The pitcher who gave up one of baseball's most famous home runs and was a great teammate to an MLB legend has passed away.
Ralph Branca, who had a 12-year career and was a three-time All-Star, died Wednesday morning at age 90. The news comes via former MLB manager Bobby Valentine, who is his son-in-law.
One of the greatest guys to ever throw a pitch or sing a song is longer with us. Ralph Branca Passed this morning.
— Bobby Valentine (@BobbyValentine) November 23, 2016
Branca lived a long, full life. He was 90 years old.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow admirers of Ralph Branca, a three-time All-Star, a friend of Jackie Robinson and a former President and board member of the Baseball Assistance Team," commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Ralph was a true gentleman who earned universal respect in the game he loved and served so well. Ralph's participation in the 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' was eclipsed by the grace and sportsmanship he demonstrated following one of the game's signature moments. He is better remembered for his dedication to the members of the baseball community. He was an inspiration to so many of us."
"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my best wishes to Ralph's wife Ann, his daughter Mary, his son-in-law Bobby Valentine and his many friends throughout the National Pastime."
Most casual baseball fans know of Branca as the pitcher who coughed up the Shot Heard 'Round the World:
Branca, however, was so much more than that. As noted above, he was a three-time All-Star. He actually finished 11th in MVP voting in 1947, when he went 21-12 with a 2.67 ERA in 280 innings. He had 15 complete games and four shutouts that season.
Also in that season: Branca was a teammate of Jackie Robinson, who broke baseball's long-standing color barrier. Several historic accounts have Branca as one of the few Dodgers who embraced Robinson initially in 1947.
For me, that's how I'll remember Branca. Sure, he gave up a big home run -- history has shown it probably wasn't even his fault -- but he was a good human being who embraced Robinson in a time that most did not. In that respect, we could all stand to be a bit more like Ralph Branca.
