http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_ ... ied-age-91" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- Ralph Kiner, who slugged his way into the baseball Hall of Fame and enjoyed a half-century career as a popular broadcaster, died Thursday. He was 91.
Having grown up in NJ, I listened to Ralph Kiner broadcast Mets games for years. He was known for having great quotes, many by accident. He routinely screwed up what he was trying to say.
Here is a brief list:
"It's like watching Mario Andretti park a car." -- How he described Phil Niekro's knuckleball
"If Branch Rickey were alive today, he'd be spinning in his grave." -- Talking about the Dodgers and state of baseball in 1999
"Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third by Garry Maddox."
"You know what they say about Chicago. If you don' t like the weather, wait 15 minutes." -- When temperature at Wrigley Field dropped from 103 degrees to 61 degrees the next day.
"Cadillacs are down at the end of the bat." -- When asked why he didn't choke up
"I don't think we had the pressures then that ballplayers have now, because there was no television."
"All of his saves have come in relief appearances."
"All of the Mets' road wins against the Dodgers this year occurred at Dodger Stadium."
"Darryl Strawberry has been voted to the Hall of Fame five years in a row."
"Now up to bat for the Mets is Gary Cooper." (instead of Gary Carter)
"On Father's Day, we again wish you all happy birthday."
"Solo homers usually come with no one on base."
"The Hall of Fame ceremonies are on the 31st and 32nd of July."
"The Mets have gotten their leadoff batter on only once this inning."
"There's a lot of heredity in that family."
"Tony Gwynn was named player of the year for April."
"We'll be back after this word from Manufacturers Hangover."
