Ralph Kiner Baseball HOF Stats Bat

Before he even played a Major League game, Pirates manager Frankie Frisch proclaimed “Kiner looks like he’s going to be the best [outfielder] we’ve ever had”. Ralph Kiner made his major league debut in 1946, at age 23, having lost three prime years to service of his country in World War II, and wasted no time in making his presence felt as he led the National League in home runs and established a new franchise record in the process.

For a decade Ralph Kiner was the game’s premier power hitter; he was the first National Leaguer to hit 50 home runs twice– it had only happened twice in the junior circuit, he became the first major leaguer to hit home runs in four straight at bats on two separate occasions, and was also the first major league player to lead the league in home runs in seven consecutive seasons. Baseball’s all-time winningest lefty Warren Spahn proclaimed “Kiner can wipe out your lead with one swing”.