Thursday, February 13, 2014

In Memoriam: Ralph Kiner

By Pedro Hazel, Jr. OTSL Founding Partner/Executive Producer

"On The Sportslines" expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Ralph Kiner, slugger for the Pittsburgh Pirates and later Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.  He was also a member of the New York Mets television broadcasting team since their inception in 1962. 

Ralph Kiner was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.  He hit 369 home runs in his career, winning or sharing the National League homerun title in each of his first seven seasons in Pittsburgh.  He hit 50 or more homers twice in that period. 

Growing up watching Mets telecasts I remember hearing Kiner tell incredible stories about players he knew and hung around with; and looking forward to "Kiner's Korner" after the game, especially if the Mets won.  He had been a regular part of the Mets TV broadcasting team until several years ago when his health began to fade.  But even with his health isuses he was still able to do a few games a year.  He was a trooper.  

The last of the original Mets broadcasting triumvirate is gone.  Kiner, along with the other two original Met broadcasters,  Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy are now calling games together in heaven.   Ralph, you will be sorely missed. 

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