Isiah Kiner-Falefa is a professional baseball player who currently plays as a shortstop for the New York Yankees. He has been in the Major League Baseball (MLB) since 2018, when he debuted with the Texas Rangers. He is known for his versatility, as he can play multiple positions, including catcher, third base, and second base. He also won the American League Gold Glove Award at third base in 2020.
But did you know that Kiner-Falefa has a famous relative in the baseball world? He is actually the second cousin twice removed of Ralph Kiner, a Hall of Famer who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians from 1946 to 1955. Kiner was one of the most prolific home run hitters of his era, leading the National League in homers for seven consecutive seasons. He also became a popular broadcaster for the New York Mets after his retirement.
How are Kiner-Falefa and Kiner related? And what are their ethnic backgrounds? Let’s find out more about this surprising family link.
Contents
The Family Link Tree
According to Wikipedia, Kiner-Falefa is related to Kiner on his mother’s side. His mother, Julie Falefa, is of Samoan descent and was born in American Samoa. She moved to Hawaii when she was young and met Kiner-Falefa’s father, Timoteo Kiner, who is of Puerto Rican descent and was born in New York.
Timoteo’s grandfather, Ralph Kiner Sr., was the uncle of Ralph Kiner Jr., the baseball legend. This means that Timoteo and Ralph Jr. were first cousins, and their children, Isiah and Michael (Ralph Jr.’s son), are second cousins. Michael’s children and Isiah are second cousins once removed, and Michael’s grandchildren and Isiah are second cousins twice removed.
Here is a simplified family tree to illustrate the relationship:
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Ralph Kiner Sr. (Timoteo’s grandfather) — Ralph Kiner Jr. (baseball legend)
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Timoteo (Isiah’s father) — Julie (Isiah’s mother)
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Isiah (baseball player) — Michael (Ralph Jr.’s son)
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Second cousins once removed — Michael’s children
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Second cousins twice removed — Michael’s grandchildren
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The Ethnic Backgrounds
As mentioned earlier, Kiner-Falefa has a diverse ethnic background. He is of Samoan, Puerto Rican, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Irish, and Native American ancestry. He was born and raised in Hawaii, where he attended Mid-Pacific Institute in Honolulu. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB draft.
Kiner also had a mixed heritage. He was of German, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent. He was born in New Mexico and grew up in California. He attended Pasadena Junior College before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1941.
The Baseball Careers
Kiner-Falefa and Kiner have both had impressive baseball careers, although they played in different eras and positions.
Kiner-Falefa is a utility player who can play multiple positions on the field. He started his MLB career as a catcher, but later transitioned to third base and then shortstop. He has also played second base occasionally. He is known for his defensive skills, speed, and contact hitting. He won the Gold Glove Award at third base in 2020, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player to do so. He also led the MLB in singles in 2021 with 136.
Kiner-Falefa has played for two teams in his MLB career: the Texas Rangers (2018-2021) and the New York Yankees (2022-present). He was traded to the Yankees in March 2022 as part of a multi-player deal involving the Minnesota Twins. As of July 4, 2023, he has a career batting average of .264 with 25 home runs and 189 runs batted in.
Kiner was a slugger who played mostly as an outfielder. He was one of the most dominant home run hitters of his time, leading the NL in homers for seven straight seasons from 1946 to 1952. He also led the NL in runs batted in twice (1949 and 1951) and slugging percentage three times (1947-1949). He was a six-time All-Star and finished in the top ten of the MVP voting five times.
Kiner played for three teams in his MLB career: the Pittsburgh Pirates (1946-1953), the Chicago Cubs (1953-1954), and the Cleveland Indians (1955). He retired at the age of 32 due to a back injury. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1975. He also became a successful broadcaster for the New York Mets from 1962 to 2013. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 91.
The Conclusion
Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ralph Kiner are related by blood, but they are also connected by their passion for baseball. They are both talented players who have made their mark in the MLB. They are also both proud of their diverse ethnic backgrounds and their family heritage. They are an example of how baseball can bring people together across generations and cultures.
