Ralph Kiner

[Centerfield]

I think he sounds great. Much better than when he did after his stroke...definitely seems like he's making progress. I can't say I'm too thrilled about the format they have him in at SNY. A three-inning stint never allows him to get comfortable and the tie-ins to his stories seem forced.

I'm ok with the once a week bit...but let him sit the whole game so he can let the dialogue come to him.

By the way, anyone know what Ralph's beef with Branch Rickey is?

[Elster88]

Centerfield wrote: I'm ok with the once a week bit...but let him sit the whole game so he can let the dialogue come to him.

I agree, but I'm wondering if at this point in his recovery that that would be too long a session for him.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Rickey was Ralph's GM in Pittsburgh, and Ralph didn't think that Rickey treated him fairly with respect to contract negotiations.

[Guest KC]

I think Ralph tells a story about how he gave him a pay cut one year (let's
not forget just how prolific a home run hitter was in his shortened career)
telling him that they could finish last without him too or something like that.

[Frayed Knot]

Rickey was famous (or infamous) for using the (grossly unfair) hammer the owners had with the old reserve system to his advantage. He was also first in implementing the concept of the farm system - particularly when he ran things in St Louis - giving him control over huge numbers of players. StL, along with several of the other rich teams, had [u:debbc03edc]Dozens[/u:debbc03edc] of teams worth of minor leaguers under their control - making players easily replaceable.
That all led Ralph to one of his favorite sayings about Rickey, that; 'he controlled all of the players and all of the money - and did his best to keep the two apart'.

[Guest Edgy DC]

To hear Frank Thomas tell the story, Rickey seems driven almost crazy when a player stands up to him, which I guess is possible given that GMs were allowed to treat players completely unfairly, and Rickey was smart enough to be the best at using that to his advantage.

[G-Fafif]

Ralph got a nice hand when he was shown on the DiamondVision last night (though not as raucous as that afforded Gary Cohen when they played "Welcome Back" and showed him).

Perhaps in Ralph's honor, the red blurb at the top of the page should read "Happy Birthday to All The Fathers Out There."

[Guest cleonjones11]

Didnt Branch Rickey say to Kiner during negotiations "Kid we came in last with ya and we can come in last without ya"

Kiner is my tie to the sixties Mets and I miss him...

[Guest KC]

"If Casey Stengel were alive today, he'd be spinning in his grave."

[Guest Edgy DC]

]Didnt Branch Rickey say to Kiner during negotiations "Kid we came in last with ya and we can come in last without ya"

Referenced several posts above yours.

[Theoldmole]

I don't think anyone knows as much about baseball as Ralph does.

[Zvon]

TheOldMole wrote: I don't think anyone knows as much about baseball as Ralph does.

Its true, and someday when he's gone all the sudden people will realize this.
It breaks my heart that he had to suffer a health problem that would effect his ability to speak. It hasnt effected his thought process, which may be sharper than ever. Any Met fan who has had the previledge to listen to him through the years will attest to that. Cuz he had some fuzzy years for awhile there.

And early on it was tough to hear him make the effort, after the stroke, but Ive become used to that and he has improved alot over time and I have to stand and salute him for his comeback and for continuing to be the man who connects ALL generations of Met fans, from day one to this very day.

I felt the same way about Murph.
When Ralph is no longer with us we will lose more than just a commentator.

[The Big O]

KC wrote: (let's not forget just how prolific a home run hitter was in his shortened career)

People, least younguns nowadays, are usually surprised when I point out that Ralph is a member of the 50-HR club. Not only that, but also of the hallowed multi-time 50 HR club: Ruth (4), Foxx (2), Kiner (2), Mays (2), McGwire (4), Sosa (4), Griffey Jr. (2), A-Rod (2). Nice company.

Similar Batters
1. Darryl Strawberry (888)
6. Carlos Delgado (873)

[Guest Edgy DC]

No similars over 900 suggests you were a pretty unique batter.

[Guest KC]

35 or more HR's eight years in a row.

Nice job by metirish plugging the pool on Ralph's bbr.com page.