Baseball Hall Of Famer Ralph Kiner Dies At 91

Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner, a slugger who also enjoyed a half-century career as a popular broadcaster, died Thursday at age 91 at his home in Rancho Mirage with his family at his side.

Kiner hit 369 home runs during his impressive 10-year career, which mostly played out with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his debut in 1946 and instantly received the reputation as an avid home run hitter, either winning or tying for the National League lead in homers in each of his first 7 seasons.

When he retired, Kiner was sixth on the career home run list. Several years later, he joined the broadcast crew of the New York Mets for their expansion season in 1962, and for many including myself, my grandfather and my best friend, became a household name synonymous with our beloved Shea Stadium, which held a booth that was named in his honor.

When that dear friend, whom I regrettably have not seen in years, found out about the news, he sent the following in an email:

I just wanted to pass this along. That makes me really sad. We grew up with him. Some of my favorite memories from childhood are watching the Mets games at home with my grandmother or at your house with you and your grandfather and listening to Ralph call the games and watching Kiner’s Korner. Good times.

“Kiner’s Korner” served as a gathering time post-game for us, where our favorite stars would join Kiner for post-game talks. He provided a warm environment for the stars and their fans to get connect, joking as he once forgot his own name on air.

Unfortunately, Kiner had a stroke about 10-years ago, yet he remained an occasional part of the Mets game, appearing from time to time in announcements. He worked a handful of games last season, his 52th year of calling their games.

“As one of baseball’s most prolific power hitters for a decade, Ralph struck fear into the hearts of the best pitchers of baseball’s Golden Era despite his easygoing nature, disarming humility and movie-star smile,” Hall President Jeff Idelson said in a statement.

“His engaging personality and profound knowledge of the game turned him into a living room companion for millions of New York Mets fans who adored his game broadcasts and later `Kiner’s Korner’ for more than half a century,” he said. “He was as comfortable hanging out in Palm Springs with his friend Bob Hope as he was hitting in front of Hank Greenberg at Forbes Field.”

“Ralph Kiner was one of the most beloved people in Mets history — an original Met and extraordinary gentleman,” Mets chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon said in a statement. “After a Hall of Fame playing career, Ralph became a treasured broadcasting icon for more than half a century.  His knowledge of the game, wit, and charm entertained generations of Mets fans.  Like his stories, he was one of a kind.”