Ralph Branca from the Chronology

Aug 14, 1954 - After a two-inning Old-Timer's game‚ the Yankees beat the Red Sox‚ 3-1. The win goes to Ralph Branca‚ his first and only decision in a Yankee uniform. The Old-Timers match features 18 Hall of Famers‚ and is won by the AL on Joe DiMaggio's 3-run homer off Carl Hubbell. Mel Ott has a homer for the NL‚ which is helped by Ted Williams who goes 1-for-1.

Jul 22, 1954 - The Yankee sign free agent Ralph Branca. He'll appear in 5 games this year.

Sep 5, 1953 - Dick Kokos breaks up a scoreless pitching duel between Bob Turley and Ralph Branca by hitting a homer in the 12th to give the Brows a 1-0 win over Detroit.

Jul 10, 1953 - The Dodgers waive pitcher Ralph Branca‚ to the Tigers. Branca‚ who appeared in just 7 games this year‚ never recovered from an off-season pelvic injury.

Oct 3, 1951 - The Giants' Bobby Thomson hits the most famous home run in history‚ off Ralph Branca. His "shot heard round the world" with 2 runners on and trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the 9th defeats Brooklyn 5-4 and sends the jubilant Giants into the WS. For Branca‚ it is his 6th loss of the season against the Giants‚ who have now hit 11 HRs off him this year. Whitey Lockman sets up Thomson's blast by hitting a double off Newcombe with Al Dark on 3B and Don Mueller on 1B. Mueller breaks his ankle sliding into 3B and is carried off the field.

Oct 1, 1951 - In the NL's first best-of-three play-off since 1946‚ Ralph Branca of the Dodgers loses to Jim Hearn and the Giants 3-1. Branca serves up HRs to Bobby Thomson and Monte Irvin. It is the first game ever to be broadcast live coast-to-coast. With both the Dodgers and Giants tied 96-58 at the end of regulation‚ Brooklyn wins the coin toss and elects to play the first game of the playoffs at home. The next 2 games will be played at the Polo Grounds.

Sep 18, 1951 - In St. Louis‚ the Cardinals cuff Ralph Branca for a 7-1 win over the Dodgers. It is Brooklyn's 4th loss in 7 road games. Adding insult to injury‚ Musial and Slaughter pull off a double steal with Stan scoring.

Sep 9, 1951 - Sal Maglie wins his 20th game to give the Giants a 2-1 win over the Dodgers' Ralph Branca. Monte Irvin's two-run homer in the 4th gives New York all its scoring‚ The Dodgers score in the 8th on a double by Snider and a triple by Jackie Robinson. But 3B Bobby Thomson snags a ground‚ tags Robby‚ and throws to first for a DP. The Dodgers still lead the Giants by 5 1/2 games.

Sep 5, 1951 - Ralph Branca‚ despite twinges in his arm‚ pitches the Dodgers to a 5-2 win over the Phillies. Gil Hodges drives home 4 runs on a grand slam off Ken Johnson. It is Gil's 37th homer of year‚ setting a new Dodger record.

Sep 1, 1951 - OF Don Mueller hits 3 HRs in an 8-1 Giants' win over the Dodgers. His first homer comes against Ralph Branca‚ coming off two consecutive shutouts‚ and Mueller hits his 3rd HR‚ a two-run shot off Phil Haugstad. Sal Maglie is the winner‚ giving up 7 singles and hits Robinson on the wrist in the 3rd to force home the only Dodger run. Whitey Lockman gets plunked twice for New York. Al Dark and Eddie Stanky combine in the 5th on a triple play off a liner by Reese. The Dodgers' lead over the Giants is now down to 6 games.

Aug 27, 1951 - The two fine Italian arms of Branca and Furillo had a no-hitter running for eight innings writes columnist Dick Young; in the 3rd inning Ralph Branca's no-hitter seems broken by a one-hop shot to RF by pitcher Mel Queen‚ but Carl Furillo guns him out at first. Branca‚ pitching on 2 days rest‚ finally gives up 2 Pirate hits in the 9th before winning‚ 5-0. In the nitecap the Pirates jump on Erv Palica for 3 runs in the first inning and hold on for a 5-3 win behind Bill Werle and Vern Law. Clyde McCullough is the "Big Un" with a two-run double and a two-run homer. The Pirates continue to be the only team with a season edge on the Dodgers.

Aug 24, 1951 - At Ebbets Field‚ the Dodgers Ralph Branca outduels Cubs pitcher Paul Minner to win 1-0. Branca strikes out 10 Cubs‚ walks none‚ and gives up 3 hits.

