Baseball
Shot Heard “Round The World”
It’s seldom that moments stick in your mind, not just for a month or two, but for decades with stories that your Grandpa could tell you about, but this one did.
It was a story of the shot that echoed for more than six decades where Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Bobby Thomson is listed as one of the most prolific home runs in
20 Apr 1938, Chicago, Illinois, USA — 4/20/38-Chicago, IL: The Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers in the Chicago baseball season opening at Comiskey Park here. In almost perfect baseball weather. 18,000 fans saw the Sox win 4-3. Hank Greenberg Tigers 1st baseman, is shown hitting a home run in the 5th inning. Rensa, catching, and umpire Hubbard behind the plate. — Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS
baseball history.
Branca made his baseball debut in his teen years in 1944 and managed to go 21-12 with 15 complete games during Jackie Robinson’s first season in 1947.
He (Branca) was also a co-founder of the Baseball Assistance Team, which aids member of the baseball family in needs of financial , psychological or medical assistance, serving as it’s president for 17 years.
Branca spend 12 seasons in the majors and was a three-time All-Star who was brought in from the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth in game 3 in the deciding game of the National League pennant playoff game October 3, 1951.
He gave up a three-run homer to Thomson, which eventually gave the New York Giants a shocking 5-4 victory in the game.
It was a one-out line drive into deep left field in the lower deck at the Polo Grounds, which emulated a call from game announcer Russ Hodges “The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”
As Thomson ran the bases, it was Branca who wore his unlucky #13 who watched him cross the plate to capture the championship.
It was interesting as with more than a dozen games heading into mid-August the Giants trailed the Dodgers by more than a dozen games.
Interesting enough for the next 50 years both Branca and Thomson quite often appeared at card shows, several baseball functions or even corporate event re-visiting the story over and over.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred released the following statement “Ralph’s participation in the ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World’ was eclipsed by the grace and sportsmanship he demonstrated following one of the game’s signature moments.”
He continued “He is better remembered for his dedication to the members of the baseball community. He was an inspiration to so many of us.”
Branca is survived by wife Ann and daughters Patti and Mary — the latter the wife of Valentine.