1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Downloaded from YTS.MX 2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:13,000 Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX 3 00:00:08,742 --> 00:00:11,144 Liev Schreiber: THE FOLLOWING IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION 4 00:00:11,211 --> 00:00:13,279 OF THE HBO SPORTS DOCUMENTARY SERIES 5 00:00:13,346 --> 00:00:16,015 "LEGENDS & LEGACIES." 6 00:00:21,454 --> 00:00:23,289 Gordon McLendon: After 156 games, 7 00:00:23,356 --> 00:00:26,860 each two more than the regular schedule called for, 8 00:00:26,926 --> 00:00:29,295 Da Bums from Brooklyn, the Giants from New York 9 00:00:29,362 --> 00:00:31,064 have come down to the wire, 10 00:00:31,131 --> 00:00:34,200 to where it is all or nothing. 11 00:00:41,641 --> 00:00:44,344 20 years from now the fans will be talking 12 00:00:44,411 --> 00:00:47,447 about this afternoon's hero, as yet unknown, 13 00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:50,784 but the man and the hour are about to meet. 14 00:00:50,850 --> 00:00:52,685 If there is a goat, 15 00:00:52,752 --> 00:00:56,156 his name will echo down the corridor of time. 16 00:01:00,693 --> 00:01:03,129 Ralph Branca from Mount Vernon, New York, 17 00:01:03,196 --> 00:01:05,465 is going on the mound to throw for the Brooklyns. 18 00:01:05,532 --> 00:01:07,967 Branca, Ralph, who wears his number 13. 19 00:01:08,034 --> 00:01:10,703 And will that be lucky for the Brooklyn Dodgers? 20 00:01:10,770 --> 00:01:12,705 They're at the door of disaster 21 00:01:12,772 --> 00:01:15,442 in the last half on the ninth inning. 22 00:01:17,310 --> 00:01:19,679 Boy, I'm telling you what they're gonna say 23 00:01:19,746 --> 00:01:21,714 about this one, I don't know. 24 00:01:21,781 --> 00:01:24,584 There is the Royal Scot Bobby Thomson, 25 00:01:24,651 --> 00:01:26,719 as dangerous as a Great Dane 26 00:01:26,786 --> 00:01:28,822 behind a meat counter. 27 00:01:39,098 --> 00:01:41,434 Russ Hodges: Branca throws. There's a long drive. 28 00:01:41,501 --> 00:01:42,969 It's gonna be, I believe-- 29 00:01:43,036 --> 00:01:46,105 the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 30 00:01:46,172 --> 00:01:47,674 The Giants win the pennant! 31 00:01:47,740 --> 00:01:50,243 The Giants win the pennant! 32 00:01:50,310 --> 00:01:52,178 Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck 33 00:01:52,245 --> 00:01:54,013 of the left-field stands. 34 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,983 The Giants win the pennant and they're going crazy. 35 00:01:57,050 --> 00:02:00,553 They're going crazy. Hey-oh! 36 00:02:05,925 --> 00:02:07,794 Liev Schreiber: BEFORE WORLD WAR II 37 00:02:07,861 --> 00:02:10,396 MUCH OF NEW YORK'S BASEBALL HISTORY 38 00:02:10,463 --> 00:02:14,667 WAS WRITTEN BY ONE TEAM-- 39 00:02:14,734 --> 00:02:18,872 THE NEW YORK YANKEES. 40 00:02:18,938 --> 00:02:21,407 THE GIANTS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN THE '20s AND '30s, 41 00:02:21,474 --> 00:02:23,977 BUT THE 1940s WAS A VAST WASTELAND 42 00:02:24,043 --> 00:02:27,814 FOR THE TEAM FROM MANHATTAN. 43 00:02:27,881 --> 00:02:30,250 THE DODGERS WERE JUST AS INEPT. 44 00:02:30,316 --> 00:02:32,652 BEFORE BROOKLYN MADE AN UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE 45 00:02:32,719 --> 00:02:35,722 IN THE 1941 SERIES, IT HAD BEEN TWO DECADES 46 00:02:35,788 --> 00:02:38,625 SINCE THE TEAM HAD PLAYED A GAME IN OCTOBER. 47 00:02:39,993 --> 00:02:42,862 BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR, 48 00:02:42,929 --> 00:02:46,132 THAT CHANGED AND NEW YORK CITY BECAME 49 00:02:46,199 --> 00:02:48,535 THE BASEBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. 50 00:02:48,601 --> 00:02:50,403 BEGINNING IN 1947, 51 00:02:50,470 --> 00:02:52,472 AT LEAST ONE OF THE THREE NEW YORK TEAMS 52 00:02:52,539 --> 00:02:54,374 WOULD APPEAR IN THE WORLD SERIES 53 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,510 IN 10 OF THE NEXT 11 SEASONS. 54 00:02:57,577 --> 00:03:00,213 UNFORTUNATELY FOR DODGER AND GIANT FANS, 55 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:02,782 IT WAS STILL THAT HATED TEAM IN THE BRONX 56 00:03:02,849 --> 00:03:05,885 THAT DID MOST OF THE WINNING. 57 00:03:05,952 --> 00:03:07,820 THE YANKEES WERE SORT OF THIS ELITIST, 58 00:03:07,887 --> 00:03:09,822 CORPORATE, PINSTRIPE TYPES. 59 00:03:09,889 --> 00:03:12,659 THEIR FANS EXPECTED WINNING, 60 00:03:12,725 --> 00:03:14,661 DIDN'T BOTHER TO LEARN MUCH ABOUT BASEBALL. 61 00:03:14,727 --> 00:03:17,263 AND IN RARE INSTANCES WHEN THE YANKEES WEREN'T WINNING, 62 00:03:17,330 --> 00:03:19,332 THEY WEREN'T YANKEE FANS. 63 00:03:19,399 --> 00:03:21,334 YANKEE FANS I THOUGHT OF AS FRONT RUNNERS-- 64 00:03:21,401 --> 00:03:23,536 THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ROOTED FOR THE GOVERNMENT 65 00:03:23,603 --> 00:03:24,971 IN AN INCOME-TAX SUIT. 66 00:03:25,038 --> 00:03:28,107 THE YANKEES WERE UP THERE IN THE BRONX, 67 00:03:28,174 --> 00:03:29,976 UP ON A HILL. 68 00:03:30,043 --> 00:03:32,779 AND THEY WERE JUST CASCADING. 69 00:03:32,845 --> 00:03:34,781 YANKEES HAD USHERS, HAD MITTENS 70 00:03:34,847 --> 00:03:36,783 WHEN THEY BROUGHT YOU DOWN TO A SEAT. 71 00:03:36,849 --> 00:03:38,785 YOU FELT YOU HAD TO WEAR A TIE. 72 00:03:38,851 --> 00:03:41,187 YANKEE STADIUM WAS FOR TOURISTS. 73 00:03:41,254 --> 00:03:44,190 Schreiber: DIRECTLY ACROSS THE HARLEM RIVER 74 00:03:44,257 --> 00:03:47,093 FROM YANKEE STADIUM STOOD THE POLO GROUNDS-- 75 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,862 THE ODD-SHAPED, RUNDOWN HOME 76 00:03:49,929 --> 00:03:51,965 OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS. 77 00:03:52,031 --> 00:03:54,734 Stuart Leeds: I REMEMBER COMING OUT OF THE SUBWAY-- 78 00:03:54,801 --> 00:03:56,869 THE STOP WAS 155th STREET AND 8th AVENUE-- 79 00:03:56,936 --> 00:03:59,505 AND THERE WAS THIS BIG GREEN THING THERE, 80 00:03:59,572 --> 00:04:02,542 THIS BIG GREEN EDIFICE. 81 00:04:02,609 --> 00:04:05,545 AND YOU WERE GREETED BY THIS SMELL-- 82 00:04:05,612 --> 00:04:09,616 SMOKE, TAR, CHEAP CIGARS. 83 00:04:09,682 --> 00:04:12,485 Ray Robinson: IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO WATCH A BALLGAME. 84 00:04:12,552 --> 00:04:14,454 FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU SAT OUT IN THE RIGHT FIELD, 85 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:16,856 OFTENTIMES YOU COULDN'T SEE THE RIGHT FIELDER. 86 00:04:16,923 --> 00:04:19,359 HE WAS RIGHT BELOW YOU. AND YOU'D HAVE TO YELL OVER TO SOMEBODY, 87 00:04:19,425 --> 00:04:22,262 "HEY, WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT PLAY? WHERE'D THE BALL GO?" 88 00:04:22,328 --> 00:04:25,665 Ted Saretsky: IT FELT AS IF THE SEATS HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED. 89 00:04:25,732 --> 00:04:27,700 THERE WAS PIGEON DROPPINGS 90 00:04:27,767 --> 00:04:31,237 ON THESE OLD, GREEN WOODEN SEATS. 91 00:04:31,304 --> 00:04:33,106 AND THE FACADE OF THE POLO GROUNDS 92 00:04:33,172 --> 00:04:35,475 LOOKED LIKE IT HADN'T CHANGED SINCE 1908. 93 00:04:35,541 --> 00:04:38,411 Steve Rand: WE DETESTED THE POLO GROUNDS. 94 00:04:38,478 --> 00:04:41,047 THE RIDE WAS INTERMINABLE. 95 00:04:41,114 --> 00:04:43,082 AND IT WAS THIS FOREBODING, 96 00:04:43,149 --> 00:04:45,518 DARK PLACE. WE DETESTED IT. 97 00:04:46,719 --> 00:04:48,655 Schreiber: FAR FROM UNINVITING, 98 00:04:48,721 --> 00:04:50,723 BROOKLYN'S EBBETS FIELD WAS A VIBRANT, 99 00:04:50,790 --> 00:04:54,827 INTIMATE, CHARMING PARK. 100 00:04:54,894 --> 00:04:57,430 A DAY AT EBBETS WAS LIKE A BASEBALL CARNIVAL 101 00:04:57,497 --> 00:04:59,932 FOR BOTH THE DODGERS AND THEIR FANS. 102 00:05:02,402 --> 00:05:06,139 YOU PAID YOUR 75 CENTS FOR THE BLEACHER SEAT 103 00:05:06,205 --> 00:05:07,607 OR IF YOU WERE REALLY FLUSH, 104 00:05:07,674 --> 00:05:09,542 THE BUCK AND A HALF FOR A GRANDSTAND SEAT. 105 00:05:09,609 --> 00:05:12,145 YOU WERE RIGHT ON THE FIELD. 106 00:05:12,211 --> 00:05:14,681 YOU COULD LEAN AGAINST THE FENCES AND YELL, 107 00:05:14,747 --> 00:05:16,816 "HI JACKIE. HI PEE WEE. 108 00:05:16,883 --> 00:05:19,185 HI DUKE. HI CARL." 109 00:05:19,252 --> 00:05:21,387 I COULD STAND ON THE MOUND-- I HEAR GUYS TALKING TO YOU 110 00:05:21,454 --> 00:05:24,524 REAL EASY. IT WASN'T LIKE THEY WERE YELLING LOUD. 111 00:05:24,590 --> 00:05:27,093 THIS GUYS IS JUST TALKING-- "HEY ERSK, HEY ERSK, 112 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:28,828 THROW IT THROUGH HIS HEAD." 113 00:05:28,895 --> 00:05:30,296 I MEAN, IT WAS WONDERFUL. 114 00:05:30,363 --> 00:05:32,331 IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES IN THE WORLD 115 00:05:32,398 --> 00:05:34,967 FOR A COMIC TO GET HIS MATERIAL. 116 00:05:35,034 --> 00:05:36,636 THEY WERE SO FUNNY. 117 00:05:36,703 --> 00:05:39,639 AND THEY WERE SO OUTLANDISHLY BRASH. 118 00:05:43,676 --> 00:05:45,545 Schreiber: DIFFERENT AS THEY WERE, 119 00:05:45,611 --> 00:05:49,315 DODGER AND GIANT FANS HAD ONE THING IN COMMON-- 120 00:05:49,382 --> 00:05:51,250 AN INTENSE DISLIKE FOR EACH OTHER 121 00:05:51,317 --> 00:05:54,587 PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS OF DISDAIN. 122 00:05:54,654 --> 00:05:56,923 Valleda Rupert: MY FATHER AND I WOULD GO OVER TO EBBETS FIELD. 123 00:05:56,989 --> 00:05:59,859 IT WAS ALMOST LIKE GOING INTO ANOTHER WORLD. 124 00:05:59,926 --> 00:06:02,261 ONE OF THE GUARDS USED TO COME DOWN AND SIT BEHIND US, 125 00:06:02,328 --> 00:06:05,031 'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'D THROW THINGS AT US. 126 00:06:05,098 --> 00:06:07,467 Joe Bologna: I WOULD NEVER GO TO THE POLO GROUNDS-- 127 00:06:07,533 --> 00:06:09,335 NEVER, EVEN WHEN THE DODGERS WERE PLAYING THERE. 128 00:06:09,402 --> 00:06:11,170 I HATED THE POLO GROUNDS, HATED THE GIANTS. 129 00:06:11,237 --> 00:06:12,839 THAT WAS PART OF THE FUN-- IS TO HATE. 130 00:06:12,905 --> 00:06:14,874 THE HATE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE LOVING. 131 00:06:14,941 --> 00:06:17,877 WELL, YOU HATED THE DODGERS BECAUSE YOU WERE A GIANT FAN 132 00:06:17,944 --> 00:06:20,079 AND THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. 133 00:06:20,146 --> 00:06:21,948 TO BEAT THE DODGERS-- 134 00:06:22,014 --> 00:06:24,484 IT'S SOMETHING I LIVED OFF ALL WINTER LONG. 135 00:06:24,550 --> 00:06:26,419 IF YOU WERE A GIANT, YOU WERE HATED. 