Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner dies at age 91

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Ralph Kiner, a Baseball Hall of Famer as a player who had a memorable career as a broadcaster, has died at his California home, hall officials said. He was 91.

The Hall of Fame said Kiner's family was with him when he died Thursday of natural causes at his home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

"With the passing of Ralph Kiner, the baseball world has lost one of its greatest ambassadors and the Hall of Fame has lost a wonderful friend," said Hall of Fame Chairwoman Jane Forbes Clark. "Ralph spent eight decades as a player, executive and broadcaster. He was a man who truly loved our national pastime and made it better in every way. His legacy will live forever in Cooperstown."

Kiner was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1975 after a 10-year career that included parts of eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, parts of two with the Chicago Cubs and a final season with the Cleveland Indians.

He led the National League or tied for the lead in home runs each year from 1946-52. He finished with 369 home runs. Kiner hit .279 and drove in 1,015 runs over his 1,472-game career and was voted to the All-Star team six times.

Kiner began his broadcasting career calling games for the Chicago White Sox in 1961. The next year he joined the broadcast team for the expansion New York Mets and was best known for his post-game "Kiner's Korner" segments.