Three in a Row: Ralph Kiner's 1951 All-Star Game Tie Clip

When Ralph Kiner walked into Briggs Stadium in Detroit on July 10, 1951, he was the most feared home run hitter in the National League. He led the league in home runs for seven straight seasons from 1946 to 1952, a feat never accomplished before, and he led the NL again in 1951 with 42. He made the All-Star team that summer, and he did what sluggers do. In the eighth inning, he hit a solo home run off Mel Parnell, making him the first player to homer in three consecutive All-Star Games. It was one of four National League home runs that day, with Stan Musial, Bob Elliott, and Gil Hodges also going deep in an 8-3 win, a one-team All-Star Game record.

This tie clip was given to Kiner for that appearance. It's a small keepsake, but a personal one, tied to a specific game and a specific milestone in the career of a Hall of Famer. Kiner was a six-time All-Star from 1948 to 1953, finished with 369 career home runs, and later became a beloved voice of the Mets, hosting "Kiner's Korner" after games in New York. For collectors, a piece directly tied to the game in which he made All-Star history, from a power hitter whose career was cut short by injuries, is the kind of understated, authentic item that's hard to find.