7 Time National League Home Run Champion

United States Naval Pilot in World War II

(1922-2014) Born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, on October 27, 1922, and he died in Rancho Mirage, California, on February 6, 2014. Kiner enlisted in the U.S. Navy the day after the Japanese attack at Pear Harbor. He flew PBM Mariner flying boats on submarine patrols from Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, accumulating 1,200 flying hours.

Ralph Kiner played 10 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1946 to 1955, with injuries forcing his early retirement.

He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, 1946-1953; the Chicago Cubs, 1953-1954; and the Cleveland Indians in 1955.

His lifetime batting statistics were as follows: .279 batting average; 369 home runs; and 1,015 r.b.i.'s.

His career highlights include being named a National League All Star 6 times; he led the National League in home runs for 7 straight seasons, 1946-52; he lead the National League in r.b.i.'s in 1949 with 127; his uniform #4 was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is a member of the Pirates, Hall of Fame; he is a member of the New York Mets, Hall of Fame, where he was a radio and television announcer from 1962-2013; he also hosted a very popular post-game television show known as "Kiner's Korner" on WOR-TV, where he interviewed live, stars of the game on either or both teams. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, at Cooperstown, New York, in 1975.

Autographed Commemorative Hall of Fame Cover: 6 1/2 x 3 3/4. Features two vignettes of Kiner at the left in batting poses, with his name "RALPH KINER" printed above, and "COOPERSTOWN" printed below. Cancelled Date Stamped, Anniversary Station, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326, Jun. 12, 1989, and beautifully tied on with a stamped, Hall of Fame, 50 Years, 1939-1989, cancellation with a 25 cents, U.S. flag postage stamp. Descriptive text printed at the bottom: "An original wall-banging "Natural," Ralph Kiner lit up scoreboards and tore down signs with prodigious home run clouts. He won N.L. Home Run Titles at Pittsburgh in 1946-1952, hitting 54 in 1949. He walloped 369 career homers, compiled a .279 average, and played in five All Star games. Ralph Kiner was called to Cooperstown in 1975. Has a beautiful large blue ball point pen signature, "Ralph Kiner." This appealing commemorative envelope is in near mint/mint condition and would make an excellent addition to any Hall of Fame baseball collection. FROM THE 64 YEAR OLD PERSONAL COLLECTION OF LEN ROSA.