I never got to meet Ralph Kiner, but I feel like I spent many hours with him since I started watching Mets baseball in the 1980s. It just won’t be the same without Kiner visiting the broadcast booth or turning up at Citi Field for special occasions.
Greg Prince is far more eloquent that I can pretend to be tonight, so I’m going to quote from his post today and send you to read the rest at Faith and Fear in Flushing:
There’s never been the Mets without Ralph Kiner calling their games or, per his more recent part-time role, interrupting them. The Ralph of whom we were treated to select innings in the SNY era was the dandiest of intermittent presences. He was a baseball sage who could address any element his partners steered his way, and in doing so, he transported his audience to bundle after bundle of games, years and personalities that nobody else was telling us about anymore. It was a gift he kept on giving, and knowing that the gifts wouldn’t always pile up under the baseball tree made them that much more precious when we were lucky enough to receive them.
The comments are open if you want to share your memories of Ralph Kiner.
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The players came and went, but there was always Lindsey, Bob and Ralph. From 1962 to….forever. It was comforting, you know? Especially when the Mets were very, very bad in the late 70s. Some stability in a chaotic, unpredictable world of change. I remember when they moved Bob Murphy to radio only. I’d put the games on the TV and turn off the sound and turn on the radio, just to hear Bob (besides, sometimes he seemed to be watching a whole different game. 😉 ). They’re all gone now–Lindsey, Bob and Ralph. Very sad. If you’re a long time Mets fan, like I am, your heart has to be breaking right now. Wish I’d had a VCR in those early years. I’d have saved all those Kiner’s Korner shows. They were a blast. You will be missed, Ralph. You were a bigger part of our families than many of the actual members of our families. You made even the rainy days sunny.
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The only legendary announcer left now is Vin Scully,
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And it seems like he’s thinking about a reduced role or full retirement after this season.
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I wish Sterling and Waldmyn would retire. I’m dreading Sterling’s home run calls for the newest Yankees.
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