Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner

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. 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.

Quotes

• It's like watching Mario Andretti park a car.
  • On the frustration of watching a knuckleball pitcher; as quoted in "Quotebook," Los Angeles Times (May 22, 1984)

Misattributed

• It's going, going, going — to be caught.
  • Describing a fly ball hit by the Braves' Ken Oberkfell and caught by Mets left-fielder George Foster in the top of the fifth, Friday, July 19, 1985 at Shea Stadium; as quoted in "Major Networks Had Their Hands Full With Problems Sunday" by Dan Quinn in the Journal News (July 22, 1985)
    • Comment: This humorous variation on the standard premature home run call appears to have been coined on July 30, 1983, by The Albuquerque Tribune's Mike Hall, in "Batty Decision Could Keep Us Hanging 'til the Playoffs".

Quotes about

• He was a jewel. He loved the game of baseball. He loved to see it played correctly and smartly. He loved to talk baseball. He deeply understood the game, especially hitting.
  • Tom Seaver, in "Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner, long-time Mets broadcaster, dies," The Sporting News February 6, 2014