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Ralph Kiner

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2014 01:18 PM

Passed away today, Internet says.

Ashie62 Feb 06 2014 01:21 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

[bigpurple:2xcmr1wa]NO![/bigpurple:2xcmr1wa]

G-Fafif Feb 06 2014 01:24 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Every season, Ralph -- whether a lot or just enough to remind you why you were glad he was never not part of the Mets. Which he shall always be. RIP.

Ashie62 Feb 06 2014 01:25 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Don't see any press release yet

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 01:27 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Baseball Hall of Fame says it's so, Joe. http://baseballhall.org/

themetfairy Feb 06 2014 01:28 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I feel like I've lost the last link to my grandfather, whom I recall fervently listening to games called by Ralph, Murph and Lindsey. RIP to a great player, a great broadcaster and a great man.

G-Fafif Feb 06 2014 01:31 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Mets statement on Twitter, here.

G-Fafif Feb 06 2014 01:32 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Noble on mets.com here.

Valadius Feb 06 2014 01:32 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Fred Wilpon wrote: Ralph Kiner was one of the most beloved people in Mets history -- an original Met and extraordinary gentleman. After a Hall of Fame playing career, Ralph became a treasured broadcasting icon for more than half a century. His knowledge of the game, wit, and charm entertained generations of Mets fans. Like his stories, he was one of a kind. We send our deepest condolences to Ralph’s five children and 12 grandchildren. Our sport and society today lost one of the all-time greats.

Ashie62 Feb 06 2014 01:34 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Bob Murphy...Lindsey Nelson & Ralph Kiner... wow

Ceetar Feb 06 2014 01:34 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

sad.

Zvon Feb 06 2014 01:39 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

awww crap. Wherever Ralph went he was a force to be reckoned with.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 01:41 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ralph's speech upon being inducted into the Hall of Fame. It's filled with stories that are fascinating and obscure and rich and textured, but often wonderfully elusive in point. In other words, it's totally Ralph Kiner. "Judy," I surmise, is Judy Johnson, inducted in the same year. Not quite sure who "John" is. Ralph was a great Hall of Famer. He was a great lot of things, just by being Ralph. Thank you, commissioner, and thank you out there. I know, Judy, you don’t make this too easy, you know. You’re a hard act to follow. I want to say something in rebuttal to John Carmichael, who was up here at the beginning of the program, and I resent the remarks that he said about Hank Sauer and me, I don’t deny them, I just resent them. But John, it’s not true that we shortened Baumholtz’s career three years, it really isn’t. I will tell you a true story. I just thought of it when John was up here. It happened, a lady was sitting next to a good friend of mine in the stands at Wrigley Field, and she was a Baumholtz fan. If you have ever been to Wrigley Field, any ball hit down the right field or left field foul line, there’s a gutter out in the outfield. And if it gets in that gutter it kind of bounces down. It doesn’t bounce off the wall, so it’s sometimes very difficult. It so happened that day I was playing left field and there were several balls hit down in the left field corner and they got in that gutter, and this gal kept saying, “Throw it to third, Ralphie, throw it to third.” Meaning it should have been a double, but I played it into a triple. So she was doing this throughout the game, and finally near the end of the game a fly ball went out to center field and she yelled, “Oh, Frankie will get it, Frankie will get it.” And then all of a sudden she said, “Oh my God, he dropped it.” Which he did. I want to thank, first of all, the sportswriters who were so kind to me throughout my career and did so much for me publicly-wise. And of course, I especially want to thank Jack Lang, who is the secretary of the sportswriters’ association. He’s the fellow that counted the votes. Going back to my early days, I have to mention a fellow by the name of Bob Boken, who is the man who got me started playing baseball. And his son was about four years older than I, and he used to pitch to his son across the street and I’d go out in the outfield and shag the balls. This went on for about a year and I finally got a chance to bat, and I realized what a great game this was. I also want to thank a fellow named Harry Johnson, who played minor league baseball. I went to school with his son and the two of us played high school ball together. And Harry Johnson used to haul us all around in the LA area taking us to play semi-pro ball games. I have to thank Dan Crowley, who was manager of a team I played for, which was the Yankee Juniors. I played three years for a New York team, for the New York Yankee team sponsored out in LA. Later on, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and signed up with Hollis Thurston, and the reason why Hollis signed me was, he said you could get to the major leagues a lot quicker with the Pittsburgh Pirates than you could with the New York Yankees. I also have to mention Specs Toporcer, who was my first minor league manager. He was a fellow that fined us five dollars if we ever got caught eating hot dogs. Maybe he was right. Burleigh Grimes, who was my second minor league manager. Burleigh, of course, is in the Hall of Fame up here. And one thing I remember more about Burleigh Grimes than anybody else is the fact that he had an individual set of signs for every ballplayer on the club. Now, that’s really difficult, not so much for the ballplayer, but for the manager to remember each set of signs. Later on, when I got to Pittsburgh, they had very simple signs. The hit sign was like this. The steal sign was like this. But he did teach me the nicer things about it. And then again, another great Hall of Famer, Frankie Frisch, who was my first major league manager. I also have to mention my mother and my father. My mother is 93 and living. I don’t know whether she’s 93 or 92. She lies about her age. She never believed I would make it to the major leagues. In fact, when I was a young kid I had to work for a living, going through the Depression years, going back there, and I had a magazine route and I delivered Liberty magazines and had to sell them door to door. They cost five cents apiece and I got a penny out of it. And I had to do this in the afternoons after school. But I wanted to be a baseball player and I figured if I could figure some way to get four times 20, or 80 cents, I could pay for the magazines and forget about the penny on the magazine I was going to make, and I could play baseball. So, I buried the magazines in the back yard and I went out and mowed lawns, two or three lawns on Saturday so I could get enough money to pay for the magazines. And this was very fine. It worked out perfectly until one day my mother found the magazines in the back yard and she sent me to military school. My father died when I was four, and he didn’t get a chance, of course, to really have any influence in my life. The only thing about heredity is the fact that he was such a bad ballplayer he couldn’t even play on the semi-pro teams in Santa Rita, New Mexico. But he was honest and they used to let him hold the money on the teams that they bet. So, that goes back there, I guess. But if you remember my major league career, I had the unfortunate experience of playing with some losing teams. To give you an example of what kind of team we had at Pittsburgh when I was playing there, Joe Garagiola was our catcher. We were playing the Brooklyn Dodgers one time in Ebbets Field and Roy Campanella was the catcher. We had a fellow named Dick Hall, “Turkey Neck” Hall, who later on became quite a pitcher with Pittsburgh. He was a third baseman. In fact, the first time he played third in his whole life was the opening day of the 1952 season. After the game was over and he had bobbled about five balls down there, in the clubhouse George Metkovich, who was a very close friend of mine, was dressing next to him, said to him as he was taking off his baseball shirt, he said, “What’s that thing pinned on your undershirt?” And he said, “That’s my fraternity pin.” And George said to him, he said, “If you don’t get that thing off of there it’s going to be pinned to you the rest of your life the way you play third.” But anyway, this one occasion he was on first base and the manager gave the sign to steal and Roy had the signs that we… the Pittsburgh signs. So he pitched out and the runner didn’t go. So now the sign was given again and again. Roy pitched out, and the runner didn’t go. So, three times he pitched out and three times the runner didn’t go. So after the inning was over, they brought Dick Hall into the a… “Turkey Neck” Hall, into the dugout and said, “Did you get the steal sign?” He said, “Yeah, I got the steal sign.” He said, “Why didn’t you go?” He said, “I didn’t think you meant it.” Remember that, Roy? Of course, playing with losing ball clubs has some drawbacks, there’s no doubt about it. In 1952, I hit 37 home runs and Branch Rickey wanted to cut me. In fact, he cut my salary 25 percent, the maximum cut. And I said, “But I hit 37 home runs, how can you cut me?” He said, “We could have finished last without you.” Well, I did get Stan Musial some extra money. I signed my contract one year, and I got a total of $90,000 to sign. We were drawing a lot of people in the ball park at that time. And Stan went to his owner and he said, “Look, I’m a better ballplayer than Kiner. I want more money than he got.” So, they gave him $91,000. About two weeks later they called him in and said, “Wait a minute, you are a better ball player than Kiner and we think you ought to be the first $100,000 ball player in the National League.” So he got $100,000. I’m still trying to get my ten percent. One of the incidents, I’m a little like you Billy, I can’t remember any real exciting moments as a ballplayer other than the fact that everyday play was always exciting. But one thing, one true thing, happened to me one time back in the early days with Pittsburgh. I got an extortion letter. I didn’t think I’d played left field that bad, but I got an extortion letter and it said you had to get so much money and put it in a certain place, and I’ll spare you the details. The whole story is like this: they said if I didn’t do this I’d be shot playing left field and it was on a Sunday, it was around the Fourth of July, and, of course, there were a lot of firecrackers going off, which didn’t help the situation any. And George Metkovich was the center fielder and the game started at one o’clock, and in those days they had a curfew of seven o’clock in Pennsylvania. And so the game got over, the doubleheader was over at seven, and we got inside and I sat down and George came up to me and he said, “You know, I’m really glad this day is over.” And I said, “George, that’s really nice of you to worry about me getting shot out there in left field.” He said, “Worry about you? Not you.” I said, “What do you mean?” He said “What’s your number?” I said, “My number’s 4.” “Well,” he said, “my number’s 44. What if that guy had double vision?” I hear in the background, what about Albany? I started playing baseball in Albany in 1941 and while I’m at it, I’d like to—that was the beginning of my career and I really enjoyed it. I played there two years, in 1941 and 1942. I’d like to introduce at this time my first real close friend in baseball and my roommate at Albany, Jimmy Cullinane. Jimmy, will you stand up for a minute, please. There he is, right here. Jimmy taught me how to drink beer. I have one other story that I’d like to tell you, and show you what baseball can do for you. You get to meet so many great people, and Bing Crosby was an owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he bought in the ball club in 1947 when Hank Greenberg joined Pittsburgh, and got involved with the situation over there when Billy Herman was our manager. And he said one time, I went out to see him - he was making a picture, and I went out to see him in Hollywood, and he said, “How would you like to go out with Elizabeth Taylor?” I didn’t take long to answer. And so it was arranged, and I went out with Elizabeth Taylor. I picked her up at her house and we went to see a premiere, in Hollywood, at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, with all the searchlights and the people in the bleachers, something like right here all around. We got there late. We were the last ones really to get in the theater and I drove up, left my car in front. And the attendant took the car and we went in and saw the picture and came out. And now, as we were coming out after the picture was over, of course, there was all this mass confusion and I heard this fellow with the P.A. system saying, “Mr. Cary Grant’s car, please.” A few minutes later, Mr. Grant’s car would come up and he’d get in with his date, or whoever he had, and go. “Mr. Gary Cooper’s car,” and this went on, so I went up and said, “Will you please page my car, my name is Ralph Kiner.” So, he paged the car and nothing happened. We were standing there, things are getting a little loose now, and I’m getting a little nervous. And I went up to him again and said, “Would you page Ralph Kiner’s car again?” And he did again, and again nothing happened, no car showed up. And now, we’re just about the last people there and it’s getting to be really embarrassing, and I went up one more time and I said, “Would you page my car, I’m Ralph Kiner.” “Yes, I know Mr. Kiner, I did page, but your chauffeur must have gone to sleep.” I said, “Chauffeur, I don’t have any chauffeur.” He said, “In that case your car is two blocks over there.” I would like to—really this is easy, I wrote it down. I would like to have you meet my wife, Barbara, who is here. Her mother, Mrs. Gladys Batchelder. My son, Mike, is not here. He is playing ball at Wausau. He’s in the professional baseball racket. He would love to have been here, but he, I thought so too, he’d better stick around so he could get in the lineup and get a chance to play. I have another son that’s in Alaska, and he couldn’t quite make it. He’s going to school up at the University of Alaska. My oldest daughter, Kasey. Casey Stengel always thought we name Kasey after him, but it really isn’t true, she spells her name with a “K.” My other, my second daughter, Tracie. My third daughter, Kim. Also, I’d like to have you meet my high school coach who came all the way from California for this occasion, Bob Purcell. Along with him, a fellow who has been a great fan of mine and really campaigned for me to get in the Hall of Fame, did so much work and I really appreciate all he did, John Crispins. I know that Mrs. Weiss, Hazel Weiss, has been introduced earlier. Hazel, I’m really happy to see you here. George Weiss, her husband, of course, gave me my first shot at the broadcasting of the New York Mets, which started me on another very happy career. Also, my friends from St. Petersburg who came up here all the way from St. Petersburg. And, of course, my friends from the Mets are here. And I’d like to introduce some close friends of mine, Mr. and Mrs. Al Dowd, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Berry. And the publisher of the St. Petersburg Times, very close friend of mine, Mr. and Mrs.— I forgot his name—Jack Lake. I do want you to know this is really a tremendous thrill for me and I really, it’s hard to put it in perspective. And I guess about the best analogy that I could think of would be the fact that it’s almost like, after years and years of hard work to become a doctor, say seven years or whatever it might take, you finally get a stamp of approval, an MD after your name. And the fact that I have HOF after my name really makes it all so wonderful and all so worthwhile. It’s a tremendous thrill and a tremendous honor, and I want to thank all of you who are here today and all of you who couldn’t make it, and it’s just a great pleasure. Thank you.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 06 2014 01:47 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

MFS62 Feb 06 2014 01:48 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

There will always be a Kiner's Corner in Heaven, and in our memories. RIP Later

metirish Feb 06 2014 01:50 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Gutted.... RIP Ralph. Loved his book ...

d'Kong76 Feb 06 2014 01:52 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

RIP, Ralph. Thanks for a lifetime of memories.

Lefty Specialist Feb 06 2014 01:53 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ralph, say hi to Gary Carter or Gary Cooper, whoever you see first. Let's just say, that this is a man who did not get cheated. He lived a long, fascinating, rich, rewarding life. Home run hitters drive Cadillacs.

metirish Feb 06 2014 01:55 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Nice Mike Vaccaro ?@MikeVacc I've spent 1,500 nights on the road in my career. The single greatest: 4 hours w/ Ralph Kiner @ Lefty O'Doul's in San Francisco. Godspeed.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 01:55 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Batting third... Ralph Kiner! Batting fourth... Steve J. Rogers!

cooby Feb 06 2014 01:56 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

When I was a little girl I had four dads. Del, Ralph, Lindsey and Bob. Now they're all gone.... :(

Zvon Feb 06 2014 01:57 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Lefty Specialist wrote: Ralph, say hi to Gary Carter or Gary Cooper, whoever you see first. Let's just say, that this is a man who did not get cheated. He lived a long, fascinating, rich, rewarding life. Home run hitters drive Cadillacs. I'd like to think Bob Murphy was the first to greet him.

cooby Feb 06 2014 02:01 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

First time I've cried in months. :(

John Cougar Lunchbucket Feb 06 2014 02:03 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ralph really was the best. When I first encountered Jayson Stark in the 80s he was doing the Philly Inquirer's baseball columns I could barely believe how he'd call out "Kinerisms" as though Ralph were some kind of clown like Bob Uecker or an idiot jock who couldn't communicate, when Ralph was neither of those things. His malaprops were relatively few even among actual broadcasters. I mean, he was a real knowledgeable baseball guy with a sense of humor who could call a close game or tell a funny story. Fucking up phrases was barely a part of him. Was it or was it?

