NEW YORK โ Since childhood, Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been aware of his relation to Ralph Kiner, a Hall of Fame slugger who once played for the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Monday, at Citi Field, this connection became more personal. The 30-year-old shortstop had the opportunity to meet Scott Kiner, Ralph Kinerโs son, in a heartwarming encounter before a game between Kiner-Falefaโs Pirates and the New York Mets.
The two, who are second cousins once removed, shared an embrace in the Shannon Forde Press Conference Room. For Kiner-Falefa, who was raised in Hawaii, it was his first face-to-face meeting with anyone from Ralph Kinerโs lineageโa moment he described as a lifelong dream.
Scott Kiner, visiting from Ohio to promote his book about his renowned family, orchestrated the meeting with assistance from both baseball clubs. โIt felt like a bond that needed to be formed,โ he remarked.
Ralph Kiner, after concluding his playing days in 1955, became a beloved figure in New York as a Mets broadcaster, famous for his postgame show โKinerโs Korner.โ Kiner-Falefa fondly recalls attending a Ralph Kiner tribute event at Shea Stadium in 2007, when he was just 12 years old.
Fittingly, on the day he returned from a right hamstring injury, the stadium honored Kiner-Falefa by playing the โKinerโs Kornerโ jingle as he approached the plate in the second inning. This tribute was uniquely special, as Kiner-Falefa hit a home run during his first at-bat post-injury, a significant and memorable moment in his career. โHitting that homer after everything today was surreal,โ he expressed. โItโs a moment Iโll cherish forever.โ
The home run, a 382-foot shot, was Kiner-Falefaโs first since last August, leaving him amazed at the power he displayed. Even though the Mets played the โKinerโs Kornerโ theme, Kiner-Falefa joked that it would likely be a one-time gesture.
Despite making a crucial error later in the game, which ended in a 4-3 loss for his team, the emotional significance of the day wasnโt lost. Before the matchup, Kiner-Falefa gave his cousin an autographed Pirates jersey. In return, Scott Kiner presented him with a Ralph Kiner jersey, a charcoal drawing of the six-time All-Star, and a historical family portrait.
Scott revealed a family photograph of Mary McPherran Kiner, Ralph Kinerโs great-grandmother, detailing their Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. โNot much, but a bit of Pennsylvania Dutch in him,โ Scott jested.
Kiner-Falefaโs connection to the Kiner family comes through his maternal grandfather, who settled in Hawaii after attending college there. Though his parents never married, Kiner-Falefa carries both surnames, a fact he treasures as it allows him to pass on the Kiner family name.
Proudly aware of his family history, Kiner-Falefa learned about Ralph Kinerโs baseball legacy long before entering the major leagues with the Texas Rangers in 2018. His resemblance to the iconic slugger is not apparent, making it hard for others to believe his claims of kinship.
โTo finally meet Scott, feeling the family connection fully established, is incredibly moving,โ Kiner-Falefa said emotionally. Itโs a milestone he believed might never happen.
Now playing for the Pirates, Kiner-Falefa frequently visits the statue of his famous cousin at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, hoping to channel some of the legendary power that Ralph Kiner wielded during his storied career.
As he reflects on their encounter, Kiner-Falefa quipped, โI think my cousin Ralph took all the power from me.โ Despite this, the meeting has uplifted him with a sense of completeness.