Ralph Kiner

This also was the last of a record six consecutive seasons in which he led Major League Baseball in home runs all under the guidance of manager Billy Meyer and Pirate great Honus Wagner. It was in his final year of eligibility (his 13th as no vote was held in 1963 and 1965) and it was the closest call possible for any player elected by the BBWAA. The Pittsburgh Pirates retired his uniform number 4 in 1987.

Ralph McPherran Kiner (born October 27 1922) is an American former Major League Baseball player and has been an announcer for the New York Mets since the team's inception. Though injuries forced his retirement from active play after 10 seasons Kiner's tremendous slugging outpaced nearly all of his National League contemporaries between the years 1946 and 1954.