Posted on 08/17/2010 11:45:36 AM PDT by EveningStar
The man who hit the most famous home run in baseball history is gone.
Bobby Thomson, whose "shot heard 'round the world" capped a best-of-three playoff and the Giants' miracle comeback to win the 1951 National League pennant over the Dodgers, died Monday night at his home in Savannah, Georgia.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
ping
He died on the anniversary of Babe Ruth’s death.
RIP.
‘THE Giants win the Pennant!! The Giants win the Pennant!!!
So long Bobby!!
RIP.
RIP, Bobby. It was a thrilling hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrI7dVj90zs
The announcer is the late Russ Hodges.
Came home from school to see my dad all worried. Giants were losing; but just as I put my books down, Don Mueller lined into right field and sending Alvin Dark to third. Monte Irvin then popped out.
At this point, my dad had strangled the newspaper and I walked into watch the game on TV. Whitey Lockman doubled down the left-field line. Dark scored and Mueller broke his ankle sliding into third. The stage was set for Bobby Thomson as Ralph Branca came into the game.
The next thing I remember was Russ Hodges yelling “The Giants win the penant. The Giants win the penant. The Giants win the penant.” and my dad hitting the nine foot ceiling (he was 5’5”). My mom came in, thinking that my dad was having a heart attack. The best part was that aunt, uncle and cousin were die-hard Dodger fans.
RIP Bobby and Thank You.
And the on-deck hitter was Willie Mays, then in his rookie season. RIP Bobby.
That was a great story - thank you. I met Ralph Branca once, during a Little League dinner. He seemed like a very nice man, if a bit sad in a way I couldn’t yet quite grasp.
There was TV in 1951?
He was walking across the street in NY one day (I think in the early 90's) when a stranger stopped him in the middle of the cross walk. The man then pointed his finger at Thompson and said:
"I still hate your guts Thompson"
The man then laughed, they shook hands and went on their separate ways.
Yes, my dad bought ours 6/48, 10” table model, $332 (I remember the cost, seemed like a fortune). Babe Ruth’s bier, inside Yankee Stadium, was televised, 8/11/48, 1000’s of people lining up to pay respects. My grandmother had hers in 1947. I saw the ‘47 world series on her set, (Berra hitting the first “pitch hit” homer in world series play).
Right! I forgot that.
There was TV in 1929 when FDR went on TV to explain why the stock market crashed.
Man, that announcer drove me nutz, “The Giants won the Pennant” ... now repeat, 142 times ...
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