Aug 19, 1951 - In Boston‚ the Braves score 5 in the 6th and roll over the Dodgers‚ 13-4. Warren Spahn picks up his 15th win and his 21st complete game. A 2nd-inning homer by Willard Marshall‚ off Ralph Branca‚ starts the scoring.

Aug 15, 1951 - Giants P Jim Hearn defeats the Dodgers 3-1 as Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th. With the score 1-1 and Billy Cox on 3rd‚ Mays makes a running catch of a Carl Furillo drive in deep right CF and whirls counterclockwise to throw out the astonished Cox at home. Wes Westrum's 2-run homer off Ralph Branca in the 8th provides the two-run margin. Hearn allows just six hits‚ all singles‚ as the Giants move to 10 1/2 behind Brooklyn.

Aug 11, 1951 - The Dodgers take the 1st of 2 games against the Braves‚ winning 8-1 behind Ralph Branca. Brooklyn now leads the NL by 13 1/2 games with 49 games to play. The Braves take the nitecap‚ 8-4‚ behind Max Surkont and a home run by Sid Gordon. With Red Barber and Connie Desmond making the calls‚ the doubleheader is the first ML game to be telecast in color.

Jul 4, 1951 - In a wild doubleheader featuring a double ejection of manager Charlie Dressen‚ the first-place Dodgers sweep the Giants‚ winning 6-5 in 11 innings‚ and 4-2. The Dodgers drive out Sal Maglie in the opener after the Giants built a lead on homers by Mueller and Mays. Brooklyn counters in the 8th with a pinch homer by Campanella‚ a homer by Reese‚ and a tying single from Hodges. Bobby Thomson's homer in the 11th puts the Giants ahead by one‚ but Preacher Roe wins it with a squeeze bunt. Ralph Branca wins the nitecap with homer help from Hodges and Snider. Dressen is tossed in the 2nd inning of game 2 for protesting pitch calls; after he takes a seat behind the dugout umpire Robb tosses him a 2nd time. The victories put Brooklyn 6 1/2 games up.

Jun 28, 1951 - Monty Irvin clubs two homers off Ralph Branca as the Giants edge the Dodgers‚ 5-4. The second homer‚ a three-run shot in the 8th‚ gives the win the reliever Sheldon Jones. The Dodgers now lead the Giants by 5 games.

Jun 14, 1950 - No it wasn't football‚ as the Dodgers and Pirates game ends unfinished at curfew time with a score 19-14 in favor of Brooklyn. The game will resume August 1st. Bucs rookie Dale Coogan starts the scoring in the 1st with his first ML homer‚ a 3-run clout off Ralph Branca.

May 20, 1950 - The Dodgers move back into first place with a twinbill sweep of the visiting Pirates‚ winning 3-2 and 4-3. Hodges doubles with the bases loaded in the 8th to provide the game 1 margin. In the nitecap‚ 3 Dodger relief hurlers‚ Ralph Branca‚ Jack Banta‚ and Dan Bankhead‚ combine to pitch 92?3 innings of no-hit ball‚ as Brooklyn beats Pittsburgh 4-3 in 11 innings. Bill Werle goes the distance for the Corsairs in the 2nd game.

Aug 22, 1949 - The Braves score two in the 9th off Ralph Branca and nip the Dodgers‚ 7-6. One of the runs comes on Eddie Stanky's first homer of the year‚ and just his 7th in 7 years. Pete Reiser has a two-run triple for Boston in the 1st‚ while Roy Campanella homers for the Brooks. The loss is the 6th in 7 games and drops Brooklyn two games in back of the Cards.

Jul 3, 1949 - Giants P Monte Kennedy hits a 7th inning grand slam and shuts out the Dodgers‚ 16-0. The Giants amass 20 hits‚ batting around in the 1st and 7th. John Mize and Willard Marshall each have four hits as every starter collects at least a hit. Ralph Branca (10-2) exits early but takes the loss. It is a club record for the biggest shutout win that will stand until May‚ 2000.

Apr 28, 1949 - A New York fan charges Leo Durocher with assault after the Giants lose 15-2 to Brooklyn. Commissioner Chandler suspends Durocher but he is absolved on May 3rd. Chandler criticizes teams for lax security that allows fans on the field. Ralph Branca allows just 4 hits while the Dodgers collect 19‚ including 4 by Campanella.

Sep 16, 1948 - The Dodgers shrug off a first inning grand slam by Hank Sauer‚ off Ralph Branca‚ and a 4th inning solo shot by pitcher Ken Burkhart‚ his first ML homer‚ and beat the visiting Reds‚ 12-6. Marv Rackley has 4 singles and Jackie Robinson and Carl Furillo combine for 7 RBIs.

