Ralph Kiner was a professional baseball player who went on to become a successful broadcaster on radio and television for the New York Mets.
Kiner, a native of New Mexico, made his professional baseball debut in 1946. During a decade-long career — with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians — Kiner, an offensive powerhouse, hit 369 home runs. He made the All Star team six times but retired at age 32 due to chronic back problems. He was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.
He joined the Mets' broadcast team in 1962 and continued to call games until 2013.
Kiner died February 6, 2014, in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 91.