Ralph Kiner
| Birthdate | 10/27/1922 |
| Death Date | 2/6/2014 |
| Debut Year | 1946 |
| Year of Induction | 1975 |
| Teams | Cubs, Indians, Pirates |
| Position | Left Field |
The first National League player to twice hit 50 homers in a season, Ralph Kiner was baseball’s preeminent slugger during his ten-year MLB career.
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Ralph Kiner led the National League in homers in each of his first 7 seasons
Ralph Kiner led the National League in homers in each of his first 7 seasons
In his rookie season, Ralph Kiner hit more homers than any other National League player. It was no fluke.
In each of his first 7 big league seasons Kiner led the Senior Curicuit in long balls. Six of those seasons he led all of baseball.
Though he didn’t come up with it, one of the most famous quotes attributed to Kiner was, “Home run hitters drive Cadillacs and singles hitters drive Fords.”
His finest season came in 1949 when he posted career bests in homers (54), RBI (127), batting average (.310), and slugging percentage (.658). His 4th-place finish in MVP voting was the highest of the 7 seasons in which he received votes.
After leading the NL in homers his 7th and final time in 1952, Kiner was traded the next year on June 4, 1953. The ten-player deal included Pirates teammate Joe Garagiola. Kiner’s 35 homers that season placed 5th in the league while his 116 RBI put him 6th-best.
Kiner’s production slowed after that and a bad back forced him into retirement in 1955 at age 32. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975.
In the collection is an MLB Publicity Bureau questionnaire filled out entirely in Kiner’s hand and dated 16 days after his big league debut. No one could have predicted the greatness ahead for the slugger.
After his Hall of Fame playing career, Kiner stepped into the broadcast booth
After his Hall of Fame playing career, Kiner stepped into the broadcast booth
In 1961 Ralph Kiner began a 53-year broadcasting career. He was with the Mets their first season in 1962 and remained behind the mic until 2013 past his 91st birthday.
Kiner was known for his malapropos in the broadcasting booth, Kiner even called himself, “Ralph Korner” confusing his own last name for the name of his postgame show, “Kiner’s Korner”.
Click here for a 22-minute video clip of his miscues.
In page two of the Publicity Bureau questionnaire, Kiner reveals that he played only two full seasons of minor league baseball. The third season was cut short after only seven weeks when Kiner enlisted into the Navy. After missing the 1944 and 1945 seasons, Kiner was discharged in December, 1945 at the rank of ensign.
Four months later he was in the big leagues for good, homering him way to a Hall of Fame career.
Kiner hit a home run in a record three-consecutive All Star Games starting in 1949
Kiner hit a home run in a record three-consecutive All Star Games starting in 1949
Ralph Kiner slugged in All Star competition. In 15 career All Star at bats he had five hits and a .933 slugging percentage, thanks to home runs in a record three consecutive summers.
In 1949’s 11-7 AL win Kiner hit his first round-tripper against the Philadelphia Athletics Lou Brissie. It remains the tradition’s most important contest. Forever remembered as the first integrated All Star Game, the Brooklyn game featured the Indians Larry Doby and the Dodgers Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe.
The following year Kiner hit a 9th-inning home run to send the game into extra innings. His NL squad eventually pushed across a run in the 14th to win the 1950 tilt. Kiner’s 8th-inning blast in the 1951 Mid Summer Classic capped the Senior Circuit scoring in an 8-3 NL victory.
Shown here is a 14-karat gold wristwatch. Given to American League president William Harridge in Brooklyn on July 12, 1949, it commemorates the historic All Star Game. Harridge is largely responsible for the creation of annual exhibition in 1933.
