NEW YORK -- Ralph Kiner was a smash as a slugger, launching so many home
runs over the left-field wall at old Forbes Field that fans nicknamed
it his corner.
Shawn Marion Jersey
.
Years later, as one of baseballs most beloved broadcasters, he became a
big hit in a new "Kiners Korner."
Kiner, the Hall of Famer whose frequent malaprops endeared him to New
York Mets listeners for more than a half-century, died Thursday. He was
91.
The Hall of Fame said Kiner died at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.,
with his family at his side.
"He was a jewel," Mets Hall of Famer Tom Seaver said.
Kiner hit 369 home runs during a 10-year career cut short by back
problems. He debuted with Pittsburgh in 1946 and won or tied for the
National League lead in homers in each of his first seven seasons.
He was popular off the field, too. His Hollywood pals included Bing
Crosby and Frank Sinatra, he squired Liz Taylor and Janet Leigh, and he
played himself in the 1951 film "Angels in the Outfield."
Kiner became a Mets announcer in their expansion season of 1962, working
17 years as a trio with Bob Murphy and Lindsey Nelson. Kiner called
their games for 52 years in all, including a handful of them last
season.
Kiner was already a fixture on the Mets airwaves when he was inducted
into the Hall in 1975. He was elected with just one vote to spare in his
15th and final year on the Baseball Writers Association of America
ballot.
The six-time All-Star outfielder still ranks sixth all-time with a home
run every 14.1 at-bats. He averaged more than 100 RBIs per season and
hit .279 with the Pirates, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland.
When he retired, Kiner was sixth on the career home run list.
To generations of TV viewers and radio listeners, his postcareer acclaim
was as great as the honours he earned on the field.
"Kiners Korner" was a delight for players and fans alike, where stars
would join Kiner for postgame chats.
"I loved going on Kiners Korner. I enjoyed talking baseball with Ralph,
especially learning about players from his era," former Mets star Dwight
Gooden said. "But what really made it special was every time you went
on, you got a $100. For a rookie like me in 1984, a $100 was a big
deal."
Kiner was known for tripping over his own words, and often laughed about
his own comments.
"If Casey Stengel were alive today, hed be spinning in his grave," he
once commented after a misplay.
"On Fathers Day, we again wish you all a happy birthday," he also said.
Then there was the time Gary Carter hit a winning home run in the 10th
inning of his Mets debut in 1985 and Kiner introduced him as Gary
Cooper, the famed actor.
"Gary was a great sport about it," Kiner remembered. "He came on Kiners
Korner afterward and introduced himself to me as Gary Cooper and even
signed a picture to me, Gary Cooper Carter."
His observations were pretty astute, too.
Talking about a former Gold Glove outfielder, Kiner remarked:
"Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water. The other third is covered
by Garry Maddox."
Kiner had a stroke about a decade ago that slowed his speech, but
remained an occasional part of the Mets announcing crew.
Fellow announcers such as Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling always
brightened when Kiner was alongside them. Younger fans who were born
long after Kiner retired also reveled in his folksy tales.
"As one of baseballs most prolific power hitters for a decade, Ralph
struck fear into the hearts of the best pitchers of baseballs Golden Era
despite his easygoing nature, disarming humility and movie-star smile,"
Hall President Jeff Idelson said in a statement.
"His engaging personality and profound knowledge of the game turned him
into a living room companion for millions of New York Mets fans who
adored his game broadcasts and later Kiners Korner for more than half a
century," he said. "He was as comfortable hanging out in Palm Springs
with his friend Bob Hope as he was hitting in front of Hank Greenberg at
Forbes Field."
As a teen, hanging around the Hollywood Stars in the Pacific Coast
League, Kiner shook hands with Babe Ruth and talked ball with Ty Cobb.
In high school, he hit a home run off Satchel Paige during a
barnstorming tour.
After serving as a Navy pilot in World War II, Kiner had a strong rookie
year and won the NL homer title with 23, beating Johnny Mize by one. He
really broke loose the next year, hitting 51 home runs with 127 RBIs
while batting .313.
Stuck on poor teams, Kiner never made it to the post-season. He made his
mark in All-Star games, homering in three straight.
