National League Aces of 1949: Kiner and Heintzelman Profiles
The page from the 1950 "Who's Who in the Major Leagues" features Ralph Kiner and Ken Heintzelman, two notable players from the National League. Ralph Kiner, an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, emerged as a power hitter, leading both leagues in home runs during his career. By this point, he had established numerous records in just three seasons, culminating in a significant performance in the 1949 season where he topped the National League with 54 home runs and was second in RBIs with 127. His impressive statistics also included leading the league in walks and maintaining a strong slugging percentage of .658. Kiner's contract at the time was valued at $65,000. On the other hand, Ken Heintzelman, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, played a crucial role in improving a previously struggling pitching staff.