the All-Star team and hit .318 with 26 homers and 105 RBIs for Detroit. But then, in 1983, he suffered a terrible eye injury, and later, shoulder issues that really changed his career.

He went from record-breaking days at USC to his final at-bats with the Texas Rangers. Kemp’s path through pro baseball shows both the thrill of reaching the top and just how fragile a sports career can be. Along the way, he dealt with contract drama, career-altering injuries, and, in the end, a lot of reflection about chasing childhood dreams in the big leagues.

Early Life And Amateur Achievements

Steve Kemp started his journey to Major League Baseball in California, where he became one of the top amateur players in the country. He had a standout college career at USC, winning multiple NCAA championships and earning All-American honors. That led to him being picked first overall in the 1976 MLB draft.

High School And College Baseball Success

Steve Kemp was born on August 7, 1954, in San Angelo, Texas. His family moved to California, where he went to Arcadia High School.

After high school, Kemp enrolled at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He played for legendary head coach Rod Dedeaux, who eventually made the Hall of Fame.

USC’s baseball program was absolutely loaded during Kemp’s time. The Trojans ran college baseball in the early ‘70s, thanks to a ton of talent and great coaching.

Kemp played with future MLB stars who later made their mark in the pros. His teammates included Fred Lynn, Roy Smalley, and Rich Dauer—all guys who went on to successful major league careers.

NCAA Championships And All-American Honors

The USC Trojans won five straight College World Series titles in the early 1970s. Kemp helped them win the last two, in 1973 and 1974.

Those back-to-back championships showed that Kemp could handle the pressure in big moments. Winning at the highest level of college baseball really set him up for pro ball.

Kemp earned All-American honors in 1975, which put him among the best college players in the country. That award highlighted just how good his bat and all-around game were.

His college success caught the attention of MLB scouts. Teams saw him as someone who could make an immediate impact in the big leagues.

MLB Draft Selection And Minor League Journey

The Detroit Tigers picked Kemp as the first overall pick in the January phase of the 1976 MLB draft. That pick showed just how much teams valued his talent.

Kemp didn’t spend long in the minors—just one season, actually. He developed so fast that the Tigers’ management and coaches took notice.

Detroit pushed Kemp quickly through their system because of his advanced hitting. The experience and maturity he gained in college helped him adjust to pro ball right away.

By 1977, Kemp was ready for the majors. The Tigers made him their starting left fielder, kicking off an MLB career that lasted over a decade.

Detroit Tigers Tenure

Steve Kemp spent five seasons with the Detroit Tigers, from 1977 to 1981, and established himself as one of their most productive left-handed hitters. He made the All-Star team in 1979. In the end, contract disputes led to his trade to the Chicago White Sox.

Major League Debut And Rookie Season

Kemp debuted in the majors on April 7, 1977, at age 22, after just one year in the minors. Manager Ralph Houk tried to keep the pressure off him by starting Willie Horton in left field on Opening Day.

Houk told Kemp he’d be the team’s left fielder that season but wanted to protect him from the stress of opening day. Kemp struggled at first, going just 2-for-30 in his early games.

“I loved Ralph Houk because he gave me a chance to relax and play,” Kemp said. “He told me that he was starting Willie Horton in left field on Opening Day, that he didn’t want me to play with the pressure of that game.”

A month later, Houk explained his thinking after the Tigers traded Horton. “He said, ‘We just traded Willie Horton and I wanted to take the pressure off of you,’” Kemp recalled.

Rise To Stardom And All-Star Recognition

Kemp peaked in 1979, his All-Star season. He hit .318 with 26 home runs and 105 RBIs—the best numbers of his career.

He became a key piece of the Tigers’ offense. Over his five years in Detroit, Kemp posted a .284 average with 89 home runs and 422 RBIs.

Fans knew him for his gritty playing style. He modeled his game after Pete Rose and earned a reputation as someone who hustled every play.

“Besides Carl Yastrzemski, my baseball hero as a kid was Pete Rose and I modeled my play after ‘Charlie Hustle,’” Kemp said. “If you only go to the plate four or five times a game, you can run hard each time.”

Key Relationships And Team Dynamics

Willie Horton mentored Kemp during his early years in Detroit. Even after Horton got traded, his influence stuck with Kemp.

“Willie was always so good to me,” Kemp reflected. “In spring training, he said, ‘What you get from this game you give back, never get too high or too low.’”

