This is the Kiner's Korner talk show which followed every NY Mets home game on WOR Channel 9 in New York. Ralph Kiner is interviewing Tom Seaver on April 5, 1983, following his opening day return to Shea.
Along with Bob Murphy and Lindsey Nelson, the voice of my childhood summers. I can almost hear the old screen door slamming behind me. RIP Mr Kiner. A life splendidly lived.
I was at this game. My "Welcome Home Tom" banner over the Loge towards the left field line was behind Seaver on the picture that made the front cover of The Daily News. We'll miss Ralph and that show.
It was sad to know that Ralph Kiner passed away this past winter; he was the last of the original broadcaster of the New York Mets franchise. I was lucky in 2007 to be in attendance when the Mets played the Cincinnati Reds at Shea Stadium and Kiner was honored for his service in the Mets broadcast booth now with him joining Lindsey Nelson and Bob Murphy up there, the team is at an irretrievable loss.
Great video, thanks for posting it. Brings back memories. I was fortunate enough to be at Yankee Stadium when Seaver won his 300th. game while with the White Sox, he threw a complete game. Had seats about 8 rows back from the Yankees dugout thanks to my brother-in-law. After the game, Don Drysdale interviewed Seaver right in front of the Yankees dugout. I snuck up to the front row and was only about 15 feet away during the interview. Best time ever at a ballgame, and to be there, so close to watch Seaver, my childhood idol win #300. I'll never forget it.
RIP Ralph. Yes - a piece of us young met fans' childhood is officially gone. You did live a great life and would want us to remember the good stuff. What a great listen in heaven... Nelson, Murphy and Kiner re-united!
RIP Ralph Kiner. P.S. Thanks for posting. I was at this game & therefore never got to see this. Imagine Seaver vs. Carlton, Opening Day, and walk-up tickets still sold on game day!
RIP. I had WOR on cable in LA in the early 80's,and always loved to watch "Kiner's Korner". When the Dodgers played the Mets,Ralph would be on the pregame show talking to either Vin,Jerry or Ross about the team,even if the Mets stunk. One of Vin's favorite guests.
God, Tom Seaver is just a wealth of baseball knowledge. The day before he's traded to the Reds Seaver strikes out Pete Rose three times. Pete must have been happy to see Tom in a Reds uniform.
Love the clip @5:29...Tom imitating pitching coach Rube Walker at a Mets Old-Timers game in 1971...anyone know the name of the legend sitting beside him?...
Seaver mentioned having a hard time against Woody Woodward ... turns out Woodward was 12 for 31 against Seaver for a .387 average He also walked 3x, so his on base pct vs Seaver was .441 Tommy Hutton was 16 for 50 off Seaver (.320) and also drew 11 walks for a .436 on base percentage. Rick Monday was 30 for 86 with 17 walks, batted .349 with a .456 on base percentage. Monday also hit 11 homers off of Seaver, the most of any hitter Seaver faced (Stargell, Darrell Evans and Ron Cey were next with 8 homers apiece off of Seaver).
Sox broke unwritten handshake rule among teams. Many great players were left off the roster in hopes of keeping their younger talent. There were other older great players left unprotected that year, such as Fergie Jenkins. Sox grabbed Seaver.
Great memory with Dad. We just decided to go to the game that morning and bought tickets at the window. Seaver got a no decision, but he pitched very well and the Mets did win (uncharacteristically) 3-1. To me it was just as much of a travesty when the Mets lost Seaver after that season as the '77 trade. Who knows if he could have pushed the '84 and '85 teams over the top, based on how he pitched in Chicago?
I was in the stands that day and the U.S.P.S. were selling envelopes with special stamps on then to commemorate the the occasion outside Shea Stadium......
"7 innings is a good fatigue point for opening day." Today 6 or 7 innings is the new fatigue point for an entire season. Disgusting! However it has nothing to do with a fatigue point. It's all about commercials, more commercials & yet more commercials. The powers that be destroyed America's Pastime!