Valadius Feb 06 2014 02:06 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

When Ralph retired after ten seasons, he was sixth on the all-time home run list. SIXTH!

Lefty Specialist Feb 06 2014 02:09 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

When Kiner's Korner was sponsored by Mitsubishi, I'd tune in just to see if he'd ever get it right. He never did. His malaprops and mispronunciations were just part of the deceptive charm. He was a keen baseball mind right up to the end.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 02:12 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ralph really was the best. When I first encountered Jayson Stark in the 80s he was doing the Philly Inquirer's baseball columns I could barely believe how he'd call out "Kinerisms" as though Ralph were some kind of clown like Bob Uecker or an idiot jock who couldn't communicate, when Ralph was neither of those things. His malaprops were relatively few even among actual broadcasters. I mean, he was a real knowledgeable baseball guy with a sense of humor who could call a close game or tell a funny story. Fucking up phrases was barely a part of him. Was it or was it? He fucked up just enough to let you know some thought was going into what was coming out of him.

SteveJRogers Feb 06 2014 02:16 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

.

Zvon Feb 06 2014 02:18 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Benjamin Grimm Feb 06 2014 02:23 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ralph really was the best. When I first encountered Jayson Stark in the 80s he was doing the Philly Inquirer's baseball columns I could barely believe how he'd call out "Kinerisms" as though Ralph were some kind of clown like Bob Uecker or an idiot jock who couldn't communicate, when Ralph was neither of those things. His malaprops were relatively few even among actual broadcasters. I remember that too, and agree that it was a douchey thing for Stark to do. It always irritated me.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 02:31 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

The Glory of Ralph Kiner's Times And "Ralph in the Archives" coming...

smg58 Feb 06 2014 02:37 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

The ending is never happy for anybody, but he had as good a life as you can hope for.

Frayed Knot Feb 06 2014 02:47 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Started in pro (minor league) ball [u:32fxeyuf]73 years ago[/u:32fxeyuf] this season. Has been and was still "in" baseball, however tangentially, ever since. That's a nice run.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 02:51 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner in the Archives Questions for Steve Zabriskie (November 2005) Ralph Kiner (June 2006) July 14th - Ralph Kiner Night (March 2007) Message from Ralph Kiner. (May 2007) Anyone going to see Ralphie Boy being honored Saturday? (July 2007) Ralph & Tim, back together again (August 2007) Kiner's Korner (February 2008) Kiner on Spring Training (March 2010) Nothing Could Be Finer than Ralph Kiner (July 2010) Ralph Kiner Wishes Now He'd Broken Ruth's Mark (September 2010) So, You're Ralph Kiner (May 2011) (Just a hint of what's in there, obviously)

SteveJRogers Feb 06 2014 02:56 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Not quite sure who "John" is. From Wiki: John Carmichael, a Chicago sports writer who was awarded the Spinx award that year.

G-Fafif Feb 06 2014 03:43 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Original and Forever.

themetfairy Feb 06 2014 03:49 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

As G-Fafif said, while quoting Gary, Ralph certainly signed more than his share of autographs. And he was gracious in the process. [fimg=540:1twv1mpz]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/12352206593_a2c89292df_b.jpg[/fimg:1twv1mpz]

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 04:10 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I imagine Spring Training is absolutely the worst time of year for the equipment staff, but here's hoping they pull a few allnighters and sew a memorial to Ralph Kiner onto the shoulders of about 80 uniforms.

Zvon Feb 06 2014 04:22 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: I imagine Spring Training is absolutely the worst time of year for the equipment staff, but here's hoping they pull a few allnighters and sew a memorial to Ralph Kiner onto the shoulders of about 80 uniforms. Agreed. Precedents have been set, so all season? We lost Murph mid season so that was a little different. After his passing, the Mets honored Bob Murphy's memory by wearing a patch on the left sleeve of their uniforms for the rest of the 2004 season.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 04:47 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

At-Bats Per Home Run 1. Mark McGwire : 10.61 2. Babe Ruth: 11.76 3. Barry Bonds: 12.92 4. Jim Thome: 13.76 5. Ryan Howard: 13.96 6. Ralph Kiner: 14.11 7. Harmon Killebrew: 14.22 8. Sammy Sosa: 14.47 9. Adam Dunn: 14.67 10. Ted Williams: 14.79

Ceetar Feb 06 2014 04:57 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: I imagine Spring Training is absolutely the worst time of year for the equipment staff, but here's hoping they pull a few allnighters and sew a memorial to Ralph Kiner onto the shoulders of about 80 uniforms. No real games for a couple of weeks yet. time to get it done in that regard. Also, all season long. They can't do too little here. the Pirates will do something I imagine too right? Might be cool to have a special day against the Pirates.

cooby Feb 06 2014 05:15 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I am sure both teams will be ready with all sorts of tributes. :) Zvon, this second picture reminds me so much of my dad. I miss them both. Zvon wrote:

Frayed Knot Feb 06 2014 05:18 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Statue in Alamansor Park in hometown of Alahambra, CA

d'Kong76 Feb 06 2014 05:18 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ceetar wrote: Might be cool to have a special day against the Pirates. And for the Pirates to have one against the Mets.

d'Kong76 Feb 06 2014 05:20 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Watching stuff on SNY. My adams apple is the size of a grapefruit.

cooby Feb 06 2014 05:25 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Batting third... Ralph Kiner! Batting fourth... Steve J. Rogers! And Steve, I love this picture of the two of you too :)

cooby Feb 06 2014 05:25 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Kong76 wrote: Watching stuff on SNY. My adams apple is the size of a grapefruit. I think we all need a hug right now

G-Fafif Feb 06 2014 05:31 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Daily News football writer Gary Myers was Ralph's intern four decades ago. Great story here. I would put all the information on a score sheet for Kiner, then prepare the scoreboard that would be shown as he was reading the information on the post-game show. By far, the best part of the job was standing outside the Mets clubhouse if they won or the visitor's clubhouse if the Mets lost and rounding up the guests for Ralph. In the two years I had that job, not one player ever said no and it had nothing to do with the $50 they received for appearing on show, which, by the way, I thought that was a fortune compared to the $25 per game I was getting paid. Not only did all the players from around the National League know Ralph, they loved and respected him. Rose, Morgan, Mike Schmidt, Henry Aaron, Willie Stargell, Willie McCovey, Joe Torre — all I had to do was tell them Ralph wanted them and they would hustle to the studio. I would escort them down the hallway, sometimes they were still in their cleats, from the visitor's locker room behind the third base dugout to the Kiner's Korner studio behind the first base dugout. If the Mets won, it was about a 10-second walk. Either way, Kiner's Korner started not long after the game ended and it was my job to make sure the players were there on time. I never let Ralph down. The players considered it an honor when Ralph wanted them on Korner's Korner. Besides the $50, which in those days was enough to buy dinner, it was great exposure for them in the New York market.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 06 2014 06:24 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

JUST found out about this. Dammit.

Zvon Feb 06 2014 06:28 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Saw this on fb- proposed by The 7 Line. I like this idea alot. ALOT

d'Kong76 Feb 06 2014 06:34 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Seconded, make it so.

G-Fafif Feb 06 2014 07:18 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Interviews worth checking out: Bill Webb and Vin Scully at sny.tv. (You don't even think that somebody calling games today called games Ralph Kiner played in, but Scully talks about that.) Marty Noble at mlb.com Gary Cohen and Ron Darling with Steve Somers at wfan.com. Bobby Valentine, Keith Hernandez and (no, really) Fran Healy with Francesa at wfan.com.

Centerfield Feb 06 2014 10:15 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

This is really a sad day for the Mets and all of baseball. I don't care that he was 91. He should have lived to 250 if it were up to me. He is a voice from my childhood and I will always appreciate him helping me fall in love with baseball. Don't know that I've done a lot right in my life but taking my not yet two year old son to Ralph Kiner night for his first trip to Shea is right up there in my list of accomplishments. Good night Ralph. We will miss you greatly.

Nymr83 Feb 06 2014 10:16 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

They've got 4 clips from Somers up, his monologue and Cohen, Rose and Darling: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/audio-on-de ... ve-somers/

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 10:38 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ron referencing W.H. Auden on the FAN.

Edgy MD Feb 06 2014 11:06 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Twitter memories bring Tim McGraw and Chuck D. together. Ralph used to say only one Mets player ever asked him directly for batting tips. Maybe that was Ken Singleton.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 06 2014 11:12 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: Ralph used to say only one Mets player ever asked him directly for batting tips. Maybe that was Ken Singleton. That would probably be Rocky Ron Swoboda, who sought Ralph's advice on September 15, 1969, and then proceeded to hit two two-run homers later that night to singlehandedly beat the Cardinals despite Steve Carlton's 19 K's.

DocTee Feb 07 2014 05:59 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

A nice piece on Kiner from the Baseball prospectus: [url]http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22766

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 06:19 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Somehow, he flew these.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 07:17 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

If Eric Karros raced a pregnant girl, he’d finish third. I've got to think that this was a common insult among his teenage set growing up in Alhambra, CA. Or maybe it was a favorite taunt of his naval drill instructor. But it had been largely lost to history until it rolled out of Ralph's brain that day.

metirish Feb 07 2014 07:20 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

A nice piece on Kiner from the Baseball prospectus: [url]http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=22766 I enjoyed that, thanks.

Centerfield Feb 07 2014 07:51 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

"One wonderful man," Tim McCarver once said. "Any group of people is better off if Ralph joins." Ironic that this comes from Tim. I grew up on McCarver and Kiner. I thought the two were great. After the duo were no longer a team, I couldn't believe how douchy Tim became. (Ralph on the other hand was great whereever he went.) I just assumed Tim had become too full of himself and gotten out of control. Then a few years ago, they had Ralph visit the Fox booth. Joe Buck took a back seat. McCarver switched to play-by-play, and Ralph provided the color. Suddenly Tim was respectful, humble and not at all douchy for those few innings. Just like magic Tim was likeable again. I know that Ralph accomplished a lot, and everyone will talk about them. Dating Janet Leigh, all the HR's, etc. But for me, it was this. Thanks Ralph for making McCarver not an unbearable douche during my childhood.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 08:21 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

If you were a Met fan the sixties and seventies, when every day was a great day for baseball and you had three sharp minds and professional gents to share the scene with, you were lucky. If you were a Met fan in the eighties, and you had Tim and Ralph deepening the level of analysis for one of the most compelling teams ever, with Bill Webb reinventing the production as they went along, and Steve Zabriskie as setup man, well, you were lucky too. If you were a Met fan in the aughts onward, with the unfiltered Keith, the unstumpable Ron, and the unflappable Gary, and blessed visits from Ralph that made time stand still, you were real lucky. If you were a Met fan in the nineties, when an aging and tiring Ralph Kiner found himself between Seaver's pomposity and Healy's jocky backslapping, you were... well, you were probably lucky too, but you didn't know it. Because you had been so very lucky prior. Keith may never be the gent Ralph is, but in his acumen, his curiosity, his life of baseball stories and connections, and his utter genuineness, he's a great figure to carry on Ralph's legacy.

Ceetar Feb 07 2014 08:29 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: Keith may never be the gent Ralph is, but in his acumen, his curiosity, his life of baseball stories and connections, and his utter genuineness, he's a great figure to carry on Ralph's legacy. Indeed. But will Keith still be willing to pop into the booth in 2041 to tell stories about Lou Brock and the 1970s?

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 08:39 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

I don't know. He made a point at the end of his career about having no interest in coaching or managing because the game and the lifestyle were just so slow and he has such a restless mind. (Whether this is a product in part of his addiction, or perhaps a factor in it, is a matter of speculation.) He likes being a rich and successful man and he lives far away from the ballpark, but I think he likes the comeraderie, and as he's aging and twice divorced (like Ralph), maybe boredom will keep him coming back. It's a push and a pull. Baseball may not be enough of a lifestyle solution for a restless mind, but on any given day it's a great solution for a few hours.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 07 2014 08:40 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Pete Seeger and then Ralph Kiner. My celebrity grandfather figures are dwindling.

Ceetar Feb 07 2014 08:44 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: I don't know. He made a point at the end of his career about having no interest in coaching or managing because the game and the lifestyle were just so slow and he has such a restless mind. (Whether this is a product in part of his addiction, or perhaps a factor in it, is a matter of speculation.) He likes being a rich and successful man and he lives far away from the ballpark, but I think he likes the comeraderie, and as he's aging and twice divorced (like Ralph), maybe boredom will keep him coming back. It's a push and a pull. Baseball may not be enough of a lifestyle solution for a restless mind, but on any given day it's a great solution for a few hours. Actually the "pop in occasionally when schedules collide and when you feel like it" probably works well for Keith. Maybe he doesn't have 20 more years of GKR every day stuff (not that he doesn't take a good 30 games off a year anyway) but yeah I could see him enjoying popping in every once in a while.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 08:48 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Centerfield wrote: Then a few years ago, they had Ralph visit the Fox booth. Joe Buck took a back seat. McCarver switched to play-by-play, and Ralph provided the color. Suddenly Tim was respectful, humble and not at all douchy for those few innings. Just like magic Tim was likeable again. Remember that brief reunion well; wrote about it at the time here. Kenny Albert was the announcer who pulled back and let Ralph and Tim be Ralph and Tim. Perhaps never was the phrase "the magic is back" more apropos.

d'Kong76 Feb 07 2014 09:33 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ceetar Feb 07 2014 09:34 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Realized I only had crappy pictures of Ralph Kiner Night and none of him actually on the field. [fimg=600:1hd4skbd]http://www.ceetar.com/optimisticmetsfan/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/KinerNight.jpg[/fimg:1hd4skbd]

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 09:47 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Tim on the FAN with Evan Roberts NOW!!!

Centerfield Feb 07 2014 10:25 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

G-Fafif wrote: Centerfield wrote: Then a few years ago, they had Ralph visit the Fox booth. Joe Buck took a back seat. McCarver switched to play-by-play, and Ralph provided the color. Suddenly Tim was respectful, humble and not at all douchy for those few innings. Just like magic Tim was likeable again. Remember that brief reunion well; wrote about it at the time here. Kenny Albert was the announcer who pulled back and let Ralph and Tim be Ralph and Tim. Perhaps never was the phrase "the magic is back" more apropos. Greg, wow thanks for linking that. That was spot on. I think that's why that day resonates with us. That was the last time (and first time in years) we had the pleasure of listening to real Ralph. Thanks for capturing that moment for us. Man it must be nice to be a good writer.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 10:34 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

So nice of you to say, CF. It's great to have those thoughts of Ralph and Tim come back today. I came to eventually cherish the cameos Ralph made with GKR in the years that followed. That SNY and the Mets treated Ralph as an heirloom rather than a relic is to their eternal credit...and just good sense.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 07 2014 10:38 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Then a few years ago, they had Ralph visit the Fox booth. Joe Buck took a back seat. McCarver switched to play-by-play, and Ralph provided the color. Suddenly Tim was respectful, humble and not at all douchy for those few innings. Just like magic Tim was likeable again. Remember that brief reunion well; wrote about it at the time here. Kenny Albert was the announcer who pulled back and let Ralph and Tim be Ralph and Tim. Perhaps never was the phrase "the magic is back" more apropos. Greg, wow thanks for linking that. That was spot on. I think that's why that day resonates with us. That was the last time (and first time in years) we had the pleasure of listening to real Ralph. Thanks for capturing that moment for us. Man it must be nice to be a good writer. I remember that FAFIF piece because of the bit about Greg in a Delgado Mets jersey. I remember trying to visualize the lunch(?) date and to guess which Mets style jersey Greg was wearing (I guessed the pinstripe-less home whites). P.S. To all you fathers out there: "Happy Birthday".

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 10:42 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Then a few years ago, they had Ralph visit the Fox booth. Joe Buck took a back seat. McCarver switched to play-by-play, and Ralph provided the color. Suddenly Tim was respectful, humble and not at all douchy for those few innings. Just like magic Tim was likeable again. Remember that brief reunion well; wrote about it at the time here. Kenny Albert was the announcer who pulled back and let Ralph and Tim be Ralph and Tim. Perhaps never was the phrase "the magic is back" more apropos. Greg, wow thanks for linking that. That was spot on. I think that's why that day resonates with us. That was the last time (and first time in years) we had the pleasure of listening to real Ralph. Thanks for capturing that moment for us. Man it must be nice to be a good writer. I remember that FAFIF piece because of the bit about Greg in a Delgado Mets jersey. I remember trying to visualize the lunch(?) date and to guess which Mets style jersey Greg was wearing (I guessed the pinstripe-less home whites). P.S. To all you fathers out there: "Happy Birthday". It was a DELGADO 21 t-shirt or, in the current vernacular, "shirsey". I'm too "cheap" to buy jerseys.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 10:44 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Centerfield doesn't give himself enough credit as a writer. Look around at what's on the internet, and you realize we're particuarly blessed here. Most of us can write at least a little. A lot of good voices here, and Centerfield is certainly not the least in that regard. Know what I can't do? Draw.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2014 10:49 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

You probably know it by now, but you (Greg) were quoted in the Daily News today, on the second-to-last page.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 10:54 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Benjamin Grimm wrote: You probably know it by now, but you (Greg) were quoted in the Daily News today, on the second-to-last page. I did not know that. Isn't the second-to-last page the TV listings or a furniture ad?

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2014 10:58 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

That's right. You were quoted as saying that an educated consumer is the best customer. Actually, for a while now the second-to-last page has been something called "The Big Picture" which includes a large photograph, and then a collection of tweets and other quotes sometimes, but not always, related to the large photo. Today it was all about Ralph Kiner. You were quoted as saying, "There has never been the Mets without Ralph Kiner. There will always be Ralph Kiner with the Mets. RIP." You came right between Gary Myers and Don Lagreca.

d'Kong76 Feb 07 2014 11:03 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Love that cartoon!

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 11:13 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That's right. You were quoted as saying that an educated consumer is the best customer. Actually, for a while now the second-to-last page has been something called "The Big Picture" which includes a large photograph, and then a collection of tweets and other quotes sometimes, but not always, related to the large photo. Today it was all about Ralph Kiner. You were quoted as saying, "There has never been the Mets without Ralph Kiner. There will always be Ralph Kiner with the Mets. RIP." You came right between Gary Myers and Don Lagreca. I Tweeted that, which certainly cuts down on the News's need for reporting. (A more accurate quote than the time they man-on-the-streeted me about Willie Randolph's firing.) Thanks for letting me know.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 11:48 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Centerfield wrote: This is really a sad day for the Mets and all of baseball. I don't care that he was 91. He should have lived to 250 if it were up to me. Damn straight. Might have curtailed his innings to like three a year, but deep down I trusted Ralph to defy standard human chronology indefinitely.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 11:55 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Did he outlive all three of his wives? Life on the road and a taste for cigars may cut down ordinary men. Ralph Kiner was no ordinary man.

Lefty Specialist Feb 07 2014 12:18 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

From the comments was one thing that leapt out at me: My favorite part was when Tim was going on and on about Ralph's popularity on both coasts, and Ralph said, “What about Pittsburgh?” That was vintage 80's Ralph, right there. He was a Hall of Famer back then too, but he wasn't treated with too much deference by his broadcast partners, and he gave as good as he got. While it was good to see him later in the aughts and teens, he was treated so much like an icon (which granted, he was) and not enough like a broadcaster (which he was a lot longer than he was a ballplayer). You could see sometimes he'd want to jump back into it, like that day with McCarver, but age and the Bell's palsy wouldn't let him do it. So while I was glad to see him, I was always a little sad about what time had done to him. When my wife and I were watching Ralph in the last game of last season, we both wondered out loud if it'd be the last time we'd see him. It was.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 12:48 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ralph really was the best. When I first encountered Jayson Stark in the 80s he was doing the Philly Inquirer's baseball columns I could barely believe how he'd call out "Kinerisms" as though Ralph were some kind of clown like Bob Uecker or an idiot jock who couldn't communicate, when Ralph was neither of those things. His malaprops were relatively few even among actual broadcasters. I mean, he was a real knowledgeable baseball guy with a sense of humor who could call a close game or tell a funny story. Fucking up phrases was barely a part of him. Was it or was it? Stark insists Ralph was in on the fun. I never got to see the late, great Ralph Kiner swing a bat. But I was lucky enough to spend many summer evenings listening to him speak into a microphone. And it was hard to think of a better way to pass a few hours than that, on many levels. Ralph Kiner was a beautiful man. Try to find anyone who ever met him who didn't love him, or love being around him. Anyone. He had a story for every occasion. He saw the game on levels a lot of people didn't. And he had one of life's special gifts -- the ability to laugh at himself. I'm especially grateful for that last gift because, as anyone who read my old Week in Review column in the Philadelphia Inquirer could tell you, I somehow became America's foremost collector of Ralph Kiner malapropism classics. It became, after a while, a weekly feature of that column, because, let's just say, there was never a shortage of those pearls to choose from. Collecting them was a labor of love, and it didn't require much labor. I heard many of them myself. And Kiner fans sent them to me by the hundreds. They were true treasures of American broadcasting. And the reason I felt free to relay them to the world was simple: Ralph didn't mind. Not one bit. His good friend and old Mets broadcast partner Tim McCarver used to assure me of that on a regular basis. And, at one point, I got a phone call, out of the blue from Danny Peary, an author who was writing a book with Ralph Kiner. Peary's question (of course): What were my favorite Kinerisms? After I relayed a few, I couldn't help but ask: "If you're writing a book with Ralph, why'd you call me?" "Ralph told me to call you," he said, "because you have the best collection of these of anyone." So before I start reminiscing about some of the greatest Ralph Kiner gems of all time, I needed to make that clear. Ralph Kiner understood those Kinerisms were part of his legend. And he was totally cool with that.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2014 01:11 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

