Original NYC Key To The City Tie Clip personally owned by National Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner (1922-2014). The gold-filled tie clip, measuring 1.75” x .75,” is in the shape of a miniature key, features an enamel-ringed bas relief of New York City seal at top, and its tip is formed by the letters, “NYC.” In very good condition, with some varnish, and presented in a vintage jewelry box with custom blue velvet mount. Accompanied by a Ralph Kiner signed check.
Provenance: acquired directly from the Kiner Family.
Over his 9-year-long professional baseball career, Ralph Kiner played left field for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1946-1953), Chicago Cubs (1953-1954), and Cleveland Indians (1955). He was a 7x home run leader, with a lifetime batting average of .279. After a serious back injury, Kiner retired at age 32. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975, and the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1984.
Kiner returned to the sport as an Emmy award winning sportscaster. He hosted his own segment called "Kiner's Korner" and commentated Chicago White Sox and New York Mets games for 53 seasons, making him the third-longest active baseball sportscaster of all time.