RALPH KINER

Today's exciting game between the Nationals and their contenders for the middlin' spot in the NL east -- the Mets -- gave me a chance to discover a cool piece of baseball history. His name is Ralph Kiner. He's been an occasional guest broadcaster along with regulars, Charlie Slowes and David Shea. He's 83 years old. The Hall of Fame inducted him in 1975. He started playing baseball with the Pirates in 1946, where he spent the next 8 years of his 10-year career. Back problems removed him from the game, but not before he became the first MLB player to request a $100,000 salary. Not before he hit 369 home runs, in 5,205 at bats, in 1,472 games as a consummate left fielder. During tonight's broadcast, he recalled playing the Washington Senators 11 years before my parents were born. This guy is a treasure and it just adds to the pomp surrounding the National's spectacular debut in the east that he's around to talk about old-school baseball.