Ralph Kiner died of natural causes at the age of 91. He was one of the most prolific home run hitters ever, but unfortunately had a short career. He's best known now as the long-time announcer for the Mets, but his power was legendary -- he led the National League in homers seven straight seasons while playing for Pittsburgh, from 1946 through 1952, hitting over 50 HRs twice and over 40 three other times during that span. He had 369 homers in just 6,256 at bats during a ten-year career.
For the awful post-WWII Pirates, Ralph was the team, hitting his homers for a perennial bottom feeder, and also while playing in Forbes Field, which was the toughest park for home runs for a right-handed hitter in baseball, 457 feet deep in centerfield and almost as deep in left-center. RIP
For the awful post-WWII Pirates, Ralph was the team, hitting his homers for a perennial bottom feeder, and also while playing in Forbes Field, which was the toughest park for home runs for a right-handed hitter in baseball, 457 feet deep in centerfield and almost as deep in left-center. RIP
