Ralph Kiner | |
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![]() Kiner with the Pittsburgh Pirates, c. 1953 | |
Left fielder | |
Born: Santa Rita, New Mexico, U.S. | October 27, 1922|
Died: February 6, 2014 Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. | (aged 91)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 12, 1946, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 25, 1955, for the Cleveland Indians | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .279 |
Home runs | 369 |
Runs batted in | 1,015 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Member of the National | |
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Induction | 1975 |
Vote | 75.4% (13th ballot) |
Ralph McPherran Kiner (October 27, 1922 – February 6, 2014) was an American Major League Baseball player and broadcaster. An outfielder, Kiner played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians from 1946 through 1955.
Following his retirement, Kiner served from 1956 through 1960 as general manager of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres.[1] He also served as an announcer for the New York Mets from the team's inception until his death. Though injuries forced his retirement from active play after 10 seasons, Kiner led all of his National League contemporaries in home runs between 1946 and 1952. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.
After Kiner's death, baseball writer Marty Noble called him "one of baseball's genuine and most charming gentlemen."[2]