Ralph Kiner
Ralph Kiner | ||
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Runs batted in | 1,015 | |
Teams | ||
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Career highlights and awards | ||
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Member of the National | ||
Baseball Hall of Fame | ||
Induction | 1975 | |
Vote | 75.4% (13th ballot) |
Ralph McPherran Kiner (October 27, 1922 – February 6, 2014) was an American
Following his retirement, Kiner served from 1956 through 1960 as
After his death, Kiner was named "one of baseball's genuine and most charming gentlemen" by baseball writer Marty Noble.[2]
Early life
Kiner was born in
World War II Service
Kiner served as a U.S. Navy pilot during World War II.[3]
Kiner was inducted into the Navy during the spring of 1943. As a cadet, he attended St. Mary's Pre-Flight School in California and earned his pilot's wings and commission at Corpus Christi, Texas in December 1944. Kiner flew PBM Mariner flying boats on submarine patrols from Naval Air Station (NAS) Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, accumulating 1,200 flying hours. Kiner enlisted the day after Pearl Harbor.[4][5]
Playing career (1946–1955)
Kiner made his major league debut on April 12, 1946, with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished the season with 23 home runs, but 109 strikeouts. After the season, the Pirates convinced future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg not to retire. Greenberg gave Kiner hours of instruction,[6] and in 1947, Kiner led the major leagues with 51 home runs while striking out fewer than 100 times.[7] Many of Kiner's homers were hit into a shortened left-field and left-center-field porch at Forbes Field (originally built for Greenberg and known in the press as "Greenberg Gardens"); the porch was retained for Kiner and redubbed "Kiner's Korner".[8] Kiner would later use "Kiner's Korner" as the title of his post-game TV show in New York.[2]
In 1949, Kiner topped his 1947 total with 54 home runs, falling just two short of Hack Wilson's then-National League record. It was the highest total in the major leagues from 1939 to 1960, and the highest National League total from 1931 to 1997. It made Kiner the first National League player with two 50 plus home run seasons. Kiner also matched his peak of 127 RBIs. From 1947 to 1951, Kiner topped 40 home runs and 100 RBIs each season. Through 2011 he was one of seven major leaguers to have had at least four 30-HR, 100-RBI seasons in their first five years, along with Chuck Klein, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mark Teixeira, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Ryan Braun.[9][10]
Kiner's string of seasons leading the league in home runs reached seven in 1952, when he hit 37. This also was the last of a record six consecutive seasons in which he led Major League Baseball in home runs, all under the guidance of manager Billy Meyer and Pirate great Honus Wagner. He was selected to participate in the All-Star Game in six straight seasons, 1948 to 1953.[11]
The equally famous "Home run hitters drive
On June 4, 1953, Kiner was sent to the
Kiner played the rest of 1953 and all of 1954 with the Cubs, finishing his career with the
Broadcasting career (1961–2013)
Ralph Kiner was honored alongside the retired numbers of the New York Mets in 2014. |
In 1961, Kiner entered the broadcast booth for the
Kiner was known for his occasional
Despite a bout with Bell's palsy, which left him with slightly slurred speech,[18] Kiner continued broadcasting for 53 seasons.[19] Kiner's tenure with the Mets was the third-longest for an active broadcaster with a single team as of his final season. He is the third longest-tenured broadcaster in baseball history, trailing only Los Angeles Dodgers announcers Vin Scully (1950–2016) and Jaime Jarrín (1959–2022). His traditional home run call—"It is gone, goodbye," was a signature phrase in baseball.
