April 19, 1962 - 1995
Last of the 9th inning New York Met Chico Fernandez singles against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chris Short who then throws the last pitch at the Polo Grounds to N.Y. Mets batter, Ted Schriber, grounding into a double play as the Phillies beat the Mets 5 to 1.
Bob Murphy does the play-by-play for this the last of the ninth inning at the Polo Grounds. As Murphy signs off, "Auld Lang Syne" can be heard as it is sung by the crowd at the stadium a remembrance of an end of an era of one of the most iconic ball parks in history comes to and end.
On Kiner's Korner, guest N.Y. Mets manager, Casey Stengel, reminisces with Ralph Kiner about the Polo Grounds. (Memories began for Stengel when he was a player there fifty years ago in 1913.) Stengel remembers scores of past moments, players and funny incidents through the years.
Joining Ralph Kiner and Casey Stengel are Al Moore, Bob Murphy, Lindsey Nelson, and WOR TV Mets director Ralph Giffin, who also directed Brooklyn Dodger baseball games (1951-1957).
KINER'S KORNER Premiered with the first televised New York Mets home game (April 19, 1962) broadcast on WOR TV Channel 9 in New York. This 15 minute program aired prior to and after each NEW YORK METS home baseball game.
The show usually consisted of an interview with the star of the game from the winning team, along with game highlights and scores of other games from that day. Sometimes two or more players were featured.
The show's theme music was Flag of Victory Polka, written by Alvino Rey under the name Ira Ironstrings. The show's name came from the close-in left field seats in Forbes Field where Kiner deposited many home runs during his Hall of Fame career as a Pirate home-run hitter.
Most extant KINER KORNER archived broadcasts are circa 1980's and 1990's and only a few dozen of those broadcasts are known to exist. Sadly, many hundreds of other shows were never recorded or if recorded on video tape erased over (wiped) using the 2" Quad to record a next broadcast, saving money or not viewing the saving of these programs of any value once aired. (1962-1980).
