If you like the announcing of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling, it’s important to acknowledge Jan 31, 1962, or maybe we’ll call it Ralph Kiner Day.
One of the biggest influences on the three men doing the game now was Ralph Kiner. Fifty-six years ago, Ralph Kiner signed a deal to call New York Met’s games; something he would do or contribute to right until the year of his death in 2013. Kiner, who retired from baseball in 1955, led the National League in home-runs for seven years went from being a feared slugger to the announcer who made you laugh and enjoy a game, even if the Mets were losing.
Here’s a few things Ralph Kiner has said over the years which still make me laugh and hopefully they will bring back memories to you and also make you smile.
“All of his saves have come in relief appearances” Source: Sports Illustrated (July 5, 1989)
“All of the Mets road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium.”
“Cadillacs are down at the end of the bat.” Source: Book of Sports Quotes (Bert Sugar)
“Darryl Strawberry has been voted to the Hall of Fame five years in a row.”
“Hello, everybody. Welcome to Kiner’s Corner. This is….uh. I’m…uh”
“He’s (Bruce Sutter) going to be out of action the rest of his career.” Source: The Sporting News (July 10, 1989)
“If Casey Stengel were alive today, he’d be spinning in his grave.”
“I think one of the most difficult things for anyone who has played baseball is to accept the fact that maybe the players today are playing just as well as ever.”
“It’s (Phil Niekro’s knuckleball) like watching Mario Andretti park a car.”
“Jose DeLeon on his career has seventy-three wins and one-hundred and five RBIs.”
“Kevin McReynolds stops at third and he scores.”
“Now up to bat for the Mets is Gary Cooper.”
“On Fathers Day, we again wish you all happy birthday.”
“Solo homers usually come with no one on base.”
“(Don) Sutton lost thirteen games in a row without winning a ballgame.”
“The Hall of Fame ceremonies are on the thirty-first and thirty-second of July.”
“The Mets have gotten their leadoff batter on only once this inning.”
“The reason the Mets have played so well at Shea this year is they have the best home record in baseball.”
“This one deep to right and it is way back, going, going, it is gone, no off of the top of the wall.”
“There’s a lot of heredity in that family.”
“Tony Gwynn was named player of the year for April.”
“Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Garry Maddox.”
“You know what they say about Chicago. If you don’t like the weather, wait fifteen minutes.” Source: The Sporting News (July 11, 1988)
Source for Quotes above is: http://www.baseball-
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