As illness reduced his appearances, Kiner featured less frequently on
Personal life
Partly owing to the fact that Hollywood megastar Bing Crosby was part-owner of the Pirates, Kiner was often closely linked with celebrities such as Crosby's colleague Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra, but even more to publicized romances, dates, or photos with leading ladies, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Janet Leigh.[20] He was Taylor's date to the premiere of Twelve O'Clock High in 1949 and began dating Leigh when Angels in the Outfield was being filmed at Forbes Field.[1]
Kiner was married four times; his first spouse was 1950s tennis star Nancy Chaffee from 1951 to 1968. They had three children together: Michael, Scott, and Kathryn.[21][22]
Kiner was also married to Barbara (née George)[1] Kiner from 1969 to 1980, and to DiAnn Kiner from 1982 until her death in 2004.[23][24]
In his 80s, Kiner married, then divorced, Ann Benisch.[3]
He is the second cousin twice removed of MLB infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa.[25]
Death
Ralph Kiner died from natural causes in Rancho Mirage, California, on February 6, 2014, at the age of 91.[26] Upon his death, New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon said, "Ralph Kiner was one of the most beloved people in Mets history - an original Met and extraordinary gentleman."[27] At the time of his death, Kiner had been battling Bell's palsy, and the effects of a stroke that he had suffered a decade prior that forced him to reduce his broadcast schedule to a handful of games a season.[28]
On February 21, 2014, an online Twitter petition was started to rename Citi Field Sections 132–134 as 'Kiner's Korner', to commemorate the 52-year Mets career of Ralph Kiner.[29] As of March 29, 2014, the petition had over 5,000 followers.[30]
Legacy
Kiner was inducted into the
Kiner was elected to the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1984.[34]
The Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform number 4 on September 19, 1987.[35] He was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022 as part of the inaugural class.[36]
In 1999, The Sporting News placed Kiner at number 90 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Baseball Players".[37] That same year, he was one of the 100 finalists for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team that year.
The Mets honored him with an on-field ceremony on "Ralph Kiner Night" at Shea Stadium on Saturday, July 14, 2007. On that night, fans were given photos of Kiner. Franchise icon Tom Seaver gave a commemorative speech recalling Kiner's legacy. Other guests of note were Yogi Berra, Bob Feller, and broadcaster Ernie Harwell. To honor his tenure, the Mets announced that the home broadcast booth at future home Citi Field would be named for Kiner (the booth at Shea had previously been named for him in 2002).[38] As a present from the Mets, Kiner received a cruise of his choice.[39]
In 2013, the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award honored Kiner as one of 37 Baseball Hall of Fame members for his service in the United States Navy during World War II.[40]
In 2014, the Mets "retired" Kiner's broadcast microphone and added a logo featuring his name, dates and a vintage broadcast microphone to the left-field wall at Citi Field. They also wore patches with the logo for the season.[41] The logo was later moved from the wall to the stadium's top tier alongside the franchise's other non-player honorees.[42]
See also
- Major League Baseball titles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career OPS leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career on-base percentage leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career slugging percentage leaders
- List of Major League Baseball home run records
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
References
- ^ a b c Weber, Bruce. "Ralph Kiner, Slugger Who Became a Voice of the Mets, Dies at 91". The New York Times. February 6, 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d Noble, Marty (February 6, 2014). "Kiner, Hall of Fame slugger, broadcaster, dies at 91". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ a b c Corbett, Warren. "Ralph Kiner". Society for American Baseball Research.
- ^ Baseball’s World War II Aviators
- ^ Ralph Kiner was a pilot before a Pirate
- ISBN 978-0-8032-6475-5.
- ^ Baseball Digest, 1948, by Charles J. Doyle of the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph.
- ISBN 0-14-023422-5.
- ^ "Fascinating facts from Friday's games – MLB.com: News".
- ^ Ryan Howard Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com
- ^ Ralph Kiner Statistics. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.
- ^ Johnson, Vince. "Once Over Lightly". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 7, 1949. Retrieved December 2, 2018. "Once, while Kiner was trying futilely to place his hits, old Fritz Ostermueller came through with a sage observation. 'Ralph,' he said, 'the right-hand batters who hit to right field are driving Fords. The right-hand batters who hit over the fence in left are driving Cadillacs.' Kiner, by the way, is driving a Cadillac."
