RIP Ralph Kiner......

[MaineMule]

Really sad to hear this news. One of the greats on-and-off the field. :sad:

http://baseballhall.org/news/personality/kiner-cornered-market-home-runs

 

[MrMet]

Oh man, that is sad

 

[joey12508]

Always liked him. RIP

 

[jpruitt2]

Sad to hear.

This is still one of my favorite pickups ever. I won this Kiner auto'd Steiner 16x20 that was already framed and matted on ebay back in 2004 or 2005. With shipping it came to a whopping total of $11.50

 

[devin]

rip

 

[metallicalex777]

RIP Mr. Kiner :grouphug:

 

[JEA2880]

Great player, great announcer, even better human being. RIP.

As an aside, I have a few hundred Auto's that I bought in bulk a few years ago. If anyone wants one, let me know - not looking to take advantage of you given the news, just share the wealth with some fans.

 

[Austin]

Many fans tody don't realize how dominating Kiner was. He led the NL in home runs his first seven years in the majors!
Imagine that happening today. A rookie, like McGwire in '87, leads the league in homers. Then he does it every season for the next six years! His cards would go insane.

Kiner also only played ten years, but he was sixth all-time in homers when he retired. He was an amazing player.

He was also a great autograph signer through the mail until recent years when his health began to fail.

 

[Erich]

RIP. Sad day indeed, he was one of the good guys.

 

[MrMet]

Since some guys are showing off theirs, here are some of my best Kiners

 

[BigAppleJak]

What a frickin' man's man!
Home run leader, army vet, banged Liz Taylor!

 

[MGiuseffi]

I grew up in NY, and was a Yankees fan growing up... That said, I still watched a ton of mets games just in the 70s and 80s. Really enjoyed him as an announcer. Never got to see him play, but my dad and grandpa said he was a pure hitter. RIP to one of the greats.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[steve-a-reno]

Possibly the most under rated player of all time. RIP

 

[Austin]

What a frickin' man's man!
Home run leader, army vet, banged Liz Taylor!

Not quite.
Kiner escorted Taylor to a movie premiere and nightclub when Taylor was 17.
It was arranged at the request of singer Bing Crosby, a minority owner of the Pirates.
Kiner says it was an innocent night, not even a date, then he went home, where he still lived with his parents.
He married a tennis player about two years later.

 

[A_Pharis]

RIP, Mr. Kiner.

 

[A_Pharis]

#1 /1

I also have a signed bat and a cut. Sad to see anyone go, but I am glad I have some stuff to pass on to my son.

 

[MrMet]

SNY is doing a nice piece on him right now

 

[pootshwan]

I used to listen to him call Mets games. He lived a full life - 91 years old. R.I.P.

 

[JustinG08]

Got this one back from Mr. Kiner not too long ago, quite possibly the last autograph he ever signed. RIP Ralph

 

[MaineMule]

Many fans tody don't realize how dominating Kiner was. He led the NL in home runs his first seven years in the majors!
Imagine that happening today. A rookie, like McGwire in '87, leads the league in homers. Then he does it every season for the next six years! His cards would go insane.

Kiner also only played ten years, but he was sixth all-time in homers when he retired. He was an amazing player.

He was also a great autograph signer through the mail until recent years when his health began to fail.

Like with many others, imagine his numbers had he played longer-

......"A back injury forced his retirement at the age of 32, with 369 home runs, 1019 runs batted in and a .279 lifetime batting average"

This tells a lot about him- "He attended every Hall of Fame ceremony from the time he was inducted, until his death."

He was an announcer for the Mets the entirety of their existence as a franchise- 53 years- just amazing!

(these tid-bits I gathered on Wiki)