Italian / American Player of the Day: Brooklyn's Ralph Branca

Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca was born on January 6, 1926 in Mt. Vernon New York. Branca was an all around athlete in college, playing baseball & basketball at NYU. He was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943, and made his debut the next season. He began his career as a reliever going 0-2 in 21 games for the ’44 Dodgers. He eventually got into Brooklyn’s starting rotation, although at times he was still used as reliever, in between starts.

In 1947 had his best season, going 21-12 (2nd in the league in wins) with a 2.67 ERA (3rd in the NL). He led the league in starts with 36, pitched an incredible 280 innings, and struck out 147 batters (also 2nd in the league). That season he made the first of three straight All Star appearances. He opened up the 1947 World Series but took the loss, allowing five runs on only two hits, and exited in the 5th inning. He came in relief in Games #3 getting no decision. In Game #6 he got the win, after Al Gionfriddo’s classic game saving catch at the 415 mark in centerfield, off the bat of Joe DiMaggio.

Branca returned to go 14-9 in 1948, and then 13-5 with the best winning percentage in the NL in 1949. He struck out 109 batters and went to another World Series. He pitched in one game taking the loss. He dropped to 7-9 with one of the worst ERA’s of his career (4.69) in 1950, as Brooklyn finished in second place.

1951 was the season the Dodgers blew their huge August lead, as the Giants caught them with an incredible September. The two teams were tied on the last day of the season, leading to a three game playoff series. In the final game of the 1951 season, it was Branca who was on the wrong side of the most historic HR in baseball history.

Branca went 13-12 on the season, allowing 19 HRs in 204 innings, with a 3.26 ERA. In Game #1 of the playoff, at Ebbetts Field, Branca had given up a two run HR to Bobby Thompson and took the loss. The Dodgers evened the Series in Game #2. In the final game, Brooklyn had a 4-1 lead going into the 9th inning. As Don Newcombe was tiring, the call went to the Brooklyn bullpen. Coach Clyde Sukeforth said Carl Erskines curve was bouncing and Branca was ready.

Ralph Branca was brought in to a 4-2 game with two runners on base, and Bobby Thompson coming to bat. He fired a fastball right down the middle for strike one. The next pitch was drilled down the left field line and went over the wall for the pennant winning HR, forever remembered as “The Shot Heard Round the World”. Branca who wore the unlucky #13, made the long walk across the field with his head hung low. He laid on the steps of the clubhouse devastated. Brooklyn fans were brutal; they sent him hate mail, death threats, shouted insults at him & his family members in public. Branca called on a family member, Father Pat, who was a priest and asked him “why me”? Father Pat told him, "Because God knew your faith would be strong enough to bear this cross". It helped him cope better.

Eventually he took it in stride and made public appearances with Thompson and the two developed a friendship. They appeared on television shows together, where they would sing a parody song ‘Because of you”. (Branca by the way, has a great singing voice.) It wasn’t until the 50th anniversary of the HR that the story would break that the Giants were stealing signs using a telescope in their centerfield clubhouse. A sign would then be relayed to the batter at home plate. All this would have to happen in a split second, so there are many opinions on whether the system was actually effective.

In 1952 he was limited to only 16 games (seven starts) and went 4-2. In 1953 he was traded to Detroit going 7-10 over parts of two seasons. He was sent to the AL New York team for a brief period, before one last hurrah in Brooklyn in 1956, for one game. Branca finished a 12 season career 88-68 with 19 saves and a 3.79 ERA.

Through the years Branca has made many public appearances he has made with Thompson, at charity events & memorabilia shows. He has also appeared on many television shows such as; The Perry Como Show, Concentration, Toast of the Town, the Way It Was & many interview shows. For a time in the sixties he covered Mets pre game shows. He was on site, as the wrecking ball destroyed the Polo Grounds in 1964. His daughter is married to former Mets manager Bobby Valentine. I had the pleasure to meet him a few years back and he was a true gentleman, with a great sense of humor. Branca is a member of the Italian American Hall of Fame.