SWC75
Bored Historian
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I've been a Met's fan since the 80's and have always enjoyed his work. He was actually a very sharp and well prepared guy, even when he made his annual visits to the broadcast booth after he had his stroke and was in his 80's and 90's. He'd have a book on each player and could discuss them in detail. He was the Met's link to the past, (most broadcast teams have one) who could compare Ozzie Smith to Marty Marion. I think people look to baseball broadcasters, (among other things) for continuity: you grow up listening to a voice, go off the college or war and come back listen to that voice, then listen to that voice with your son or even grandson.
Still Ralph was probably most famous for his stories, stories about him, and his malapropisms.
A lot of it had to do with names. He repeatedly called Gary Carter "Gary Cooper". He even called himself "Ralph Korner" once. When Tim McCarver was starting out, he was concerned with remembering people's names. Ralph told him not to worry. If you don't remember someone's name, just look up and say "Hey! There he is!" The next day, McCarver arrives for work, walks into the booth. Kiner looks up and says "Hey! There he is!"
In his younger days, as baseball top home run hitter and friend of Bing Crosby's, (who co-owned the Pirates), Ralph got some dates with Hollywood actresses, including Elizabeth Taylor. Ralph drove Liz to the Premiere of Twelve O'Clock High", (1949). When they came out, he went to the parking attendant and asked for "Ralph Kiner's car". They made an announcement for "Ralph Kiner's Car". Nothing happened. They repeated the announcement. Nothing. The attendant said "Mr. Kiner, it appears your chauffeur is asleep". Ralph said he didn't have a chauffeur. "Oh, then your car is over there" said the attendant, pointing to a vacant lot. That was his last date with Elizabeth Taylor.
Waiting for the car:
I was listening live when Ralph made his most famous malapropism: "Fans, today is Mother's Day and, on behalf of the Mets, I'd like to wish everyone out there a Happy Birthday!". (This is now, for some reason being reported as "Father's Day" but it was Mother's Day.)
Some other famous Kiner lines from over the decades:
"All of his saves have come in relief appearances"
"Darryl Strawberry has been voted to the Hall of Fame five years in a row."
"If Casey Stengel were alive today, he'd be spinning in his grave."
"It's like watching Mario Andretti park a car." - on Phil Niekro's knuckleball
"Solo homers usually come with no one on base."
"The Hall of Fame ceremonies are on the thirty-first and thirty-second of July."
"The Mets have gotten their leadoff batter on only once this inning."
"Tony Gwynn was named player of the year for April."
"There's a lot of heredity in that family."
Don't spin in your grave, Ralph.
Still Ralph was probably most famous for his stories, stories about him, and his malapropisms.
A lot of it had to do with names. He repeatedly called Gary Carter "Gary Cooper". He even called himself "Ralph Korner" once. When Tim McCarver was starting out, he was concerned with remembering people's names. Ralph told him not to worry. If you don't remember someone's name, just look up and say "Hey! There he is!" The next day, McCarver arrives for work, walks into the booth. Kiner looks up and says "Hey! There he is!"
In his younger days, as baseball top home run hitter and friend of Bing Crosby's, (who co-owned the Pirates), Ralph got some dates with Hollywood actresses, including Elizabeth Taylor. Ralph drove Liz to the Premiere of Twelve O'Clock High", (1949). When they came out, he went to the parking attendant and asked for "Ralph Kiner's car". They made an announcement for "Ralph Kiner's Car". Nothing happened. They repeated the announcement. Nothing. The attendant said "Mr. Kiner, it appears your chauffeur is asleep". Ralph said he didn't have a chauffeur. "Oh, then your car is over there" said the attendant, pointing to a vacant lot. That was his last date with Elizabeth Taylor.
Waiting for the car:
I was listening live when Ralph made his most famous malapropism: "Fans, today is Mother's Day and, on behalf of the Mets, I'd like to wish everyone out there a Happy Birthday!". (This is now, for some reason being reported as "Father's Day" but it was Mother's Day.)
Some other famous Kiner lines from over the decades:
"All of his saves have come in relief appearances"
"Darryl Strawberry has been voted to the Hall of Fame five years in a row."
"If Casey Stengel were alive today, he'd be spinning in his grave."
"It's like watching Mario Andretti park a car." - on Phil Niekro's knuckleball
"Solo homers usually come with no one on base."
"The Hall of Fame ceremonies are on the thirty-first and thirty-second of July."
"The Mets have gotten their leadoff batter on only once this inning."
"Tony Gwynn was named player of the year for April."
"There's a lot of heredity in that family."
Don't spin in your grave, Ralph.
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