Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner
Ralph Kiner
	Kiner with the Pittsburgh Pirates c. 1953
	Left fielder
	Born: October 27, 1922; Santa Rita, New Mexico, U.S.
	Died: February 6, 2014 (aged 91); Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
	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
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Pittsburgh Pirates (1946–1953); Chicago Cubs (1953–1954); Cleveland Indians (1955);
Career highlights and awards
	6× All-Star (1948–1953); 7× NL home run leader (1946–1952); NL RBI leader (1949); Pittsburgh Pirates No. 4 retired; Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame; New York Mets Hall of Fame; New York Mets "microphone" honored;
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 professional baseball left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) and later a broadcaster. 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. 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 in seven straight seasons between 1946 and 1952, a feat never previously accomplished in Major League Baseball and not matched since. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975 on his 13th ballot.

After Kiner's death, baseball writer Marty Noble called him "one of baseball's genuine and most charming gentlemen."