Kiner connected in the 1950 showcase at Comiskey Park, but made more
noise with another ball he hit in the game. He hit a long drive to the
base of the scoreboard in left-centre field and Ted Williams broke his
left elbow making the catch, causing him to miss two months.
"Williams always said I ruined his batting stroke, that he could never
hit after that," Kiner said. "Yeah, sure. He only hit .388 in 57."
Mets owner Fred Wilpon remembered Kiner as "one of the most beloved
people in Mets history -- an original Met and extraordinary gentleman."
"His knowledge of the game, wit, and charm entertained generations of
Mets fans. Like his stories, he was one of a kind," he said. "Our sport
and society today lost one of the all-time greats."
The Mets named the home TV booth at Shea Stadium in his honour. The
Pirates retired Kiners No. 4.
"All of us at the Pittsburgh Pirates have heavy hearts upon learning of
Ralph Kiners passing," the team said in a statement.
Ralph McPherran Kiner was born on Oct. 27, 1922.
He was first married to tennis star Nancy Chaffee. Following their
divorce he married Barbara George, and following another divorce he
married DiAnn Shugart, who died in 2004.
Jay Vincent Jersey
.
He, the 25-year-old Toronto backup net-minder and Manitoba native, would
be making just his fourth start in the past 16 games against the Jets
the following evening. It was the word of opportunity for Reimer, who
has fallen into the role of backup, outmatched in recent weeks by
Jonathan Bernier, his Quebec counterpart.
Justin Jackson Jersey
. -- Mississippi State was crushed twice by Florida last season, once
by 35 points and the other by 25.Ref Watch is back to debate another
selection of controversial decisions from some of the weekends football
matches in England and Spain.
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher joined host Rob
Wotton in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to analyse a number of
contentious calls.From vital goals to offside goals, yellow cards not
given to questionable penalty decisions, and even a red card for a
manager through no fault of his own, we have it all covered in this
weeks edition. MATCH: Liverpool v Newcastle United, Premier League,
SaturdayINCIDENT: Daniel Sturridges second-minute goal is allowed to
stand despite the player looking offside.SCENARIO: A long ball is played
upfield to Sturridge, who is positioned between two defenders. When he
comes into shot on television pictures, the striker appears to be in an
offside position - although replays show him to have come from an onside
position when the ball was played. Sturridge chests the ball down,
takes a touch then turns and shoots low into the bottom corner to give
Liverpool a 1-0 lead, with referee Andre Marriner and his assistant
Stephen Child allowing the goal to stand.
An alternative angle shows Daniel Sturridge was
onside ahead of his goal against Newcastle
GALLAGHERS VERDICT: Correct decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: Its a top-drawer
decision and you can see why these guys are in the Premier League. Its a
close call and its their first decision of the game as well. Child has
hit the ground running and its a class, class decision.MATCH: Liverpool v
Newcastle United, Premier League, SaturdayINCIDENT: Roberto Firmino
scores but has his goal disallowed for offside.SCENARIO: James Milner
collects the ball on the right wing, cuts inside and crosses to Joe
Allen, whose header is palmed away by Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Firmino is waiting at the back post and after the rebound falls to him,
he takes a touch with his thigh before tapping in on the line. The goal
is not allowed to stand, with assistant referee Harry Lennard flagging
it off.
Roberto
Firmino stands in an offside position on the near side before putting
the ball in the net against Newcastle GALLAGHERS
VERDICT: Correct decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: I think the interesting thing
here is if it goes in during the first phase of play, Harry doesnt flag.
What happens though is the keeper saves it and by then Firmino is in an
offside position as he follows it up. It would have been a goal
initially had Allens header gone in but once it was saved, Firmino was
offside. Harry has kept his focus on the player who has gone forward and
disallowed it correctly.MATCH: Liverpool v Newcastle United, Premier
League, SaturdayINCIDENT: Papiss Cisse escapes a yellow card after
colliding with Dejan Lovren and conceding a free kick.SCENARIO: A high
ball drops with Cisse and Lovren jostling to win possession. The players
come together with Cisses right arm outstretched. Lovren falls to the
ground and lands on his knees with his face down and coughing, whereas
Cisse goes on to contest the loose ball before play is stopped and
Marriner gives a foul against him for his challenge on Lovren. No
caution is issued.
