60 Years Ago Today

On October 3rd, 1951, Bobby Thomson's bottom of the 9th home run off Ralph Branca at the Polo Grounds won the pennant for the Giants, 5-4 over the Dodgers. It is one of the most famous games ever and the call by Giants announcer Russ Hodges "The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant..." is one of the classic moments in sports broadcasting history.
A few post home run thoughts.
Is it the most famous home run ever hit? I would say yes.
What ever happened to the ball that Thomson hit? It went into the lower deck in left field at the Polo Grounds. Who ended up with the ball? Where is it today? If Thomson's home run happened today, how long would it take the person in possession of the ball to put it up for auction to the highest bidder?
What happened to the bat that Thomson used to hit the home run? Did it end up in the Hall of Fame? I think I might have seen it there but I don't remember.
As for Thomson and Branca, they became friends and did card shows and stuff like that. I met Branca at a charity golf tournament in Rockland County, New York in the late 1980's when I was working for a cable television station. I interviewed Branca and was told not to bring up the home run. I didn't but he did. I don't know whatever became of that tape but I wish I had it. I never met Thomson. If I remember correctly, he was supposed to be at that golf tournament, hosted by comedian Freddie Roman, but never showed up.
Bobby Thomson passed away in August of 2010 at the age of 86.
Ralph Branca, the father-in-law of Bobby Valentine, is still alive and kicking at the age of 85.
Besides Branca, only Andy Pafko and Don Newcombe of the Dodgers and Alvin Dark, Don Mueller, Willie Mays and Monte Irvin of the Giants are still alive of the 24 men who played in that game. Irvin is the oldest at 92 and Mays is the youngest at 80.
Less than a decade after "The Shot Heard Round the World," the Giants fled the Polo Grounds to San Francisco and the Dodgers left Brooklyn and Ebbets Field to go to Los Angeles in 1958.
Lastly, even though the only connection is the date, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield was born on October 3, 1951.
It was quite a day 60-years ago, wasn't it?