Clemson Baseball Icon Doug Kingsmore Passes Away at 91

The Clemson baseball family is mourning the loss of one of the university’s most celebrated players with the death of Doug Kingsmore at 91 years old. Kingsmore passed away on Tuesday evening in his hometown of Greenville, South Carolina according to statements from his surviving relatives.

Standout Career Defined by Record-Setting Power

During his remarkable career at Clemson from 1951-1954, Doug Kingsmore established himself as one of the school’s earliest legends on the diamond. The standout outfielder served as co-captain on Clemson’s first ever ACC Championship winning team in 1954. That season he put on a dazzling display of power hitting prowess, launching 10 home runs to lead the conference.

Kingsmore’s 10 homers, including 8 in ACC play, were scored in just 89 at bats for a record-setting rate of one dinger every 8.9 ABs. He also paced the ACC in runs with 27 while racking up 37 RBIs thanks to his blistering batsmanship. His .371 average that year was equally gaudy, as Kingsmore stamped his name all over Clemson’s record books decades before power hitting became commonplace in collegiate baseball.

Multi-Sport High School Phenom

Hailing from Union, South Carolina, Kingsmore flashed phenomenal athletic talent across a range of sports well before arriving at Clemson. He earned a staggering 10 varsity letters in high school competing in baseball, basketball and football. This diversity of excellence on the playing field clearly translated into a multifaceted skillset as a Tiger student-athlete.

Though baseball ultimately proved to be his strongest sport, Kingsmore brought a well-rounded athleticism and competitive determination to everything he pursued on and off the field. This no doubt amplified his almost overnight success as a baseball slugger during an era dominated by pitching and small ball strategy.

Lasting Legacy on Program’s Profile

Kingsmore’s supercharged 1954 senior campaign put Clemson baseball squarely on the map while cementing his legacy on the program for decades to come. Not only did his unprecedented power numbers earn All-ACC honors, but he captained the school’s first ever ACC title winner in any sport.

That victory also clinched Clemson’s third berth in the NCAA postseason tournament. Simply put, Kingsmore’s success spearheaded a new era of national prominence for Tigers baseball as a regional powerhouse.

 Post-Collegiate Playing Days

Upon closing out his iconic career as a Clemson Tiger, Kingsmore signed a contract with the Baltimore Orioles in 1954. He went on to spend three years playing affiliated professional baseball across the Tri-State, Carolina and Texas Leagues. Though he did not ultimately crack an MLB roster, Doug Kingsmore maximized his talents on the diamond across college and the minors alike.

The Builder of Doug Kingsmore Stadium

Over six decades after his final Clemson at-bat in 1954, Kingsmore’s name took on added enduring influence at the school. To honor his contributions as an athlete and alumni supporter, Clemson named its new $12 million baseball stadium after him in 2002. Doug Kingsmore Stadium has since become hallowed ground where new generations of Tiger sluggers aim to follow in its namesake’s footsteps.

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