Ralph Kiner
Inducted:
1975
Player Details
6-2, 195lb (188cm, 88kg)
Born:
October 27, 1922
Santa Rita, New Mexico, U.S.
Died:
February 6, 2014
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
Position:
Left fielder
College:
Alhambra High School
Ralph Kiner, born October 27, 1922, in Santa Rita, New Mexico, was one of baseball’s most feared sluggers of the postwar era. A power-hitting outfielder, he made an immediate impact with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946, leading the National League in home runs for seven consecutive seasons. Known for his compact swing and ability to drive the ball to all fields, Kiner hit 369 career home runs in just 10 seasons, averaging more than 40 per year during his peak.
Despite playing on struggling Pittsburgh teams, he was a six-time All-Star and consistently among the league leaders in walks, on-base percentage, and slugging. Traded later in his career to the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians, he remained a dangerous hitter until injuries forced his early retirement. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975, Kiner’s legacy endures as one of the game’s most dominant sluggers and later as a beloved broadcaster.
Kiner's Awards and Records:
- 6× All-Star (1948–1953)
- 7× NL home run leader (1946–1952)
- NL RBI leader (1949)
- Pittsburgh Pirates No. 4 retired
- Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame
- New York Mets Hall of Fame
MLB Records:
- Averaged 43 home runs per season from 1946–1952
- One of the fastest players to reach 100, 200, and 300 career home runs
- Only player to lead the National League in home runs in each of his first seven seasons
Career Teams:
Pittsburgh Pirates (1946–1953)
Chicago Cubs (1953–1954)
Cleveland Indians (1955)
Number Worn:
4
MLB Stats:
Career:
1946–1955
Games Played:
1,472
Hits:
1,451
Batting Average:
.279
Home Runs:
369
RBIs:
1,015
Runs:
971
Doubles:
216
Walks:
1,011