Ralph Branca

Ralph Branca
Branca in 1953
Pitcher
Born: (1926-01-06)January 6, 1926
Mount Vernon, New York, U.S.
Died: November 23, 2016(2016-11-23) (aged 90)
Rye Brook, New York, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 12, 1944, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
September 7, 1956, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record88–68
Earned run average3.79
Strikeouts829
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca (January 6, 1926 – November 23, 2016), nicknamed "Hawk", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1944 through 1956. Branca played for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1944–1953, 1956), Detroit Tigers (1953–1954), and New York Yankees (1954).[1] He was a three-time All-Star. In a 1951 playoff, Branca surrendered a walk-off home run to Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants; the game-winning hit was known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World".

  1. ^ "Ralph Branca Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.