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Proclamation honoring in memoriam Ralph McPherran Kiner, a WW II veteran, Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Pirates player and broadcasting icon.
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WHEREAS, on February 6, 2014, Hall of Famer Ralph McPherran Kiner passed away at his home in Rancho Mirage, California; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kiner signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and made his major league debut on April 12, 1946, after graduating from high school, playing two seasons and part of a third in the minor leagues before training as a Navy pilot during World War II. He served in the Pacific, assigned to search for Japanese submarines; and
WHEREAS, a natural artist of the long ball, Mr. Kiner led the National League in home runs for each of his seven full seasons with the Pirates from 1946 to 1952, including a club-record 54 homers in 1949. He ranks second on the Pirates all-time home run list with 301; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kiner was traded to the Chicago Cubs on June 4, 1953 and finished his career with the Cleveland Indians in 1955 before entering the broadcasting booth in 1961 to broadcast games for the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets; and
WHEREAS, in 1975, Ralph Kiner was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 1987, his No. 4 Pirates jersey was retired; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kiner was one of the greatest sluggers in National League history and one of the greatest players to ever wear a Pirates uniform. He was also a tireless ambassador for our National Pastime;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council does hereby honor in memoriam Ralph Kiner and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. As a treasured member of the Pittsburgh community during his seven years with the Pirates, his legacy will live forever in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.