After Horton left, Mickey Stanley stepped in as a mentor. That relationship helped Kemp adjust to life in the majors.

He saw a lot of changes in Detroit’s management while he was there. Kemp watched as Les Moss got fired and Sparky Anderson took over, though he thought Moss didn’t get a fair shake.

“Let’s face it, Les got screwed,” Kemp said. “We were finally playing above .500 when he was fired and replaced by Sparky.”

Contract Negotiations And Salary Arbitration

Kemp’s relationship with Tigers GM Jim Campbell got rocky over contract issues. The tension started when Kemp first signed as the No. 1 pick in 1976.

Campbell came to Kemp’s house to negotiate, but Kemp wanted a major league deal. “I knew what No. 1 picks got paid and he didn’t want to pay me,” Kemp remembered.

Things got worse after Kemp won two straight salary arbitrations. The second one made him the highest-paid Tiger at the time, with a $600,000 salary.

Campbell didn’t hide his frustration over the arbitration results. “He told people that because of me, they would have to cut secretary salaries and raise ticket prices,” Kemp said.

With one year left before free agency, the Tigers traded Kemp to the Chicago White Sox for Chet Lemon after the 1981 season.

Trades And Transition Years

Detroit traded Steve Kemp to the Chicago White Sox for center fielder Chet Lemon in 1981. That move kicked off a series of team changes that defined the rest of his career.

Trade To Chicago White Sox

On November 27, 1981, Detroit sent Kemp to the White Sox for Chet Lemon. The trade happened just a year before Kemp would have hit free agency.

Kemp found out about the trade in a pretty odd way. “I found out about my trade to Chicago from Joe LaPointe of the Free Press,” Kemp said, mentioning the Detroit newspaper reporter who broke the news.

The timing mattered for both teams. Detroit wanted to boost their defense and speed in center field, while Chicago needed a proven power hitter in the outfield.

This deal was a huge shift for Kemp. He had to leave the team that drafted him and start fresh with a new organization.

Chet Lemon Trade Impact

The trade worked out better for Detroit in the long run. Chet Lemon became a big piece of the Tigers after the deal.

Lemon helped Detroit win the 1984 World Series, just three years after the trade. His defense and leadership proved invaluable to the Tigers’ championship squad.

This trade really shows how player moves can impact a team’s future. Kemp was a good hitter, but Lemon’s all-around skills fit Detroit’s needs more.

It became one of the more interesting trades of the early ‘80s. Teams have to weigh different skills and personalities when making these decisions.

Chicago Highlights And Challenges

Kemp played for the White Sox in 1982. His time in Chicago was short, but it marked a turning point in his career.

The White Sox were trying to build a contender during that stretch. They had some talented players and kept tweaking the roster with trades and free agents.

Kemp had to adapt to a new system and different coaches. Each team has its own way of doing things.

After Chicago, Kemp moved on to other teams. The White Sox were just one stop in the later years of his playing days before he retired in 1988.

New York Yankees And Pittsburgh Pirates

Steve Kemp’s stint with the Yankees marked a real downturn in his career, and he ended up getting traded to Pittsburgh, where injuries eventually finished his run in the majors. His struggles in New York and brief time with the Pirates closed out what had started as a very promising career.

Signing As A Free Agent

After just one year with the White Sox in 1982, Kemp hit free agency and signed with the New York Yankees. Playing for the Yankees was a big deal—a chance for Kemp to show his stuff on the game’s biggest stage.

The move brought high expectations. Kemp had already proven himself as a solid hitter in Detroit, making the All-Star team in 1979.

But New York was a tough place to play. Kemp’s numbers took a nosedive during his Yankees years, from 1983 to 1984. The pressure and constant media attention that come with wearing pinstripes seemed to get to him.

Injuries And Outfield Collision

Kemp’s time with the Yankees was rough, both at the plate and physically. His batting average fell to .241, a big drop from his Detroit days.

He dealt with several injuries that piled up and stuck with him. At the time, people didn’t fully realize how much those injuries would affect his game.

As the injuries mounted, Kemp’s power faded, and his overall production really suffered during those two years in New York.

Stint With The Pirates

After the 1984 season, the Yankees traded Kemp and Tim Foli to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates sent Dale Berra and Jay Buhner to New York for the two veterans.

Pittsburgh turned out to be Kemp’s last stop in the majors. He played just 105 games over two seasons (1985-1986) with the Pirates, and vision problems made things even tougher.

