Ralph Branca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ralph Branca |
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Branca in 1953
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 6, 1926 Mount Vernon, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: November 23, 2016 (aged 90) Rye Brook, New York, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 12, 1944, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 7, 1956, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 88–68 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.79 | ||
| Strikeouts | 829 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ralph Theodore Joseph "Hawk" Branca (born January 6, 1926 – died November 23, 2016) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played for 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1944 to 1956. Branca played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees. He was chosen as an All-Star three times. He is well-known for giving up a game-winning walk-off home run to Bobby Thomson in a 1951 playoff game. This famous hit was called the "Shot Heard 'Round the World".
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Early Life and Education
Ralph Branca was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He was one of 17 children in his family. His father, John Branca, was a trolley car conductor from Italy. His mother, Kati, came to the United States from Hungary.
Ralph went to A. B. Davis High School. After high school, he studied at New York University (NYU) for one year. While at NYU, he played both college baseball and college basketball for the NYU Violets teams.
Baseball Career Highlights
Ralph Branca joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943 after a tryout. He was only 18 years old when he played his first major league game on June 12, 1944. In his first year, he had a good earned run average (ERA) of 3.04.
Playing with Jackie Robinson
On Opening Day in 1947, Ralph Branca stood by Jackie Robinson on the field. This was Jackie Robinson's first major league game, and some players did not want to play with him. Branca supported Robinson. That year, Branca had a great season. He won 21 games and lost 12, with a low ERA of 2.67. He was chosen for his first All-Star team. He also helped the Dodgers win the National League pennant, which meant they would play in the World Series.
All-Star Seasons
Branca was an All-Star three times in his career. He won 80 games while playing for the Dodgers. His best year for wins was 1947, when he won 21 games. In 1949, he had the best won-lost percentage in the National League (NL). This means he won a very high percentage of the games he pitched.
The "Shot Heard 'Round the World"
In 1951, the Dodgers played against their rivals, the New York Giants, in a special playoff series. It was the final game, and Branca came into the game as a relief pitcher. He faced Bobby Thomson of the Giants. Thomson hit a walk-off home run off Branca. This home run won the game and the pennant for the Giants. It became one of the most famous moments in baseball history, known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World".
There were rumors that the Giants might have been stealing signs during that game. This means they might have known what type of pitch was coming. However, many players from both teams have different ideas about whether this happened in that specific moment. Ralph Branca and Bobby Thomson later became good friends, even though Branca gave up that famous home run.
Later Career and Retirement
After 1951, Branca had a back injury in 1952. This injury made it harder for him to pitch as well as before. He played fewer games for the Dodgers. In 1953, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He also played a few games for the New York Yankees in 1954.
In 1956, Branca thought his career was over. But his pitching speed returned, and he signed with the Dodgers again for one last month. He made one final appearance in a game. Over his 12-year career, Ralph Branca had a record of 88 wins and 68 losses. He also had 829 strikeouts.
Life After Baseball
After his playing career, Ralph Branca stayed involved in baseball. He became good friends with Bobby Thomson, the player who hit the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." They often appeared together at events. Branca also worked for the Baseball Assistance Team for 17 years. This group helps former baseball players who need support.
Branca was a member of the Westchester Country Club. He was also inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. He was a pallbearer at Jackie Robinson's funeral in 1972.
Ralph Branca appeared on the game show Concentration in 1963. He won 17 games in a row! He also made a small appearance in the 2012 movie Parental Guidance. In the 2013 movie 42, which was about Jackie Robinson, an actor played Ralph Branca. A documentary called "Branca's Pitch" was also made about him in 2013.
Ralph Branca married Ann Mulvey in 1951. Her parents were part-owners of the Dodgers. Their daughter, Mary, married baseball player Bobby Valentine. Branca wrote a book about his life in 2011 called A Moment in Time.
Ralph Branca passed away on November 23, 2016, at the age of 90. He was the last living member of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers team. He is buried in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in New York.
See also
- List of select Italian-American Major League Baseball players
