Enterprise Dispatch Blog

The West Central Christian Seniors will host Mike Kingery, a former professional baseball player, as the program for Tuesday, Aug. 19.
Kingery played professional baseball for 17 years.  He had stints with the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Oakland As, Colorado Rockies, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
During his career, he nearly won the National League batting title before the strike shortened the season in 1994 (he was batting .349 at the time).
He combined with Roberto Mejia to hit the first-ever back-to-back home runs at Coors Field.  He played alongside All-Star outfielders including Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey, Jr., Dante Bichette, and Larry Walker.
Kingery was born in St. James, Minn. in March, 1961.
Later that year his family moved to Atwater, Minn. Kingery was a highly decorated athlete when he graduated from Atwater High School in 1979, winning All-State awards in football, baseball, and track and field.  He was signed as a free agent out of high school by the Kansas City Royals.
He progressed through the Royals minor league system and eventually earned a starting spot in right field in 1986.  He was traded to the Seattle Mariners, where he played center field, only to give way to Ken Griffey, Jr.
Kingery married his wife, Chris, in 1982.  Chris and the growing Kingery family traveled with him through his baseball years. They settled in Minnesota after his retirement from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996.
The Kingery family now lives near Mike’s hometown of Atwater.  The two have been married for 25 years and have eight children, Rachel, Anna, Michelle, Rebekah, Elizabeth, Abigail, David, and Joshua, their ages range from 4 to 24 years.
In 1997, Kingery created Solid Foundation Baseball School, Inc.  It was in answer to strong demand from local baseball teams and players.  The mission of Solid Foundation Baseball School is to train and lead students to reach their full potential as baseball players, athletes, and personally.
Kingery is a well-received motivational speaker. Using his life experiences in baseball and the experience of raising a large family, he relates valuable insights and engages any audience with his good nature and humor.
Kingery became a Christian during the 1980 baseball season in Sarasota, Florida. He and his family sing and play music together and perform at churches and community events.
It has become the families’  ministry, and over the years, has branched out to include playing and singing at churches, music festivals, fairs, community events, funerals, dinners, benefits, business functions, coffee shops, weddings, nursing homes, and Christian groups.
People in the Cokato area can hear Mike and his family Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at the West Central Christian Seniors luncheon at the First Baptist Church from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Call Estelle Rokala at 320-286-6771 or Eleanor Partridge at 320-274-5460 for reservations. The luncheon cost is $7, and reservations are required before Saturday, Aug. 16.