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1948 Ralph Kiner Three Home Run Game Ticket Stub PSA FR 1.5
"Singles hitters drive Fords," said Hall of Fame outfielder Ralph Kiner. "Home run hitters drive Cadillacs." Need we say more, Ralph Kiner drove Cadillacs. Offered is a 1948 ticket stub from the July 5th first game of a double-header against the Cincinnati Reds at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh when the Pirates' Kiner single-handedly continued the previous day's July 4th fireworks with fireworks of his own as he crashed three home runs in a 10-3 Pittsburgh victory. Kiner was an amazing home run hitter whose Hall of Fame career was cut short by a chronically bad back. He also lost close to three years of playing time because of military service during World Ward II as a pilot in the Navy Air Corps. He was a long-time broadcaster for the New York Mets, and many fans of his broadcasting are not fully aware of what an outstanding home run hitter he was. Big Ralph led the National League in home runs for his first seven Major League seasons. In those seven years, all with Pittsburgh, Kiner hit over 50 homers in two seasons: 51 in 1947 and 54 in 1949. He hit 40 or more four-baggers in three of those other years. In 1950, Branch Rickey moved from his Brooklyn Dodgers to become the general manager of the Pirates. After the 1952 season, the Pirates finished in last place, losing 112 games. Kiner hit only .244, but he still led the National League in homers, Rickey wanted to cut Ralph's salary. When Kiner protested the salary cut, Rickey intoned, "We finished in last place with you. We can finish in last place without you." Eventually, Rickey traded Kiner to the Cleveland Indians and Ralph played for the Indians in 1953-54 and finished his career with the Chicago Cubs in '55. He ended his career with 369 homers, but similar to the pitching career of Sandy Koufax, for about six years, Kiner was about as good as one can get. The ticket stub was for a game in which Kiner's three home runs came in the 2nd inning, with none on base against Howie Fox; the 5th inning, with two men on against Fox; the 8th inning, with none on base, against Tommy Hughes. The stub measures 1.25x2.75". It has been encapsulated and PSA graded FR 1.5.
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