Wlie 540 Am Sportstalkny

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.