“Need to Meet My Cousin” – Ralph Kiner’s Son Gets Candid About Emotional First Encounter With Baseball-Playing Relative

Some bonds are deeper than the roar of the crowd, echoing across generations. For the Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the whispers of the baseball lineage were always there. His grandfather often reminded him of a connection to Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. This family lore that had been passed down for so long had finally blossomed into a vivid reality on a spring day in New York. It was a meeting years in the making, bridging oceans and generations.

The big date was Monday, May 12, 2025, at Citi Field. Scott Kiner, son of the legendary Ralph Kiner, got to meet his second cousin once removed, Isiah Kiner-Falefa. This emotional first encounter was made possible by staffers from both the Pirates and the Mets.

Scott came from Ohio, promoting his book “One Of A Kiner.” This book tells the story of his celebrated parents, Ralph and tennis star Nancy Chaffee. The meeting took place in the context of Ralph Kiner’s historic affiliation with the Mets as a broadcaster.

IKF was raised in Hawaii, far from his grandfather’s mainland family. His grandfather came to Hawaii for college and never returned. This disconnected the younger generations from that side of the family. Independent research by both IKF and Scott, prompted by public statements and genealogy sites, eventually confirmed their surprising familial link.

The family tree was further revealed when Scott showed a picture of Mary McPherran Kiner, Ralph Kiner’s great-grandmother and Scott Kiner’s great-great-grandmother, and, well, Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s great-great-great-grandmother.

Scott Kiner openly shared his feelings about this emotional first meeting with his baseball-playing cousin. “But when I did the genealogy, I was like, ‘I need to meet my cousin.’ I did think that today was the right day,” Scott expressed. He later mentioned, “I kind of felt that was a bond that had to be established.” The heaviness of family history and yearning to reconnect were clearly felt.

The Pirates infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa was also visibly touched by their long-awaited meeting. “This is something that I’ve always dreamed about,” IKF shared, his voice filled with emotion. “For me to not meet anybody on my grandfather’s side, it kind of felt like something was kind of missing. To finally meet Scott is like, full circle.”

He later added, “I’ve got the chills. This is awesome. This is a long time coming for me.”

Kiner’s Korner comes alive for IKF

The day held more magic. Just off the injured list, IKF stepped to the plate in the second inning. As if scripted, the iconic “Kiner’s Korner” jingle, his Hall of Fame grandfather’s theme, played. He then launched his first home run since August 17 of the previous season.

“After everything that we did today, for me to hit a homer right there, that was a huge moment for me. That was surreal,” Kiner-Falefa called it unforgettable.

On that heartwarming 12th of May game against the Mets, Kiner-Falefa went 2 for 4 with a solo home run and 1 RBI. But then again, it’s baseball… The was an important fielding error, too, in the ninth from IKF. But as of now, his numbers are soaring.

Through May 13, 2025, IKF’s season stats were a .288 batting average, 1 home run, 8 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, and a .704 OPS in 31 games. These do speak to his style of contact hitting and defensive versatility.

Unfortunately, IKF’s team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, is not doing so well on the field in 2025. They were 14-28 by the middle of May, sitting last in the NL Central. A notable struggle has been their offense; the Pirates had set a grim franchise record by failing to score more than four runs for 18 straight games and averaging only 3.10 runs per game. The team’s batting average was a mere .220. This has dropped them well out of playoff contention and shifted their focus to player development for the future.

But let’s leave that aside for a while because this tender Kiner family reunion reminds us of the game’s unique ability to connect past and present. Wins and losses may make the news, but the personal stories and legacies are the heartbeat of the game. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s emotionally charged day, marked by a family embrace and a storybook home run, reminds us of these deeper connections. Touching, isn’t it?