Ralph Kiner was an American baseball player, broadcaster, sports commentator, and author. Ralph Kiner was baseball’s leading home-run hitter for a few years after World War II. As a broadcaster for the New York Mets, he became famous for his verbal strikeouts. Although best remembered for his long career behind the mike, he still ranks as one of the premier sluggers in baseball history.
Background
Ethnicity:
Ralph Kiner was of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) and Scots-Irish ancestry, although his maternal grandmother was Jewish.
Ralph Mcpherran Kiner was born on October 27, 1922 in Santa Rita, New Mexico, United States. He was the son of Ralph Macklin Kiner and Beatrice (Grayson) Kiner.
His father, Ralph Macklin Kiner, was a baker. He died when Ralph was 4. The widowed Mrs. Kiner took a job in Alhambra, California, near Los Angeles as an office nurse for an insurance company making $125 a month.
Education
As a high school senior, Ralph Kiner was named all-Southern California outfielder. He wound up signing with the Pirates for a $3,000 bonus, which his mother used to pay off the mortgage on their house. Ralph Kiner attended Pasadena City College from 1940 to 1943.
After spending the first two years of his pro career - 1941 to 1942 - with Albany of the Eastern League, Kiner was promoted to Triple-A Toronto for 1943 but joined the Navy Air Corps halfway through the season. He served as a United States Navy pilot during World War II.
Baseball player Pittsburgh Pirates, 1946-1953, Chicago Cubs, 1953-1954, Cleveland Indians, 1955. General manager San Diego Padres (Pacific Coast League). Announcer Chicago White Sox, New York Mets., WWOR-television, 1962.
Membership
Pilot United States Navy.
Connections
Married DiAnn Shugart, December 1982. Children: Michael, Scott, Kathryn. Adopted children: Tracee, Kim.