Fifth Became Sixtieth

For his ten year major league career, Kiner averaged 41 home runs a season with a .548 slugging average. The 41 home run average compares favorably with many great sluggers, including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ted Williams, and Henry Aaron, but his slugging average ranks only thirtieth, which is good but not among the best.

There is no doubt that Ralph Kiner was one of the greatest, most talented sluggers in baseball history. Based upon his talent, he is among baseball's elite. When he retired after the 1955 season, Kiner's statistics ranked among baseball's best but in the last fifty years, for many reasons, his accomplishments seem less impressive despite the fact they have not changed. His lifetime total of 369 home runs is an excellent illustration. In 1955, only Ruth (714), Foxx (534), Ott (511), and Gehrig (493) retired with more home runs. Today, Kiner's total ranks sixtieth.

For baseball's first half century, five hitters hit 369 or more career home runs. In baseball's second half century, fifty five batters have hit more than 369 career home runs. Quite an interesting and revealing statistic.

Those whose lifetime home run totals have surpassed Kiner's include Cal Ripken, Darrell Evans, Andres Galarraga, Al Kaline, Dale Murphy, Joe Carter, Graig Nettles, Norm Cash, and Carlton Fisk. Some were fine players but none is close to Kiner as a home run hitter, which brings up the age old problem. What is the importance of outstanding, rare natural talent over a relatively short time period (Ralph Kiner and Sandy Koufax) compared to solid, above average but not top tier talent over a long time (Don Sutton, Eddie Murray)?

The Rules for Election to the Hall of Fame fail to even approach the problem. To be eligible, a player must have a minimum of ten seasons in the major leagues. Voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America "shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played." Quite an open ended statement.

Ralph Kiner is one of many Hall of Famers with short careers. Kiner, Sandy Koufax, Dizzy Dean, Earl Averill, and Roy Campanella had enormous ability but displayed it for a limited time period. The conclusion here is that the greatest talents, regardless of the time those talents were displayed, are the greatest players. How many managers would select Don Sutton over Sandy Koufax if he had

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