Manufacturer: Bowman
Set: 1949 Bowman Baseball ➡️
Player Name: Ralph Branca
Position/Team: Pitcher for Dodgers
Card #: 194
Card Size: 2-1/16” x 2-1/2”
Card Values: See Pricing Table Below
Ralph Theodore Joseph “Hawk” Branca was a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher for 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers. While he was a talented player, his career and identity are inextricably linked to one of the most famous and devastating moments in baseball history.
Branca played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1944–1953, 1956), Detroit Tigers (1953–1954) and New York Yankees (1954). His career record was 88 wins and 68 losses, with a 3.79 ERA. At just 21 years old, Branca had a standout year, posting a 21-12 record with a 2.67 ERA. He finished second in the National League in wins and was the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the 1947 World Series. He was a 3-time All-Star (1947, 1948, 1949) for the Dodgers.
Branca’s career is defined by the final play of the 1951 National League tie-breaker series. He was brought in to relieve Don Newcombe with runners on second and third and one out. On his second pitch, Giants batter Bobby Thomson hit a dramatic walk-off home run, instantly nicknamed “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” giving the Giants the 5-4 win and the pennant. The event marked the final, tragic climax of the “Boys of Summer” era for the Brooklyn team. Branca, though forever connected to the pitch, handled the situation with remarkable grace and character throughout his life.
He remained connected to baseball, serving for years as the chairman of the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT), an organization dedicated to helping former members of the baseball community in need.
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Pricing Data For This Rookie Card
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