i8fW7 (Library ebook) Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography Online [i8fW7.ebook] Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography Pdf Free Robert P. Broadwater ebooks | Download PDF | *ePub | DOC | audiobook #2260578 in Books Broadwater Robert P 2016-03-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.75 x 5.75 x .50l, 6.00 #File Name: 078649817X204 pagesRalph Kiner A Baseball Biography | File size: 39.Mb Robert P. Broadwater : Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography before purchasing it in order to gage whether or not it would be worth my time, and all praised Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography: 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Well Written and Informative Biography of Ralph KinerBy Dr. W. Terry LindleyThis is a first-rate biography of Ralph Kiner, the premier slugger of the late 1940s and early 1950s, whose career was cut short by chronic back pain. Yet, his life in baseball would last another half century, first as general manager of the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League, and then as announcer for the Chicago White Sox, and from 1962 into the early 21st century as broadcaster of New York Metsrsquo; games over WOR-TV.Kiner led the National League in home runs his first seven years, which broke Babe Ruthrsquo;s record of six consecutive years. While Ruth had Lou Gehrig providing protection, Kiner had virtually no one. Kiner also played on bad teams in Pittsburgh, with the 1952 team being one of the worst in history, finishing 54.5 games out of first and 22.5 games behind the 7th place team. He was also the first true slugger for the Pirates. In 1946, he was the first Pirate to lead the league in home runs since 1902 and after his third season, he was the teamrsquo;s all-time leader in home runs.Robert Broadwater makes a number of interesting points. The first deals with Kinerrsquo;s service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he flew patrols in a Martin PBM Mariner in the South Pacific, hunting Japanese submarines and surface ships, patrols that could last up to 24 hours. He went into the service weighing 165 pounds and came out at 195, having added mostly muscle. He developed a physical fitness routine in the Navy that continued throughout his career. He was one of the few players who lifted weights and worked on strengthening his hands and wrists.Second, the author explores Kinerrsquo;s relationship with Hank Greenberg who became like an older brother. Greenberg taught Kiner to stand closer to the plate so that he could pull outside pitches. Greenberg brought Kiner to Cleveland in 1955 and got him the GM job in San Diego as well as the announcerrsquo;s job for the White Sox. He also introduced Kiner to culture, taught him how to act on and off the field, and was best man at Kinerrsquo;s first wedding. Kiner became very comfortable in speaking with people on different topics, a trait he exhibited when celebrities dropped by during his Metsrsquo; broadcasts.Third, Broadwater comments on Kinerrsquo;s relationship with celebrities. Piratesrsquo; owner John Galbreath got Kiner to invest in real estate, and the slugger built a home in Rancho Mirage, California. His neighbors included Lucy and Desi Arnas, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. He played golf with Hope and Crosby, and he became friends with Randolph Scott, Jack Benny, James Garner, and Frank Sinatra among others. He even dated Elizabeth Taylor and Janet Leigh.Fourth, the author paints an unflattering picture of Branch Rickey who became Piratesrsquo; GM in 1951. According to Broadwater, Rickey bad-mouthed Kiner to ownership and the press, calling him a ldquo;detrimentrdquo; to the team. When a contract dispute developed, Rickey publicly implied that Kiner was a selfish player. Rickeyrsquo;s goal was to trade Kiner and use the savings from the sluggerrsquo;s salary to sign young talent. One wonders why Broadwater did not consult Lee Lowenfishrsquo;s Branch Rickey: Baseballrsquo;s Ferocious Gentleman on this matter.Fifth, Kinerisms are explained. When one thinks of outlandish, nonsensical statements from a ballplayer, you think of Yogi Berra. However, as Broadwater shows, while broadcasting Metsrsquo; games and hosting the postgame show ldquo;Kinerrsquo;s Korners,rdquo; Kiner could give Yogi a good race. Among the more notable Kinerisms are ldquo;Solo home runs usually come with no one on base,rdquo; ldquo;On Fatherrsquo;s Day, we again wish you all Happy Birthday,rdquo; and ldquo;The Mets have got their leadoff batter on only once this inning.rdquo;Finally, there is Kinerrsquo;s personality. Kiner was easy going and friendly. He always signed autographs, only asking that people be orderly when making requests. This was the result of being snubbed by Dizzy Dean when he was a kid. He was also involved in charity work and community outreach.The book is enhanced by an appendix where the author presents the case for Kinerrsquo;s inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame, comparing him to other leftfielders who are enshrined there. He is seventh in on-base percentage, sixth in home runs, first in average RBIs per season, and 4th in average runs scored. Kiner was elected on his last year of eligibility and received one more than the 272 votes needed.The only negative features of this otherwise outstanding work include the absence of any interviews in the bibliography and some gaps in Kinerrsquo;s personal life. One wonders if the author tried to talk with Kinerrsquo;s children or members of the Metsrsquo; organization. Another issue that Broadwater could have investigated was why Kinerrsquo;s first marriage failed and his relationship with his kids after the divorce.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy bigauvA very interesting book about a Pirate great Ralph Kiner (1922-2014) was one of the most feared power hitters of his era. Babe Ruth predicted Kiner would be the slugger most likely to break Ruth's single season home run record. While the left fielder from New Mexico missed that mark, he did break one of the Babe's records, leading his league in home runs for seven consecutive seasons--a record unbroken since. Kiner set his records while playing for some of the worst teams ever to take the field. With little support in the Pittsburgh Pirates lineup, pitchers were often able to work around Kiner, walking him dozens of times per season. Despite this, Kiner made them pay for their mistakes, sending towering flies over the fences. After just 10 years in the league, Kiner's career on the field was cut short by chronic back pain. At retirement, his 369 home runs placed him sixth on the all-time list. He didn't leave baseball, however, serving as general manager of a minor league team and later announcing for the newly formed New York Mets in 1962, where he would be the voice of the team for more than fifty years. This is his story. "a comprehensive examination"--ProtoView.About the AuthorRobert P. Broadwater has written more than 35 books of military history and more than 100 magazine articles dealing with the American Civil War and the Revolutionary War. He lives in Bellwood, Pennsylvania. [i8fW7.ebook] Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography By Robert P. Broadwater PDF [i8fW7.ebook] Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography By Robert P. Broadwater Epub [i8fW7.ebook] Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography By Robert P. Broadwater Ebook [i8fW7.ebook] Ralph Kiner: A Baseball Biography By Robert P. 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