Pittsburgh Statistics (1985-1986):

• Games played: 105
• Home runs: 3
• Batting struggles continued

The vision issues made it hard for Kemp to track pitches. His power vanished—he managed just three home runs in two years.

After the 1986 season, the Pirates released Kemp. That move ended his National League stint and set up his eventual retirement from pro baseball.

Retirement And Post-Playing Career

Steve Kemp’s pro baseball career ended in 1988 after a short comeback with the Texas Rangers. After retiring, he stayed involved with baseball through Detroit Tigers fantasy camps and moved into business, all while keeping his home in California.

Final Major League Games In 1988

Kemp played his final game in Major League Baseball on May 24, 1988. He suited up for the Texas Rangers against the Toronto Blue Jays.

He was 33 years old then, not exactly young for a ballplayer.

The Rangers brought him back for 16 games in 1988. He tried to make it work after spending time in the minors with both San Diego and Texas organizations.

In his last big league game, Kemp went 0-for-1. No hits, no homers, no RBIs, no stolen bases—just a quiet end to an 11-year career.

Injuries with the Yankees really took their toll on him.

After that short run with Texas, Kemp didn’t hang it up right away. He played in 1989 with the St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

He actually hit .329 in 60 games for them, which is impressive, especially considering his vision problems.

Participation In Tigers Fantasy Camps

Kemp has stayed close to the Detroit Tigers by showing up regularly at their annual fantasy camps in Lakeland, Florida.

These camps give former players a chance to hang out with fans and swap stories about their baseball days.

He really seems to appreciate the Tigers and the fans—after all, he spent his best seasons in Detroit from 1977 to 1981. Fans there still talk about his gritty style and how hard he played.

At these camps, Kemp reconnects with old teammates and meets folks who remember his aggressive approach. A lot of people still come up to tell him how much they loved the way he played, and he takes pride in that.

Life And Work After Baseball

These days, Kemp is 65 and living in Corona Del Mar, California. He’s found a new path in business.

He works part-time in sales for Team Golf, a company that makes golf accessories.

Switching from pro baseball to business wasn’t easy, but Kemp managed to pull it off. The sales job gives him some flexibility, and he likes staying active.

Looking back, he feels good about his baseball career, even with all the injuries. He once said, “How many people can say that they did what they really wanted to do in life?”

He’s come to terms with how injuries changed his career. Only recently did he fully accept the way his shoulder and eye injuries limited what he could have done on the field.

Legacy And Impact

Steve Kemp made a real impact in MLB with his steady offense and leadership over eleven seasons. He put up strong numbers and helped younger teammates find their way.

Statistical Overview And Batting Performance

Kemp wrapped up his career with a .278 batting average in 1,168 games. That’s steady hitting by any measure.

He hit 130 home runs and drove in 634 runs from 1977 to 1988.

His best year? Definitely 1979 with Detroit. He batted .318, smashed 26 homers, and collected 105 RBIs. That season got him All-Star honors and the Tiger of the Year award from Detroit’s baseball writers.

Key Career Statistics:

• Games: 1,168
• Batting Average: .278
• Home Runs: 130
• RBI: 634
• On-base Percentage: .367
• Slugging Percentage: .431

He played solid defense, too, with a .982 fielding percentage in the outfield. Kemp also chipped in 39 stolen bases and drew 576 walks, showing he wasn’t just a power guy.

Influence On Teammates And Baseball Culture

Kemp led by example with his work ethic and professionalism across five teams.

He played for several managers, including Sparky Anderson in Detroit, and learned a lot about team chemistry along the way.

As a former first overall draft pick, Kemp mentored younger players throughout his career. His college days at USC—where he won two College World Series titles—gave him some extra credibility when he offered advice about handling pressure.

He bounced between American and National League teams, and younger players noticed how he adapted. Kemp’s ability to keep producing, no matter the team, set a standard for what it means to be a pro.

Recognition Within MLB History

Kemp became the first overall pick in the January 1976 draft, which really set him apart as a top prospect in baseball. He jumped straight to the majors after just one season in the minors, and honestly, that move justified his high draft spot.

His 1979 All-Star appearance stands out as the highlight of his MLB recognition. That year, he found himself competing alongside the American League’s best outfielders.

Kemp never played in a World Series, but he made a real impact on several playoff-contending teams. After retiring, he moved into financial services and started helping former players manage their money, so his influence kept going long after his playing days ended.