Ralph Kiner was hitting .270/.383/.466 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs on June 3, 1953. He had led the league with 37 home runs (tied with Hank Sauer) in 1952 for the seventh consecutive season, beginning with his rookie season of 1946.
Not even Babe Ruth led the league in home runs seven consecutive seasons.
At that point in his career, Kiner was like Denny Crane. “I haven’t lost one yet.”
But the Pirates were a moribund organization despite having Branch Rickey in charge. They needed players and they needed money.
On June 4, 1953, Rickey traded Kiner to the Chicago Cubs in a 10-player deal. Kiner was not surprised at the trade, especially since he was making $75,000 a year.
The Cubs were in Pittsburgh and were preparing for the game when the trade was announced. Kiner, who was taking batting practice, finished up, went into the clubhouse and changed uniforms.
He returned to the field to speak to the baseball writers.
“It didn’t come as a surprise. I’m sorry to leave Pittsburgh because it was my home. I’ve always been treated with great respect by Pittsburgh fans. It’s always tough to pick up stakes.”
Kiner had been a holdout in the spring because Rickey wanted him to take pay cut from the $90,000 he had been making. Rickey said that 1952 had been an off year for Kiner.
In 1952, Kiner batted .244/.384/.500 with a league leading 37 home runs and 87 RBIs on a Pirates team that finished at 50-104 and averaged 4.04 runs a game.
It didn’t come close to matching Kiner’s 1951 season (.309/.452/.627 with 42 home runs and 109 RBIs), but it still was a solid season.
In those days, batting average was the primary barometer used to evaluate hitters. On base average and walks were under appreciated.
Teaming up with slugger Hank Sauer, Kiner did well for the Cubs, He finished the season with 35 home runs and 116 RBIs, but Eddie Mathews led the league with 47 home runs to end Kiner’s streak.
Rickey had a reputation of knowing when to trade a player. It was Rickey who said, “Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late.”
Kiner’s back problems flared up occasionally in 1954. He hit a disappointing 22 home runs, although he managed to hit .285.
After the season, old friend Hank Greenberg, who was the Cleveland Indians general manager, obtained Kiner on waivers from the Cubs. Not one of the seven other National League teams claimed him.
Kiner was making $60,000 at the time of the trade. What happened next is unbelievable.
On his own volition, Kiner wanted to renegotiate his contract. Everyone, and that means everyone, was shocked. Commissioner Ford C. Frick indicated that the contract Kiner wanted would never be approved.
Kiner wanted to take a 40 percent salary cut.
“I did not have too good a year a year with the Cubs, and my salary might have been resented by some players,” Kiner told reporters.
Since the maximum salary cut a team could impose on a player was 25 percent, Kiner was forced to sign for the extra money.
References:
Kiner, in trade, shifts to cub garb at field. (1953, Jun 05). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/112808180?accountid=46260
Indians get kiner from cubs as national league clubs waive on slugger. (1954, Nov 17). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 41. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/112955630?accountid=46260