Ralph Kiner

Ralph McPherran Kiner
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: October 27, 1922 in Santa Rita, NM
Signed: 1941 by the Pittsburgh Pirates

 

Just in case you didn't know, Ralph Kiner led the league in home runs in his rookie year, and then for the next six years in a row after that as well. During his time in the big leagues, he was thought of as the man most likely to break Babe Ruth's records, until a bad back cut short his career at only ten seasons. He became a broadcaster for the expansion Mets in 1962, and still pays occasional visits to the broadcast booth over fifty years later. He is, of course, a member of Baseball's Hall of Fame. Pictured here is his card from the 1951 Berk Ross set; several more vintage Kiner cards are shown below.

  

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BATTING RECORD

YEAR CLUB      G   AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR  RBI   TB SB CS  SO   BB HBP SAC SF  OBP  SLG  AVG
1946 Pit NL  144  502  63  124  17  3  23   81  216  3  - 109   74   1   2  - .345 .430 .247
1947 Pit NL  152  565 118  177  23  4  51  127  361  1  -  81   98   2   1  - .417 .639 .313
1948 Pit NL  156  555 104  147  19  5  40  123  296  1  -  61  112   3   0  - .391 .533 .265
1949 Pit NL  152  549 116  170  19  5  54  127  361  6  -  61  117   1   0  - .432 .658 .310
1950 Pit NL  150  547 112  149  21  6  47  118  323  2  -  79  122   3   0  - .408 .590 .272
1951 Pit NL  151  531 124  164  31  6  42  109  333  2  1  57  137   2   0  - .452 .627 .309
1952 Pit NL  149  516  90  126  17  2  37   87  258  3  0  77  110   7   0  - .384 .500 .244
1953 2teams  158  562 100  157  20  3  35  116  288  2  1  88  100   3   1  - .391 .512 .279
1954 Chi NL  147  557  88  159  36  5  22   73  271  2  0  90   76   2   5  3 .371 .487 .285
1955 Cle AL  113  321  56   78  13  0  18   54  145  0  0  46   65   0   0  4 .367 .452 .243
CAREER TOTS 1472 5205 971 1451 216 39 369 1015 2852 22  2 749 1011  24   9  7 .398 .548 .279

 

BATTING RECORD

YEAR CLUB      G   AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR  RBI   TB SB CS  SO   BB HBP SAC SF  OBP  SLG  AVG
1953 Pit NL   41  148  27   40   6  1   7   29   69  1  0  21   25   2   0  - .383 .466 .270
1953 Chi NL  117  414  73  117  14  2  28   87  219  1  1  67   75   1   1  - .394 .529 .283

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This is a list of the Ralph Kiner cards that I already have in my collection. If you have any cards that are not listed here, and you are willing to donate or trade them, contact me at Rounding Third.

 

1949 Bowman

1952 Red Man

1952 Wheaties

1954 Bowman

1955 Bowman

 

1947 Tip-Top Bread reprint

1948 Bowman #3 reprint

1949 Bowman #29
1949 Bowman #29 reprint

1951 Berk Ross #3-1

1952 Red Man #NL12 (no tab)
1952 Wheaties (portrait)

1953 Bowman Color #80
Dover reprint of 1953 Bowman Color #80

1954 Bowman #45
1954 Red Heart Dog Food reprint

1955 Bowman #197

1975 TCMA All-Time Greats Postcards
1975 TCMA All-Time Greats Postcards (with Hank Greenberg)

1976 Shakey's Pizza Baseball's Immortals #151

1977 TCMA Renata Galasso #2
1977 Topps #437 (Turn Back the Clock)

1979 TCMA Baseball History Series #13

1980-88 Renata Galasso Baseball Immortals #151

1982 Cracker Jack #11
1982 Cramer Baseball Legends #81
1982 TCMA Baseball's Greatest Sluggers #5

1983 Donruss Hall of Fame Heroes #38
1983 Donruss Hall of Fame Heroes #38 (autographed)

1985 Circle K Collectors' Series #30
1985 Sports Design Doug West #36
1985 TCMA Home Run Champions

1986 TCMA All Time Pirates #5-PIR

1987 Hygrade Baseball's All-Time Greats

1988 Pacific Baseball Legends #9

1989 Susan Rini 1969 Mets Postcards #32

1990 CMC Super Stars Photos
1990 Pacific Baseball Legends #36
1990 Swell (CMC) Baseball Greats #80
1990 Swell (Impel) Baseball Greats #50

1991 Kellogg's Baseball Greats #15
1991 Topps Archives #191 (reprint of 1953 Topps)

1992 Action Packed All-Star Gallery #5
1992 Confex The Baseball Enquirer #14

1993 Amoco/Coca-Cola Action Packed The Ultimate All-Stars #5
1993 Ted Williams #76
1993 Ted Williams #127 (Greatest Hitters of All Time)

1995 Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque Postcards

1998 Donruss Signature Series Significant Signatures (autographed)

2000 Fleer Greats of the Game #56
2000 US Playing Card Company All-Century Team (four of hearts)

2001 Bowman Chrome Rookie Reprints #2 (reprint of 1948 Bowman #3)
2001 Bowman Heritage Reprint #1 (reprint of 1948 Bowman #3)
2001 Donruss Classics Legendary Lumberjacks #LL-17 (game-used bat)
2001 Fleer Greats of the Game #116
2001 Fleer Legacy Hit Kings (game-used bat)
2001 Topps Archives #243 (reprint of 1953 Topps #191)
2001 Topps Archives #370 (reprint of 1953 Topps #191)
2001 Topps Archives Reserve #40 (reprint of 1953 Topps #191)
2001 Upper Deck Hall of Famers #29

2002 Fleer Greats #94
2002 Fleer Mets 40th Anniversary All-Amazin' Team #17
2002 Upper Deck SP Legendary Cuts #61
2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic #37

2003 Fleer Flair Greats #4
2003 Fleer Rookies & Greats #73
2003 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic #69
2003 Upper Deck Vintage #150

2004 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites #31

2005 Upper Deck Classics #78
2005 Upper Deck Origins Old Judge Red #110 (41/99)
2005 Upper Deck Origins Promo #135
2005 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic #71

2007 Topps Distinguished Service #DS11

2012 Topps Archives Reprints #191 (reprint of 1953 Topps #191)
2012 Topps Gypsy Queen #227

Other Ralph Kiner memorabilia in my collection: 

oversize reprint of 1948 Leaf card from Los Angeles Metropolitan Museum display
1960s "Ralph Kiner Talks with the Amazin' Mets" record

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"I've been a TV broadcaster for the Mets since they began in '62. It's a wonderful way to extend a playing career. In fact, the main difference between being a player and a broadcaster is I don't have to keep in shape."

-- Ralph Kiner 1