- ^ Kiner, Ralph; Peary, Danny. "BackTalk; The View From Kiner's Korner". The New York Times. April 4, 2004. Retrieved December 2, 2018. "Another quote that has been attributed to me is, 'Home-run hitters drive Cadillacs and singles hitters drive Fords.' That was actually first said by my Pirates teammate, pitcher Fritz Ostermueller."
- ^ "For it's 1, 2, 3 angels out at the old... ball... game!". www.amazon.com.
- ^ "Ralph Kiner traded to Cubs". Lodi News-Sentinel. June 4, 1953. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
- ^ a b c Kupper, Mike (February 6, 2014). "Ralph Kiner dies at 91; Hall of Fame slugger with Pittsburgh Pirates". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ Taaffe, William (May 20, 1985). "Legends of the Err Waves". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (March 12, 1999). "Kiner Signs A 2-Year Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
- ^ "Mets Broadcasters". MLB.com. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- ^ Perry, Dayn (August 24, 2013). "Photo of the Day: Ralph Kiner, ladies' man". CBSSports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ Madden, Bill. "Ralph Kiner, Mets broadcasting legend and Hall of Fame Pirates player, dead at 91". NY Daily News. NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ Perry, Dayn. "Photo of the Day: Ralph Kiner, ladies' man". CBS Sports.com. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (February 6, 2014). "Ralph Kiner, New York Mets Broadcaster, Dies at 91". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ Kohn, Bob. "Ex-Pirates great Ralph Kiner dies at 91". TribLIVE Sports. Trib Total Media, Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
- ^ "The secret is out: Disrespected Yankees shortstop is related to a Hall of Fame slugger (and beloved Mets legend)". NJ.com. April 6, 2022.
- ^ Madden, Bill (February 6, 2014). "Ralph Kiner, Mets broadcasting legend and Hall of Fame Pirates player, dead at 91". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ Axisa, Mike (February 6, 2014). "Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner passes away at 91". CBS Sports.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ Satriano, David (February 6, 2014). "Mets legend Ralph Kiner dead at 91". The New York Post. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ^ Post Staff Report (March 1, 2014). "Fan pushes Mets to create 'Korner' to honor late broadcaster". The New York Post. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ Met Kiner's Korner | Twitter. Twitter.com. Retrieved on March 29, 2014.
- ^ National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Famer detail Archived September 1, 2007, at archive.today. Baseballhalloffame.org (October 27, 1922). Retrieved on January 16, 2009.
- ^ "National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: The Hall of Famers - Search Results". www.baseballhalloffame.org. Archived from the original on August 11, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- ^ National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Fame Vote Totals. Baseballhalloffame.org. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.
- ^ Mets Hall of Fame | mets.com: History. Newyork.mets.mlb.com. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.
- ^ Pirates Retired Numbers | pirates.com: History. Pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com. Retrieved on January 16, 2009.
- ^ "Pirates induct 19 baseball legends into inaugural HOF class". MLB.com.
- ^ "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players: No. 90, Ralph Kiner". The Sporting News. April 26, 1999. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005.
- ^ "Mets will name new broadcast booth for Kiner". ESPN.com. July 15, 2007. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ Heyman, Brian (July 15, 2007). "Kiner honored before Mets game". The Journal News.
- ^ "WWII HOF Players". Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "Mets pay tribute to Kiner at Citi Field". MLB.com. March 31, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "New-Merical Placement at Citi Field | Metsmerized Online". July 21, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
Further reading
- Broadwater, Robert P. (2016). Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography. ISBN 978-0786498178.
- Kiner, Ralph; Peary, Danny (2004). Baseball Forever: Reflections on 60 Years in the Game. Triumph Books. ISBN 1572435976.
- Rosenman, Mark; Karpin, Howie (2016). Down on the Korner: Ralph Kiner and Kiner's Korner. Carrel Books. ISBN 978-1631440427.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Official website
- Ralph Kiner at the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Ralph Kiner at the SABR Baseball Biography Project
- Ralph Kiner at IMDb
- Ralph Kiner at Find a Grave