Dejan Lovren and Papiss Cisse come together during the first half of
Liverpools game with Newcastle GALLAGHERS
VERDICT: Wrong decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: I didnt think it was an elbow.
It wasnt very nice because if you see it, Cisse has looked for it and
has caught him with his forearm across the throat. Its reckless and I
think he should have got a yellow card. The good thing about it is the
lad looked very bad at the time and was a lot better afterwards. It
didnt cause the damage it could have done.MATCH: Liverpool v Newcastle
United, Premier League, SaturdayINCIDENT: Cheick Tiote trips Sturridge
in the area but no penalty is given.SCENARIO: Sturridge cuts into the
penalty area from the right and after a stepover, turns to his right
away from Tiote and then right again before being brought down. Tiotes
right knee appears to catch the England strikers right knee but referee
Marriner waves play on and does not give the penalty. He also decides
not to caution Sturridge for simulation.
Gallagher feels Sturridge should have been given a
penalty against Newcastle GALLAGHERS VERDICT:
Wrong decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: I dont know why it wasnt given because I
thought it was a penalty. Sometimes you cant win the ball and this is a
classic example of that. Sturridge has hidden the ball from Tiote and
hes got to go through him to get it but Sturridge moved the ball away
and had his legs taken from him. Its just an incident the referee didnt
see as I see it - but he doesnt have the luxury of being able to see
replays from different angles. It should have been a penalty.MATCH:
Liverpool v Newcastle United, Premier League, SaturdayINCIDENT: A fan
watching the match blows a whistle during play.SCENARIO: With the
half-time interval imminent, someone in the crowd blows a whistle in an
attempt to make people believe it is signalling the end of the first
half. Although the players on the pitch dont react and referee Marriner
waves play on, many onlookers believe the whistle to have marked the end
of play and begin applauding. After a couple of seconds, Marriner feels
he has no choice but to stop play to end the confusion and restarts
play with a drop ball to Newcastle, who play it back to Liverpool given
they had been in possession at the time.
Andre Marriner stopped play after a false half-time
whistle from the crowd at Anfield GALLAGHERS
VERDICT: Correct decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: It has put the referee in an
impossible position and he is forced to stop the game. The players are
really good here - they accepted he had to stop the game and they let
him drop the ball, which he had to, and they restarted as normal. Its a
strange, strange incident and I dont know why people do it. Its not
good. Maybe the guy wanted a half-time cup of tea a bit early but we
dont want to see that.MATCH: Sunderland v Arsenal, Premier League,
SundayINCIDENT: The ball strikes Per Mertesacker in the Arsenal penalty
area but no penalty is given.SCENARIO: Sunderland are attacking when
Jermain Defoe shoots only to have his attempt blocked by Mertesacker.
The German defender turns his back on the attempt from close range and
the ball hits his left arm, with Sunderlands players appealing for a
foul. Referee Mike Dean dismisses their claims and no penalty is
awarded.
Per
Mertesacker blocked Jermain Defoes shot but not illegally, according to
Gallagher GALLAGHERS VERDICT: Correct decision.
Marquis Daniels Jersey.
GALLAGHER SAYS: Mertesacker starts with his hands behind his back which
is interesting. What you would say is Defoe has lashed his shot so hard
and from so close by that Mertesacker has not got any chance of getting
out of the way. Anybody who thought that was deliberate is very much
mistaken. Why Mertesacker turns his back I dont know but the ball
strikes him rather than him striking the ball.
Watch the penalty shouts from both teams during
Sunderlands 0-0 draw with Arsenal
MATCH: Sunderland v Arsenal, Premier League, SundayINCIDENT: DeAndre
Yedlin blocks Alex Iwobis shot in the penalty area with his arm but no
foul is given.SCENARIO: Arsenal are attacking and Iwobi shoots from
around 12 yards and although his attempt clears the first defender who
is attempting to block it, Yedlin gets in the way and appears to make
contact with the ball with his right hand before Sunderland clear.
