From the WLIE 540am SPORTSTALKNY archives from Sept. 25th 2011:
Ralph was 18 years old when he signed his professional contract on D-Day June 6, 1944 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he made his Major League Debut on June 12, 1944. In 1947, Ralph won 21 games and lost 12 with an ERA of 2.67 with The Brooklyn Dodgers. Branca appeared in three All-Star games, 1947, 1948 & 1949 and was the starting pitcher in the 1947 All-Star Game at the age of 21. Ralph made two post-Season Appearances in the 1947 and 1949 World Series. Ralph was nominated as MVP in 1947 & 1948. Ralph won 88 games and lost 68, with a career ERA is 3.79 in 1484.0 innings pitched. He played Professional Baseball for 12 seasons from 1944 to 1956.
Ralph Branca is perhaps best remembered for one infamous pitch, in a playoff game against the cross-town rival New York Giants. Branca entered the game in the ninth inning and surrendered a Walk-off home run known as "The Shot heard 'Round the World". Hit by New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds to win the National League pennant at 3:58 p.m. on October 3, 1951. As a result of the "shot", The Giants won the game 5-4, defeating the Dodgers in their pennant playoff series, two games to one. This is the most famous episodes in the history of sports. Thomsons' homer, and the Giants' victory after overcoming a 13 and a half game lead in the standings by the Dodgers in the weeks preceding the playoff, this is sometimes known as the Miracle of Coogan's Bluff, however surrounded by scandal. Ralph joins Mark and Aj to talk about his career and his new book A Moment in Time.
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