November 23rd, 2016 at 7:21 am 
by Ron Cervenka It is a day that Dodger fans will never forget, at least not veteran (old) Dodger fans. The date was October 3, 1951. It was the day that a then 27-year-old Bobby Thompson hit a home run to propel the hated New York Giants into the 1951 World Series in a best-of-three playoff against the Brooklyn Dodgers for the National League pennant at the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan. The pitcher for the Dodgers on that fateful day was then 25-year-old right-hander Ralph Branca and that crushing season-ending home run forever became known as the ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World.’
On Wednesday morning it was reported that Ralph Branca had passed. He was 90 years old.
Although Thompson’s devastating home run was but one of the many highs and lows between two of baseball’s greatest rival teams, Thompson and Branca were actually very close friends as a result of their indelible mark on baseball history. In fact, Branca and Thompson, who passed in 2010 at the age of 86, would often get together on the anniversary of that memorable (unforgettable) day.
This Oct. 3, 1991 photo shows former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca pretending to choke former New York Giants slugger Bobby Thomson on the 40th anniversary of Thomson’s famed ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World.’ (Photo credit – Marty Lederhandler)
On a more personal note, Branca was a regular at the popular LADABC Dodgers fantasy camps, which I attended in November of 2011. Unfortunately, the then 85-year-old Mount Vernon, New York native was under the weather and unable to attend. However, during one of our formal camp dinners, camp director and longtime Dodgers scout Guy Wellman phoned Branca and put him on speaker phone for all to hear. After exchanging pleasantries with the group, Branca played a couple of tunes on his harmonica, for which he was widely known. And though I missed out on meeting Ralph in person and aside from his ill-fated pitch to Thompson 60 years earlier, I had a personal – albeit slight – connection to one of the most likable Dodgers to every play the game.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Ralph Branca. God bless you, Ralph.
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I was a 13 year old Dodger fan when Bobby Thomson hit “The shot heard ’round the world” off Ralph Branca. I’m 78 now and it still feels like only yesterday. I once met him at a luncheon of Bill Gallo’s “Old Geezers”, a few years ago. May Ralph rest in peace, my condolences to his family and friends and May God bless him.
I was 1 and much more interested in my tinker toys than a baseball game the other side of the country.
One of the really classy Dodger alumni is gone. Players today should take his example.
Happy thanksgiving to you and all here on Think Blue LA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On MLBN they had a program depiting baseball’s top 50 moments and rated this HR by Thompson as # 1. Nothing can be further than the truth.
Seriously? The Giants went on to lose that World Series. How can the Gibson HR or even David Freese’s HRs not be ahead of that one? #smh.
I’d have to go with the Gibson HR. There was much more than just a walk off HR. Gibson wasn’t even able to play, baseball’s best closer walking a sub-.200 hitter with 2 out in the 9th, the squibber up the 1st base line that went foul, a 3-2 count.
And, to top it off, Vin Scully to call the play.
Gibson’s HR didn’t just win that game. It set the tone for the whole WS. One of the weakest teams ever to play in the WS (according to Bob Costas) beating the “unbeatable” A’s in 5 games.
That was Costas that said that, wasn’t it?
Hello RTR, and yes it was Costas who said that. And I would also agree that the Gibson HR was more memorable. I get sick to my stomach every time they talk about that Bobby Thompson HR.
In 1998 I happened to be on a work assignment in South coastal Georgia. it just so happened that it was the week of Fantasy Camp at Vero Beach, so I drove about 4-5 hours to go check it out. I arrived and walked into Holman Stadium where Branca’s team was one of the teams competing. A few foul balls were hit into the stands, so I went and fetched them. I guess Ralph thought I was going to take the balls home, and he gave me the evil eye. But when he realized I was just retrieving them and bringing them back, he was totally cool with me. I sat in the row behind those open air dugouts and we chatted for about an hour while he managed his team. What a great guy. I got him to sign a ball. Both he and Carl Erskine signed it. Ralph personalized it, something I never asked for, but this time I did.
A few years ago on the other blog, I wrote a review of Ralph’s book, “One Moment In Time.” It’s a great read. Branca found out within a year or two of the Thomson homer that they were stealing signs, and he never said a word about it. He took the brunt of criticism for years and all the while he knew that Thomson was aware of the pitch that was coming, and he kept quiet. It ate him inside, and he still wouldn’t use it as an excuse. It wasn’t until the story broke about 15-16 years ago that he finally spoke out.
I have a lot of respect for this great man. In his book he tells the story of meeting Jackie Robinson at Gil Hodges funeral, how he caught the ailing Robinson as he was lost his footing and tripped, his diabetes was really deteriorating his health. It was a sad chapter and true insight on the story of Jackie that few know. Jackie mentioned that Ralph had caught him again, just as he had in Jackie’s rookie year as he fell into the dugout catching a popup.
Very sad day. He lived a great life. May God keep him.
Another good one gone. Rest in peace Ralph. You will be missed.