Arsenals players appeal for a penalty but again Dean chooses not to
award one.
DeAndre
Yedlin gets in the way of Alex Iwobis shot during Sunderlands game with
Arsenal GALLAGHERS VERDICT: Correct
decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: This is even more interesting because it cant
be handball because when you look at the incident again, it actually
strikes his leg first and then flies up to hit him on the arm. He has no
chance of getting out of the way so again its a case of ball to hand
rather than hand to ball.MATCH: Leicester City v Swansea City, Premier
League, SundayINCIDENT: Riyad Mahrez scores the opening goal after an
apparent handball in the build-up.SCENARIO: Swansea captain Ashley
Williams attempted pass is intercepted by Mahrez, with the ball seeming
to strike him on the arm. Mahrez gathers the ball and advances into the
penalty area and shoots low past Lukasz Fabianski to put Leicester 1-0
ahead.
Riyad Mahrez
scored after the ball struck him when Ashley Williams failed to clear
properly GALLAGHERS VERDICT: Correct
decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: Initially I thought this was handball because
the ball has struck Mahrez from a reasonable distance but the thing
thats convinced me it hasnt hit him on the arm but on the side instead
is the fact Williams - the closest player to him who played the ball -
reacts first by chasing the ball. Thats really the giveaway. It must
have hit him on the side under the arm because Williams would have been
the first one to stop but his movement after the ball is played and the
fact it goes in the net with him just carrying on tells me I was
initially wrong.MATCH: Manchester City v Stoke City, Premier League,
SaturdayINCIDENT: Ryan Shawcross concedes a penalty against Manchester
City but is not booked.SCENARIO: Kelechi Iheanacho attempts to play a
one-two with Yaya Toure as Manchester City attack and play their way
into Stokes penalty area but as Iheanacho attempts to receive the return
ball, Shawcross intentionally body-checks the Nigerian and referee
Bobby Madley awards a penalty kick but elects not to caution Shawcross.
Ryan Shawcross
conceded a penalty against Manchester City but wasnt booked for bringing
down Kelechi Iheanacho GALLAGHERS VERDICT: Wrong
decision not to book Shawcross.GALLAGHER SAYS: The referee didnt see it
the way we have. Its definitely a penalty and theres no question about
that but it could easily have been a yellow card for reckless play and
pulling him back, as weve seen many, many times. Whether the referee
thinks hes just pulled him back but has been going after the ball, I
dont know. If Shawcross had got a yellow card, he couldnt have
complained.MATCH: Atletico Madrid v Malaga, La Liga, SaturdayINCIDENT: A
ball is thrown on to the pitch during play from the Atletico Madrid
bench.SCENARIO: Malaga win a throw inside their own half and take it
quickly to start a fast counter attack but as midfielder Ricardo Horta
runs down the left wing with lots of space to exploit, a ball is thrown
onto the pitch from Atleticos dug-out. Manager Diego Simeone is standing
on the touchline shouting instructions as the second ball enters the
field, but as the most senior ranking official in his sides technical
area, the referee sends him to the stand for the rest of the match.
Diego Simeone watched
much of Atletico Madrids win over Malaga from the stand after he was
sent off GALLAGHERS VERDICT: Correct
decision.GALLAGHER SAYS: The law is quite clear. Its a case of whether
what happens affects play and the referee, quite rightly, highlights
that if he pulled that up, Malaga would be penalised as they are
attacking. As it didnt interfere with a Malaga player, he quite rightly
allowed play to continue until the move broke down before going back to
deal with the issue. The interesting thing afterwards is the referee
doesnt know who threw it on and the rule in Spain is if he goes to the
bench to remove somebody and he doesnt know who, it has to be the most
senior person there. In this case that was Simeone so he is now staring
down the barrel of a three-match ban for something that he didnt do. If
that ball had actually struck the match ball, it would have interfered
with play completely and the Malaga attack would have broken down, with
the referee forced to stop it. What was really good was the referee was
aware it hadnt affected the Malaga player and he allowed him to continue
until the move ended.
Also See:
Premier League video
Fixtures
Table
Live on Sky
Get Sky Sports
Get a £10 free bet!
'
'
'