That may or may not be true, but to anyone reading Stark's columns back then, the impression was that Kiner was a buffoon. Also... I watched Daily News Live on SNY last night. (It apparently preempted Mets Hot Stove) and Bill Madden horribly botched the famous Choo Choo Coleman anecdote. Ralph: What does your wife call you? Choo Choo: She calls me Mr. Coleman. Apparently Bill Madden conflates Choo Choo Coleman with Sidney Poitier.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 01:14 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

That's exactly what he's doing. Bill Madden, showing his Hall of Fame form.

Zvon Feb 07 2014 01:24 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Id usually shrink an image this big down in size but maybe one of you guys want this for your files. Excellent picture. It would be quite a project, but I'm thinking about colorizing this.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 01:45 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Sports Illustrated put up that photo today, saying it was from Ralph's second season in a September 13 game against the Red Sox. I didn't have the heart to be a dick and let them know that the Pirates didn't play the Sox in 1947, and that the Indian head on the catcher's sleeve probably indicated that the "BOS" on the label the caption writer found probably meant Boston Braves." It would be an ugly move, I thought, to mark Kiner's death by getting some poor kid fired. He or she probably doesn't even remember the world before interleague play.

G-Fafif Feb 07 2014 01:59 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

For the sake of the historical record, don't be shy about letting them know -- nicely, of course. The very able Ted Berg did a wonderful piece for USA Today about his Kinerrific experiences from SNY, but in the rush to get it posted, a picture of Ralph with Stan Musial and Yogi Berra identified his photomates as Bob Murphy and Lindsey Nelson. I courteously let Ted know and it got fixed (albeit not before there were several "what kind of dopes...?" posts circulating around). And honestly, I don't think SI would fire anybody for not recognizing the Boston Braves...though it might be a more accurate world if that sort of thing was was considered a serious internal offense. Every day for at least a year I've received an email from SI letting me know I can order a framed copy of the 2012 "Sportsman of the Eyar" cover.

Ceetar Feb 07 2014 02:24 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

That Kiner played against the Boston Braves blows my mind a little bit.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 02:28 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Too bad the one guy who didn't know it was White Shirt Day at Forbes Field is bent over puking in the aisle.

Benjamin Grimm Feb 07 2014 02:32 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

They probably poisoned him for not being with the program. My guess is that he's a vendor in uniform, and he's bending over his bin of hot dogs or peanuts.

Edgy MD Feb 07 2014 02:37 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

You're no fun. But check out the guy to the right of the vendor's butt, with the seat right behind the steel support girder

Ceetar Feb 07 2014 02:39 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: You're no fun. But check out the guy to the right of the vendor's butt, with the seat right behind the steel support girder If you want that experience at Citi, section 103, rows 4 and up, seat 1. Right behind the foul pole.

Mets – Willets Point Feb 07 2014 03:26 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: This picture is what I was trying to go with in words in my Facebook status yesterday.

Centerfield Feb 07 2014 03:52 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Edgy MD wrote: Centerfield doesn't give himself enough credit as a writer. Look around at what's on the internet, and you realize we're particuarly blessed here. Most of us can write at least a little. A lot of good voices here, and Centerfield is certainly not the least in that regard. Thanks Edgy. I was just impressed the way Greg captured that moment. It was perfect. Not to take anything away from the rest of the forum. We're fucking awesome. And I can write sometimes some ok stuff good too.

Lefty Specialist Feb 07 2014 05:43 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Another thing about that picture....real men like Ralph don't need batting helmets.

seawolf17 Feb 07 2014 06:28 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I'm surprised I didn't get more emotional with Ralph. I openly wept multiple times when Bob Murphy died.

d'Kong76 Feb 07 2014 06:32 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I cried yesterday, and today ... I'm a sap.

d'Kong76 Feb 07 2014 06:36 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Been diggin' around ... found the 'McCarver carries Kiner' part laugh out loud funny from twenty years ago ... TV SPORTS; Caray and Kiner: Still Giving Spring Its Voice By Richard Sandomir Published: April 12, 1994 Half an hour before game-time yesterday at Shea Stadium, Ha-REEE Ca-RAAAAY had not appeared in the Chicago Cubs' WGN-TV broadcast booth. That gave WGN staffers time for some heavy lifting without Harry in their hair. "I need your help before Harry pushes the monitor out the window!" one station staffer said to another as he rushed out of the booth. Caray shambled in shortly afterward, wearing his trademark oversized Elton John glasses. His white hair was combed back. His voice had its usual beery timbre, as if Ed McMahon had taught a Clydesdale to sing. He recited his career stats as he would his Army serial number. "Thirteen years with the Cubs," he said. "Eleven with the White Sox. One with Oakland. Twenty five years before that with St. Louis." Caray, who is 74 years old, and his son, Skip, the Atlanta Braves announcer on TBS, are perhaps the two most listened to baseball voices in America because they work for superstations that go out on cable systems around the country. "I was derelict," Harry said. "I have a son, Skip, and a grandson Chip, who calls baseball for the Mariners. I should have called myself Flip." Caray is a member of a flip, incorrigible school of his own: the homer, the clown, the promoter, the loudmouth, the singer. He's a bigger star than Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs' biggest star. "I just do what's natural for me," he said. "I'm a fan. I get happy. I get bored. I'm excited when it's exciting. All the times I was about to be fired, the owners found I was a better liaison with fans than they were." Now in his 50th year of calling baseball, Caray looks his age, but at game-time, the raucous, rascally fan takes over at the microphone. His style can't be judged by modern urbane, streamlined, blow-dried standards any more than Phil Rizzuto's can. He's an original, from a different galaxy. "Ah, what the hell, it's a game," he said. "You're supposed to have fun. I'm supposed to yell at players when they're not playing well. I'm mad when they don't play well. I want to boo. I'm what every fan wants to be." And as for those glasses that make him look like a myopic bullfrog? He removes them for a moment. "Gotta cover these bags," he said. About 40 feet closer to home plate sits Ralph Kiner, who calls nearly 150 Mets games yearly on WWOR-TV and SportsChannel. He's a hardy perennial, teller of old tales and master of the malaprop. Again, an original. Yesterday he was working for SportsChannel. Over his shoulder, Fran Healy, one of his two partners, said, "He should be in the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame." Well, maybe. Is there room for Red Barber and Kiner? In the SportsChannel booth, Kiner nursed a cigar while he filled in his scorecard. His craggy face lit up at talk of opening day at home. "My opening days go back to 1941, to the minor leagues in Albany," he said. "It's always a great day of anticipation. Everything starts new, even after last year, which was sometimes tough to announce." He wondered why Tom Seaver did not show up, as part of a pre-game salute to the 1969 Mets. "I'm surprised," he said. "He was the most important guy on the team." (Other commitments, said Seaver's agent, Matt Merola.) The preference here is to listen to Kiner on WWOR, with Tim McCarver, rather than SportsChannel, with Healy and Rusty Staub. McCarver knows how to mine Kiner for his best stories, producing a better Ralphie Boy. McCarver carries Kiner to greater heights; too often, Kiner has to carry Healy and Staub. A brief moment from Sunday's game illustrated the McCarver-Kiner chemistry: something during the Mets-Astros game somehow reminded McCarver to discourse on banjo-playing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, a jazz group. Kiner had never heard of anything Fleck-related, yet it led to his memory of a performance by Gene Autry, introduced by Phil Harris. "And that's a true story," he said. Then he started telling a tale about Autry on a stretcher, making believe he was riding a horse. "But I don't know if that one's true," he added. who is recovering from testicular cancer, was accompanied by a graphic saying: "Man, could we be gross here." Who's editing this trash? JIM ROME?

