RALPH KINER·1949

The summer of ’49 belonged to Ralph Kiner, and Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field was his private shooting gallery. In 152 games, the Bucs’ slugger launched 54 home runs and drove in 127, while hitting .310 with a .432 on-base mark. He walked 117 times because pitchers preferred the base to the blast. His .658 slugging percentage told the story: when Kiner connected, the ball rarely came back. Every swing was a promise, every at-bat a chance for fireworks. The season’s tale, however, was just beginning to unfold — three frames of legend waited.

54 HOME RUNS

In 1949 he hit 54 home runs.

127 RBI

In 1949 he drove in 127 runs.

117 WALKS

In 1949 he walked 117 times.

Ralph Kiner, 1948. Public domain portrait via Wikimedia Commons.