RetroSimba

Ralph Kiner, the Hall of Fame left fielder who hit 369 home runs in a 10-year major league career, slugged three home runs in a game for the Pirates against the Cardinals.

Throughout his career, Kiner was a Cardinals nemesis, hitting .309 with 50 home runs and 142 RBI against them.

A .279 career hitter with the Pirates, Cubs and Indians, Kiner’s batting mark against the Cardinals was his highest versus any National League team.

Kiner blooms at Greenberg Gardens

In 1947, Kiner, 24, was in his second big-league season with Pittsburgh. The Pirates had acquired Hank Greenberg, 36, the longtime Tigers slugger, to play first base and mentor Kiner.

To capitalize on the right-handed power of Kiner and Greenberg, the Pirates extended the bullpen fence about 30 feet in front of the left field wall at Forbes Field, shortening the distance for a home run from about 360 feet to about 330 feet, and dubbed the area Greenberg Gardens.

Though the 1947 Pirates were an awful team _ they would finish in last place at 62-92 _ they topped one million in home attendance for the first time in franchise history because of the slugging of Kiner (51 home runs) and Greenberg (25).

On Aug. 16, 1947, Kiner had three home runs, five RBI, four runs scored and two walks in the Pirates’ 12-7 victory over the Cardinals at Forbes Field.

The Pirates and Cardinals combined to hit 10 home runs in the game. The Pirates accounted for seven _ three by Kiner and two each by Greenberg and Billy Cox. Whitey Kurowski hit two homers for the Cardinals and Terry Moore hit one. All 10 home runs were hit by right-handed batters.

Kiner’s first home run came with the bases empty in the third off starter Ken Burkhart and landed against the light tower in the bullpen. He hit a three-run shot over the scoreboard in left off Ted Wilks in the fourth before capping his day with another solo homer off Johnny Grodzicki in the eighth. The third home run was the longest and “seemed headed for Carnegie Museum in nearby Shenley Park,” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Boxscore

Thanks, Hank

Kiner credited Greenberg with making him into a consistent power hitter. “Right from the start of spring training down in Florida, Hank was at my side constantly,” Kiner told The Sporting News. “He got me to move up a little closer at the plate to protect the outside (corner) and to spread my feet a bit, too.

“Hank gave me confidence and he taught me how to relax. Last year, I was usually tense at the plate. When a pitcher had two strikes on me, I was always afraid I’d be called out on strikes and I’d go after that bad one … I bet I’ve hit most of my home runs this year with two strikes on me.”

Said Greenberg: “Ralph had what it takes all the time. I merely gave him a bit of advice here and there when he asked me … Kiner and Ted Williams are probably the best wrist hitters in the game today.”

In his book “Stan Musial: The Man’s Own Story,” the seven-time batting champion of the Cardinals said Kiner “was the most consistent home run hitter in the National League. Hank Greenberg helped him and so did Greenberg Gardens at Pittsburgh, but Ralph worked at his game and improved himself as a hitter. He had a good eye and good power, plus a type of swing that sent the ball high with good backspin so that it kept sailing.”

Previously: No bull: Greg Luzinski pummeled Cards like few others