Ralph Kiner Biography

Ralph Kiner, born October 27, 1922, was an American professional baseball left fielder in Major League Baseball and later a broadcaster, passing away on February 6, 2014. Kiner played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians from 1946 through 1955. After retiring, he served as general manager of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres from 1956 through 1960. In 1947, Kiner led the major leagues with 51 home runs while striking out fewer than 100 times, following instruction from Greenberg. Kiner later used 'Kiner's Korner' as the title of his post-game TV show in New York. The 1948 season was the only time Kiner had a winning season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1952, Kiner hit 37 home runs, marking the seventh consecutive season he led the league in home runs.