WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY

Howie Rose by MARK ROSENMAN

Lenny Wilkens Sportstalkny 11/10/13 by MARK ROSENMAN

1981 Sports Phone Strat O Matic Report Marv Albert by MARK ROSENMAN

WOR Lost promo Tape 1967 Mets Chuck Hiller and Harvey Haddix by MARK ROSENMAN

In 1952, baseball legend Ralph Kiner stepped out of the batter’s box and into the recording studio for Columbia Records’ Playtime Series — a set of instructional 78 RPM records designed to teach kids the fundamentals of the game. Kiner’s contribution, simply titled “Hitting” (PV-800), captures his easy charm, straightforward wisdom, and love of baseball’s purest art: making good contact. Long before “exit velocity” and “swing path efficiency,” there was Ralph explaining how to take a short stride, stay level, and “get the good wood on that pitched ball.” This 7-inch red vinyl record originally sold for pocket change; one copy went for $10 on eBay in 2025. But now, you can listen for free — a timeless voice from a simpler era, when baseball advice came with a Pittsburgh accent and a smile. 🎧 Presented by Kiner’s Korner, where Ralph’s spirit still lives on — one swing, one story, one laugh at a time.