Ralph Kiner - As a rookie in 1946, the handsome youngster from Alhambra, California, led the National League in home runs with 23. There was no question that his future was assured, but it would be even more luminous if he could reduce his strikeouts.

The cure arrived on January 8, 1947, when the Pirates acquired Hank Greenberg, former American League home run king, from Detroit. Greenberg asked to room with the muscular mauler, thereby affording endless hours for teacher-pupil discussions that paid off at the ball park.

Kiner listened intently as Greenberg imparted the knowledge gained from years of major league experience. Gradually, a finished ballplayer emerged. At season's end, the sophomore slugger had tied Johnny Mize of the Giants for the major's home run championship at 51. Greenberg not only impressed on Kiner the value of sleep as a success factor, but discussed at length on the science of hitting. He suggested that Ralph spread his feet, stand closer to the plate and, above all, relax.

"In 1946," Kiner explained, "I was afraid that when the pitcher got two strikes on me, the next pitch would come at me. I'd bite at the pitch and strike out. With Hank's coaching, I learned to swing only when the ball was over the plate."

Before long, Kiner clouted 15 homers with the count of two strikes.

Kiner performed for Albany (Eastern) and Toronto (International) before enlisting in the Navy in 1943. He was a patrol bomber pilot, "but never got into action, never even saw a whale." Ralph was ticketed for Hollywood (Pacific Coast) in 1946, but his 13 preseason homers and a batting average of well over .400 convinced the Pirates that Kiner deserved a varsity berth.

Ralph exploded in 1947. He clouted home runs on four consecutive trips to the plate. He slugged five in two games, six in three and seven in four.

In his first four seasons, Kiner clouted 168 homers, more than any previous big-league hitter.

The handsome, wealthy bachelor became the first citizen of Pittsburgh. Groupies virtually demolished his convertible in their uncontrolled adulation. He received 1,000 letters a week. "He's the franchise," acknowledged General Manager Roy Hamey. The Pirates were a mediocre team at the time, but fans were loyal, at least until Kiner had his last at-bat of the game, after which they swarmed toward the exits.

Tales of his prodigious accomplishments sprouted around him. One afternoon the Pirates trailed the Cubs, 12-9 in the 8th inning. Kiner, with a temperature of 103, was on the rubbing table in the trainer's room when the call came, asking if he was in condition to pinch-hit. Week and trembling, he managed to get to the plate and hit a game-winning grand slam. At Boston, he powered a homer that knocked the neon sign tubing off the new scoreboard, nearly 500 feet distant.

Kiner captured the fourth of his seven consecutive (out right or shared) home run titles in 1949 with 54, two short of Hack Wilson's N. L. Record.

After brief terms with the Cubs and Indians, Kiner retired in 1955 and served as general manager of the San Diego (Pacific Coast) Padres. In 1961, the articulate former slugger joined the broadcasting booth. Baseballhistorian.com - Archives