Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-28

klner is the only hitter in history to win ~
for the home championship in his league in his first
His homer has been AZ season.
against Babe Ruhs 1914 This after Ruth quit pitching
and took dead aim at the fences.
THE FIRST TIME KINER hit so homers in
he in 1947 81 in 1949he joined exclusive club
which does include such other established bats
Al Simmons, Joe DiMaggo and Mel OFT. Yet there
any the part of club to trade
sell Simmons, DiMag and OFT.
doubtful if Kners salary of the highest is the
real reason for Rckeys avowed intention of Kidding the
Pirates of the robust young Simmons DMaggio and
Ottwho didn't hit so hoers season-al highly
paid. they much better ball players.
DMaggio consunmate artist in the field and fine
if underraed runner Simmons smuggling apparent
awkWardness yelled the fact that he superior outelde
Off, of course could do anything He could play of
the Polo Grounds tricky rghed wall with uncanny skill Mel
could play third base necessary and he to the
Giants catcher. And he wasn't bad, considering he
was only is.
IN K1NERs CASE it's different If he isn't hitting that
he's ball player Every other outeder
the years had be better fly
catcher base The question in connection with Kner
always has BEEN Can his home his
shortcomings?
Kiner is what you'd call consistent 300 batter When
he gets above the 300 isn't by much but he's been
low 244 In other words alaround stickman he
isn't in the class of Ruth Gehrg Simmons and others of the
long ball division
The lad is specialist pure and simple He hits home
nothing 1947 hit eight homers four
PERIOD feat which nobody has surpassed
The Pirates stumbled along seventh place. because of
Kner than million fans paid to watch Mr. Biceps
his home field.
gate attraction there has been great fault to
The Pirates have been pretty messy outfit from the
Joined them. When the 60 they go
Kiner hit his salary reflects his appeal It's
repeatedly close to 100000.
WHEN RICKEY ASSUMED command of the BUGS he
said be appalled, by Cd Kners salary 2) Kiners lack
of ability aside from hitting the home There has been
friction since There isn't much Hickey do about
Raph pay except unload him, and that's easier said than
done The blunt truth is that not many other clubs want
Kner He's nice enough guy, they admit but he strikes
out too often he can't play position we'll and while his
home frequent and thrilling they don't the
Pirates into the first division
Once the Pirates tried to play him at first base probably
to enhance his value the trading flop
They him back lefteld still hopeful he'd break
Ruth record of 60 home which out of reach in
Ralph's for several reasons
First Kiner is right handed hitter which means he
faces ghhanded pitchers than the southpaws
babe eft-handedD Secondly, PLAYED
during the night ball. whereas Ruth did Most
hitters prefer sunshine.
Thirdly Kner has been serving the big hoWzer for
gosh awful ball clubs Ruth the other hand usually
winner at least playing for team that had
others who could put ball in the seats While Kner is
wearing Pittsburgh uniform all pitchers wait to
him. Ruth had able commissioning and Lazzer
instance-to take some of the pressure off him.
For pitcher there et-up when the heavy part
of the Yankee batting order up If he
But pitching against Pittsburgh it's just getting
Kner Even if you don't get Kiner the likely
do much else they'd games last year.