Frayed Knot Feb 08 2014 10:25 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

I was wondering if Ralph was the oldest living Ho-F-er at the time of his death; turns out he was 3rd oldest behind Bobby Doerr who is 95, and Monte Irvin who will turn 94 in a few weeks. Red Schoendienst, 91 last week, is the only other living Cooperstown inductee over 90

Lefty Specialist Feb 08 2014 12:00 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Murph was a little different. He hung up his mike and died a few months later. Ralph was on a long glide path. He hadn't done a regular broadcast schedule since 1998 because of the Bell's palsy. So he became the old uncle you'd see occasionally, just enough to remain familiar with him.

G-Fafif Feb 08 2014 10:51 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ian O'Connor praises F. Wilpon for doing right by Ralph. But as the franchise overlord, Wilpon, was the guy who kept Kiner in the game, and kept him there on Kiner's rules. If Ralph showed up at Shea Stadium or at Citi Field on an assigned night of work, and suddenly didn't feel up to calling a few innings of the game, it was his call. It was always Ralph's call. Wilpon set the organizational tone when it came to one of the Mets' few real treasures, and Kiner responded to that support. Even in a state of decline he remained a workaholic, an announcer who took his craft as seriously as any. Every January he'd call Jay Horwitz, the Mets' longtime publicist, and ask if Horwitz would finally send him the proofs for the media guide so he could get an early jump on his prep work. "Ralph was always very serious about his job and never took anything for granted, and ownership understood that," Horwitz said. "Ralph kept notebooks on stuff that happened 40 years ago, and he was looking forward to working again this year. "In 1980, when I was a young kid out of Fairleigh Dickinson, Ralph took me around to meet different managers, made suggestions about my press notes, just helped me any way he could. He never let on that he was a Hall of Famer. I mean, I don't know anyone who's ever said a cross word about him." The same cannot be said of his longtime employer. Wilpon has been rightfully ripped up, down and sideways in this market for his failure to consistently field a winning club, for failing to spend on free agents at a Steinbrennerian rate, and for all but making Bernie Madoff his de facto GM. But in Ralph Kiner, institution, Wilpon showed strength and humanity as a leader. He knew that "Kiner's Korner" was baseball's answer to "The Tonight Show," and that Ralph was equal parts Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon. He suspected that, on some level, the game and the booth and the fans were keeping Kiner going. Keeping him motivated. Maybe even keeping him alive. So Wilpon never engraved Kiner a gold watch, never ordered up an official farewell banquet, and never told everyone's favorite grandfather that it was time for him to watch all 162 games at home on TV. And that's why Kiner was planning another one of his part-time comebacks in 2014 before he died in his California home. A little common decency can go a long way. No, Fred Wilpon hasn't always been a good owner. He was a good man here.

Zvon Feb 09 2014 01:48 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

G-Fafif Feb 13 2014 04:10 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Nice Art Shamsky recollection among the interviews collected here by WFUV. Bottom line: one day when they were doing a game together, Ralph misidentified both teams...including the Mets.

SteveJRogers Feb 16 2014 07:43 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Kiner patch revealed: [url]http://metsmerizedonline.com/2014/02/mets-to-honor-ralph-kiner-with-patch-and-opening-day-ceremony.html/

SteveJRogers Feb 16 2014 08:42 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Zvon Feb 16 2014 12:46 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I really like the patch. Hope it's bigger than a quarter tho.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Feb 16 2014 02:47 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Stately, tasteful... if a little generic. I'll take it. But, hey, while we're wheel-spinning... ... a play on this would have been unique, and uniquely befitting Ralph, right?

G-Fafif Feb 16 2014 03:50 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Stately, tasteful... if a little generic. I'll take it. But, hey, while we're wheel-spinning... ... a play on this would have been unique, and uniquely befitting Ralph, right? Hoping that whatever they say they're planning for the museum is in that vein. Maybe they'll display the old set (displacing the high-end merch on the far end of the space that I've never seen anybody buy).

Zvon Feb 16 2014 04:48 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I wanna own the old Kiners Korner set, like Kramer with Mike Douglas Show set. I'll invite people over and interview them. Then, when no-one comes over, I'll donate it to the team under the stipulation that it is rebuilt in the Mets museum and available for fans to sit on, and interview each other. The Kiners Korner logo/show title/header thing would be great in that left field corner, as pictured somewhere in this thread. Putting a large version of the patch on the OF wall is okay, but lazy. The patch is for the uniform, do something else special for Ralph on the OF wall (or wherever they are going to add a tribute to the stadium itself). I'm very happy that the team will make this a season long salute, so I'm not complaining. Just wishin'.

Gwreck Feb 16 2014 04:54 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Zvon wrote: The patch is for the uniform, do something else special for Ralph on the OF wall (or wherever they are going to add a tribute to the stadium itself). At the risk of sounding unnecessarily curmudgeonly, I fail to see any need for something on the outfield wall, or naming part of the park "Kiner's Korner" or anything similar. Ralph didn't play for the Mets. They rightfully named the television booth after him. They're honoring him this year with a very nice patch. Several other stadiums have put up statues or similar for longtime announcers. Seattle, for Dave Niehaus. I remember seeing something nice in St. Louis for Joe Buck. Something like that -- perhaps in the Mets Hall of Fame -- would be far more appropriate.

Zvon Feb 16 2014 06:22 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

I read about something going on the OF wall in addition to the patch. If they are gonna do it, do it right ( I suppose I really mean: do it my way dammit!). A statue would be nice. If the Mets do that it will be a pleasant surprise. Too much? yea, a lil bit. I'd want one for Murph too. I would not mind if both were commemorated with statues (never was much of a Lindsey fan). Ralph not ever playing for the Mets is a non-factor for me. The Mets fan in me feels more strongly for him than I do for about 80% of all the players who have ever worn the uniform. Maybe more. Relatively speaking Ralph is up there in the annals of Met history and his place is by no means a small one. At least at this point of the teams existence.

