Shark Bytes

Only jumped because Ralph got old, nothing you could do about that...this was an awesome show

I swear this is true...I was watching on TV some pregame ceremony at Shea and Ralph was the MC...Reading off a card he introduced (and I'm gonna do this phonetically) MAYOR EDWARD I COCK AND GOVERNOR MARIO Q-OMO...god bless him

I had no idea this was even on the air any longer. I assumed it went away in the early 90's. Reading the comments here sure brings back very fond memories of my youth. Thanks to all.

Jack Clark was identified as "Jack Carter" in the same game as "Gary Cooper" instead of Gary Carter.
It was Gary Carter's first game with the Mets (opening day '85?), which he won with a HR in extra innings vs. the Cards.

Coupla faves: Edgardo Alfredo for Edgardo Alfonso and Honey Bear Blanks for Sugar Bear Blanks of the Cubs.

Ralph Kiner is a giant.
He's got a keen baseball mind ... even though he's on the other side of 80.
Those Kinerisms bring back many fond memories of watching the Mutts when they were great ... lousy ... or whatever.
"Manufacturers Hangover" was another Kinerism ...

there's an article in today's NY Times (7/12/07) about Kiner -- they're throwing a party for him in honor of 45 years in broadcasting.

84 years old, and still in broadcasting. amazin', as Stengel would say.

and some more Kinerisms:

"All of his saves have come in relief appearances."

"Solo homeruns usually come with no one on base."

"Two thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Gary Maddox." (good one!)

God bless, Ralph. Hope you can keep broadcasting for another 45 years!

I just wanted to add one of the great all-time Kinerisms. A long, boring Sunday day-game, late 80's. Ralph has a few "adult beverages" (ever noticed that eventually he leaves the broadcast booth around the 5th inning?). They are doing a promo for a WOR-TV movie showing of Charlton Heston and Lawrence Olivier in Kartoum (sp?). Ralph reads it "be sure to watch Charles Heston and Lawrence Oliver in Cart 'em". I liked the comment that he almost never talked about his own career. Kiner's Korner was a way to prolong the game a little before having to get back to reality. A great memory from my youth.

I can't believe this show is still on. I mean I watched it when I was a kid and now my grandson watches it! Jesus, how old is Kiner anyway, about 1000? At any rate, Kiner's Korner never jumped. It has been konsistantly entertaining for more than 40 years (!). Ralph's malaprops, his general confusion and his drunken blunders are legend among Mets fans. I hope he does the show for another 43 years! LET'S GO METS!

Ralph once referred to the Charlotte Hornets as "the Charlotte Harlots". He described a better getting hit by the pitch as "got hit right in the back of the back."

Ralph was always a guaranteed laugh, no matter how the Mets were playing. His malapropisms, mispronunciation of names, and alcohol-fueled babblings were always a delight. Long live Ralph!

My short list of botched names by Kiner. Dan Bilardello = Diane Bordello. Daryl Strawberry = Marv Throneberry. Dwight Gooden = Greg Goosen. There was also the time, I think it was Mets-Padres, a fly ball went over the outfielder's head, only when Kiner called it, it sounded like it was the outfielder's head rolling around on the warning track, instead of the baseball.

Kiner's Korner never jumped. Even more fun than watching Ralph screw up everyone's name was seeing how drunk he would be. If the game ran into extra innings, he would be practically incoherent! LET'S GO METS!

Boy am I glad I'm not the only one who remembers Lenny Dykstra's mother on Kiner's Korner! "Boy, Lenny your mother's a lovely woman!" He spent the whole show trying to pick her up! Long Live Kalph Riner!

How about when Ralph had to say "and now a word from our sponsor, Mitsubishi?"...must've head every possible permutation and combination of pronunciations.