Pittsburgh Pirates leftfielder Ralph Kiner began his Major League career in 1946, leading the National League in home runs during his rookie campaign for the Pirates. In the 1946 offseason, Kiner was offered a $10,000 per year deal that doubled his earnings from his rookie season. Kiner immediately made good on the lucrative deal, leading the National League in home runs for a second straight year as the unquestioned star of the Pirates roster. Kiner put up a Triple Crown slash line of .313/51/127 in his magnificent sophomore campaign, the second of seven consecutive seasons where Kiner would lead the Senior Circuit in round-trippers. Kiner would go on to play 10 seasons in the Major Leagues, retiring with 369 career home runs and earning his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975.

Offered here is Kiner’s Uniform Player’s Contract for the 1947 MLB season. The deal, signed for $10,000, would be tripled the following season to recognize Kiner’s outsized contributions to the Pirates. Kiner and Pirates General Manager H. Roy Hamey have signed this contract in blue pen. The contract is dated to December 20th, 1946 and Kiner’s address is noted as “Alhambra Calif”. The National League president, Ford Frick, has signed the contract in black pen. A “Dec 23 1946” stamp is placed above Frick’s signature. This contract comes with a LOA from JSA (Z67457).  

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