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Ralph Branca, 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' pitcher, dies at 90

Liz Roscher
·Staff writer

Ralph Branca, the pitcher who gave up the famous “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in 1951, died early Wednesday morning at age 90. The news was made public by none other than former MLB player and manager Bobby Valentine, who is married to Branca’s daughter Mary.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred issued the following statement about Branca:

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow admirers of Ralph Branca, a three-time All-Star, a friend of Jackie Robinson and a former President and board member of the Baseball Assistance Team. Ralph was a true gentleman who earned universal respect in the game he loved and served so well. 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 is better remembered for his dedication to the members of the baseball community. He was an inspiration to so many of us.

“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my best wishes to Ralph’s wife Ann, his daughter Mary, his son-in-law Bobby Valentine and his many friends throughout the National Pastime.”

While Branca pitched for the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees late in his career, he spent most of his baseball days on the Brooklyn Dodgers. That’s who he was pitching for when he gave up the most famous (and possibly most exciting) home run in baseball history. (Yes, even more famous than The Bat Flip.)

On October 3, 1951, the Dodgers were facing the New York Giants, their crosstown rivals, in the finale of a three-game series that would determine who would win the National League pennant and go on to the World Series. Branca, primarily a starting pitcher, came in to relieve starter Don Newcombe in the ninth inning with two runners on and the Dodgers leading 4-2. Branca faced just one batter, Bobby Thomson. And Thomson whacked “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” a three-run homer that sent the Giants to the World Series.

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 1951, file photo, Bobby Thomson, left, of the New York Giants, and Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers engage in horse play before a World Series baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. On Oct. 3, 1951, Thomson had hit a home run,
In this Oct. 10, 1951 photo, Bobby Thomson, left, of the New York Giants, and Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers engage in horse play before a World Series baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo, File)

While Branca may have been famous for that ill-timed home run, his baseball career was about more than that one moment. He was an All-Star pitcher who played 12 years in the majors with a 3.79 career ERA. He not only played with Jackie Robinson, but was openly supportive of him at a time when many players were not, which he recalled during an interview he gave to Westchester Magazine in 2014. Branca was the last surviving teammate from Robinson’s 1947 Dodgers debut.

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Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher