RIP Bobby Thomson/Shot Heard Round the World

By Deb • August 17, 2010

Bobby was actually one of our facebook friends. He died Monday nite.

He was born October 25, 1923(1923-10-25)He was bortn, in Glascow Scotland.

He died peacefully at his home in Gerogia. He had been ill for some time.

Thomson played for five teams over 15 seasons, hit 264 career home runs and was a three-time All-Star. He was good player, not a Hall of Famer.

But he is BEST known for his “Shot Heard Round the World.” It was a game ending home run hit off of Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca in 1951. The Giants went on to win the National League Pennant. It’s one of the most famous moments in baseball history.

from a yahoo article :

Quote:

The home run decided one of the most memorable pennant races, and later led to one of its most-debated questions: Did he know Branca was going to throw the high-and-inside fastball that Thomson hit out of the park?

More than a half-century later, it was revealed the Giants during the season had used a buzzer-and-telescope system to steal signals from opposing catchers. Helped by the inside information, the Giants overcame a 13 1/2 -game deficit to the Dodgers, won 37 of their final 44 games and forced a playoff.

He was an immediate star, but after the flash he was traded to the Braves in 1954. In spring training he broke his ankle trying to break up a double play, and his roster spot went to a rookie by the name Hank Aaron.

He made a lot of cameo appearances on a lot of teams after that, but he never found the glory again. He had that one day, that one game, that would be immortalized in history.