Jul 17, 1948 - The Dodgers down the Reds‚ 8-4 and 10-4 for their 12th win in 14 games. Ralph Branca wins the opener as Jackie Robinson clouts a 3-run homer in the 8th. Paul Minner wins his first ML game in the nitecap with 6 innings of relief. During an argument with Frank Dascoli‚ Reds catcher Dewey Williams grabs the ump. Willliams will be fined $100 and suspended for five games. However‚ with catcher Ray Mueller on the disabled list with a broken ankle‚ the Reds appeal the suspension‚ stating they have only one catcher‚ Ray Lamanno. Ford Frick‚ NL prexy‚ will rule that Williams will serve the suspension in the Reds clubhouse‚ while dressed in full uniform. If anything happens to Lamanno‚ Williams can substitute‚ and a game will added to the suspension.

Oct 2, 1947 - The Dodgers squeak to a 9-8 win‚ jumping on Bobo Newsom and Vic Raschi in the 2nd for 6 runs. Yogi Berra becomes the first player to hit a pinch HR in WS history‚ hitting one off Brooklyn's Ralph Branca in the 7th inning.

Sep 30, 1947 - Hitless the first 4 innings against Brooklyn's Ralph Branca‚ the Yankees score 5 runs in the 5th inning when 6 straight runners reach base‚ and they win the World Series opener 5-3. A record WS crowd of 73‚365 at the Stadium pays $325‚828.

Sep 11, 1947 - In the start of a crucial series in St. Louis‚ Ralph Branca‚ 21‚ wins his 20th as the Dodgers clip the Cardinals 4-3. The tense battle ignites after Joe Garagiola spikes Jackie Robinson at 1B the 2nd inning. Coming to bat in the 3rd‚ Robinson has words with Garagiola ("a teeth to teeth exchange" Time) and the two are finally separated by coach Clyde Sukeforth. It is the first time that Robinson has reacted on the field.

Jul 18, 1947 - Ralph Branca takes a no-hitter into the 8th at Ebbets Field before Enos Slaughter's line single breaks it up. Brooklyn beats the Cards‚ 7-0‚ on the 1-hitter.

Jun 24, 1947 - The Dodgers win 4-2 over the host Pirates‚ as Jackie Robinson swipes home in the 5th (Ostermuller pitching) for the first of 19 times in his career. Reese hits his 8th homer to back Ralph Branca's pitching.

Oct 1, 1946 - In the first ever NL playoff before 26‚012 at Sportsman's Park Field the Dodgers manage just 3 hits off Howie Pollet and lose 4-2. Joe Garagiola's 3 hits pace the Cardinals as they beat Ralph Branca.

Sep 18, 1946 - Brooklyn P Ralph Branca wins his 3rd game of the year‚ a 3-0 shutout over the Pirates.

Sep 14, 1946 - Durocher starts young Ralph Branca against the Cardinals lefty lineup with the intention of lifting the 20-year-old after one batter and putting in lefty Vic Lombardi. But Branca looks good and goes the route to win 5-0 and move the Dodgers a half-game in back of St. Louis. The gate of 32‚960 gives the Dodgers 1‚509‚755 attendance for the season‚ a NL record topping the Cubs of 1929.

Sep 26, 1945 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants pass the million mark in attendance for the first time ever. The draw today is a hook up between the Giants and Dodgers‚ but Brooklyn's Ralph Branca beats New York righty Jack Brewer‚ 8-1.

Jul 6, 1944 - On Mueller night in Cincy‚ 636 people named Mueller are guests of the Reds and watch the Dodgers suffer their 10th straight loss‚ losing to the Reds‚ 10-4. Bucky Walters wins his 14th while his batterymate Ray Mueller establishes a NL record by catching in his 134th straight game. He'll finish the season catching all 155 Reds games‚ as will Frankie Hayes of the A's. It is the first time in the 20th century that catchers will play in all their team's games. Deacon McGuire (1895-Washington. 132 games) was the last to do it. (as noted by Chuck Rosciam). The loss goes to young Ralph Branca‚ who combines with Clyde King to give up 13 hits-4 to Gee Walker.

Jun 18, 1944 - Cal McLish is knocked from the mound by a 5-run outburst by the Phillies in the first inning of a Philadelphia 6-2 victory over the Dodgers. The 18-year-old McLish is followed to the mound by Dodgers hurlers Ralph Branca‚ also 18‚ and Charley Osgood‚ 17‚ in his only major league appearance.

Jun 12, 1944 - The Giants defeat the Dodgers 15-9‚ as Mel Ott and Phil Weintraub each homer twice and each scores 5 runs. Ralph Branca makes his ML debut for Brooklyn‚ striking out the first 3 batters he faces. The Giants also announce the purchase of 6' 9" pitcher Johnny Gee from Pittsburgh. Gee is too tall for military service.