Mets Guy in Michigan Feb 17 2014 08:28 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Several other stadiums have put up statues or similar for longtime announcers. Seattle, for Dave Niehaus. I remember seeing something nice in St. Louis for Joe Buck. Something like that -- perhaps in the Mets Hall of Fame -- would be far more appropriate. The Tigers have a nice Ernie Harwell statue, too. In fact, it's much better than the statues they have of players in a different part of the stadium. I don't think the Mets could have a Ralph statue without a Bob Murphy statue, and then you have to deal with questions about a Lindsay Nelson statue. I think the patch is nice. Murphy had his name embroidered on the sleeve in 2004 because the Mets already had the Shea Stadium 40th anniversary patch and "You Gotta Believe" for Tug that year. Shea would have been 50 this year.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 10:36 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Shea would have been 50 this year. And we'll be celebrating the marriages of the 50th anniversaries of Shea Stadium and the Beatles arrival here in the good ol' USA in The Liverpool to Crane Pool Song Parody Contest, the second leg of the song parody triple crown, and the last tournament before the regular baseball season starts. It's a condensed, matchup-free tournament. You won't be required to write more than two parodies. /plug Interested? Picture Disc Winner's Trophy -- Liverpool to Crane Pool Song Parody Contest -- design concept by Zvon

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 11:16 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

The Mets are, be still my heart, acknowledging the 50th with a canvas print giveaway on April 19th to the first 20,000 fans. Should there be any more than 20,000 fans, just forget you ever saw Shea.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 11:22 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Those huge protective canvas drop cloths that painters use to cover up furniture when they're painting a room -- I'd get one of those cloths in monster size, have someone paint the old Shea Stadium scoreboard on it, and then drape the cloth over the Citi Field scoreboard. That's how I'd honor Shea's 50th. For starters.

Ceetar Feb 17 2014 11:28 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Those huge protective canvas drop cloths that painters use to cover up furniture when they're painting a room -- I'd get one of those cloths in monster size, have someone paint the old Shea Stadium scoreboard on it, and then drape the cloth over the Citi Field scoreboard. That's how I'd honor Shea's 50th. For starters. Giant Budweiser ad ftw.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 11:34 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Ceetar wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Those huge protective canvas drop cloths that painters use to cover up furniture when they're painting a room -- I'd get one of those cloths in monster size, have someone paint the old Shea Stadium scoreboard on it, and then drape the cloth over the Citi Field scoreboard. That's how I'd honor Shea's 50th. For starters. Giant Budweiser ad ftw. Not when I was a kid. [fimg=944]http://metspolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1969open.jpg[/fimg]

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 11:37 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Five to tie, six to win!

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 11:42 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Why is the flag at half-mast?

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 11:50 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Why is the flag at half-mast? I was wondering that myself.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 11:53 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

G-Fafif wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Why is the flag at half-mast? I was wondering that myself. Paul McCartney?

Ceetar Feb 17 2014 11:55 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

well, it's probably a Monday. (off day for many) it's not a Wednesday or Thursday. It's at least 1977. When did the Mets change teh scoreboard, 81?

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 11:59 AM Re: Ralph Kiner Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 17 2014 12:01 PM

Ceetar wrote: well, it's probably a Monday. (off day for many) it's not a Wednesday or Thursday. It's at least 1977. When did the Mets change teh scoreboard, 81? It's Opening Day, 1969, Tuesday, April 8. It's the Expos first game ever. The Mets score four in the 9th to fall one-run short. The scoreboard sez: "Welcome Expos to National League". And that bottom center 10 minute head ad is also right outta 1969.

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 12:01 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

April 8, 1969, was a Tuesday. Scoreboard added the Bud monstrosity in 1982.

Ceetar Feb 17 2014 12:07 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

- Arthur Walter Kramer, composer, dies at 78? probably not it.

Ceetar Feb 17 2014 12:08 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

G-Fafif wrote: April 8, 1969, was a Tuesday. Scoreboard added the Bud monstrosity in 1982. yeah, my fault. I thought the SEP was SEA so was a Mariners game on the out of town.

batmagadanleadoff Feb 17 2014 12:08 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Those huge protective canvas drop cloths that painters use to cover up furniture when they're painting a room -- I'd get one of those cloths in monster size, have someone paint the old Shea Stadium scoreboard on it, and then drape the cloth over the Citi Field scoreboard. That's how I'd honor Shea's 50th. For starters. Then I'd pay some graffiti artists to spray paint blue and orange shingles all over the exterior of Citi Field.

Mets Guy in Michigan Feb 17 2014 12:41 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Those huge protective canvas drop cloths that painters use to cover up furniture when they're painting a room -- I'd get one of those cloths in monster size, have someone paint the old Shea Stadium scoreboard on it, and then drape the cloth over the Citi Field scoreboard. That's how I'd honor Shea's 50th. For starters. Giant Budweiser ad ftw. Not when I was a kid. [fimg=944]http://metspolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/1969open.jpg[/fimg] Great find! Looks kind of dark for an Opening Day. Lights are on. Must have been one of those miserable early April days. I loved that score board before it became an ad board. I liked it when they'd use the message part for one word -- like "HAMMER!" and make it blink.

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 12:47 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Almost every generic clip of the 1969 Mets on SNY or MLBN includes footage from Opening Day, whether they're talking about Opening Day or not. The giveaways are the American and Canadian flags displayed by the press gate and men in top coats milling around the batting cage. It's often included as the narrator says something like, "The World Series returned to Shea..." Regular-season footage less expensive to use than postseason footage. But I've also seen those establishing shots for the Mets-Cubs series in July even if the temperature precluded topcoats by then.

d'Kong76 Feb 17 2014 12:52 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Hey, the wall isn't white (hee hee). Flag at half mast.

Frayed Knot Feb 17 2014 12:56 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

G-Fafif wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Why is the flag at half-mast? I was wondering that myself. Dwight Eisenhower had died only weeks earlier (March 28). I believe a President dying warrants a 30-day flag lowering.

Mets Guy in Michigan Feb 17 2014 12:57 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

The Vietnam War was still going on in April 1969. Was the flag at half-mast for some sort of recognition, I wonder? OE: I bet that's correct about Ike.

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 12:59 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

It wasn't the last time Mets fans would be in mourning over Ike.

Mets Guy in Michigan Feb 17 2014 01:41 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

G-Fafif wrote: It wasn't the last time Mets fans would be in mourning over Ike. Bad ass!

Zvon Feb 17 2014 05:47 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

batmagadanleadoff wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: Shea would have been 50 this year. And we'll be celebrating the marriages of the 50th anniversaries of Shea Stadium and the Beatles arrival here in the good ol' USA in The Liverpool to Crane Pool Song Parody Contest, the second leg of the song parody triple crown, and the last tournament before the regular baseball season starts. It's a condensed, matchup-free tournament. You won't be required to write more than two parodies. /plug Interested? Count me in, yea, yea! Can I parody a Rutles song that is already a parody of a Beatles song? *head explodes*

G-Fafif Feb 17 2014 06:17 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

Zvon wrote: [Can I parody a Rutles song that is already a parody of a Beatles song? *head explodes* Only if you can confirm Che Stadium also opened in 1964.

G-Fafif Mar 24 2014 07:24 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

[youtube:1g32r661]ZetIsAGJmqk[/youtube:1g32r661] At the time of Ralph's passing, full version wasn't up. But now it is.

Mets Guy in Michigan Mar 24 2014 07:27 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Great find!

G-Fafif Mar 24 2014 09:06 AM Re: Ralph Kiner

Pirates announce they will wear a 4 patch this season to honor Ralph.

Lefty Specialist Mar 26 2014 05:21 PM Re: Ralph Kiner

As a total aside, SNY has the 10-run inning game from 2000 on (again), and I just caught Ralph referring to Andres Gallaraga as 'Galleria'.