136 00:06:26,486 --> 00:06:29,422 SID GORDON, A JEWISH GUY, GREW UP THREE BLOCKS FROM EBBETS FIELD, 137 00:06:29,489 --> 00:06:31,124 PLAYED FOR THE GIANTS. WE HATED HIM. 138 00:06:31,190 --> 00:06:33,392 Everett Parker: I WOULD HAVE ROOTED FOR THE RED RUSSIANS 139 00:06:33,459 --> 00:06:35,495 OVER THE BROOKLYN DODGERS. 140 00:06:35,561 --> 00:06:37,296 ALL I WISHED FOR THEM 141 00:06:37,363 --> 00:06:39,532 WERE 14-INNING GAMES PLAYED IN RAIN. 142 00:06:39,599 --> 00:06:44,203 THEY HATED THE DODGER FANS AND THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN 143 00:06:44,270 --> 00:06:46,906 BECAUSE IN BROOKLYN WE HAD MORE. 144 00:06:46,973 --> 00:06:49,509 WE HAD THE TROLLEY CAR. WE HAD THE SUBWAY. 145 00:06:49,575 --> 00:06:52,545 WE HAD PLENTY OF KOSHER DELICATESSENS. 146 00:06:52,612 --> 00:06:55,815 AND WE HAD 500 POOL ROOMS. 147 00:06:55,882 --> 00:06:58,217 THEY WERE JEALOUS. 148 00:06:58,284 --> 00:07:00,019 FOR INSTANCE, AFTER THE GAME 149 00:07:00,086 --> 00:07:03,322 DID THEY HAVE A NATHAN'S TO GO TO ON CONEY ISLAND? 150 00:07:03,389 --> 00:07:05,625 NO. NO NATHAN'S FOR THEM. 151 00:07:05,691 --> 00:07:08,861 THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONEY ISLAND. 152 00:07:12,331 --> 00:07:15,835 THEY HAD ORCHARD BEACH-- 153 00:07:15,902 --> 00:07:19,338 NO COMPARISON. NO COMPARISON. 154 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,608 Schreiber: AS THE '51 SEASON BEGAN, 155 00:07:22,675 --> 00:07:25,578 THERE WAS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS. 156 00:07:25,645 --> 00:07:28,114 THE FAMED "BOYS OF SUMMER" 157 00:07:28,181 --> 00:07:31,918 WERE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THEIR HISTORIC RUN. 158 00:07:31,984 --> 00:07:34,086 Larry King: 1951, THE DODGERS HAD 159 00:07:34,153 --> 00:07:37,323 HODGES, ROBINSON, 160 00:07:37,390 --> 00:07:40,693 REESE, COX-- 161 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,162 STILL THE BEST INFIELD I'VE EVER SEEN. 162 00:07:43,229 --> 00:07:45,198 IN RIGHT FIELD-- FURILLO, 163 00:07:45,264 --> 00:07:48,701 A TERRIFIC BALLPLAYER. 164 00:07:48,768 --> 00:07:52,138 CENTERFIELD-- SNIDER-- WHEW! WE HAD A GREAT TEAM. 165 00:07:52,205 --> 00:07:54,273 Ralph Branca: AND OF COURSE CAMPANELLA BACK AT THE PLATE. 166 00:07:54,340 --> 00:07:56,275 AND WE HAD A GOOD PITCHING STAFF-- 167 00:07:56,342 --> 00:08:00,646 NEWCOMBE, PREACHER ROE, ERSKINE. 168 00:08:00,713 --> 00:08:02,582 WE FELT WE WERE THE FAVORITES AND WE SHOULD WIN. 169 00:08:02,648 --> 00:08:04,517 WE HAD A GOOD-- WE HAD A GOOD BALL CLUB. 170 00:08:04,584 --> 00:08:06,485 Schreiber: RALPH BRANCA 171 00:08:06,552 --> 00:08:10,723 WAS ONE OF THOSE GOOD BROOKLYN PITCHERS. 172 00:08:10,790 --> 00:08:13,259 BY 1951 BRANCA WAS ALREADY 173 00:08:13,326 --> 00:08:15,528 AN ESTABLISHED AND POPULAR DODGER-- 174 00:08:15,595 --> 00:08:18,631 A 20-GAME WINNER AT THE AGE OF 21 175 00:08:18,698 --> 00:08:22,468 AND A NATIVE NEW YORKER. 176 00:08:22,535 --> 00:08:24,370 Branca: MY FATHER'S FROM ITALY 177 00:08:24,437 --> 00:08:26,272 AND MY MOTHER'S FROM A SMALL TOWN IN HUNGARY. 178 00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:28,574 AND THEY MET IN NEW YORK CITY, EAST SIDE OF HARLEM, 179 00:08:28,641 --> 00:08:32,578 GOT MARRIED AND THEN MOVED TO MOUNT VERNON. 180 00:08:32,645 --> 00:08:34,947 IT WAS A MIXED NEIGHBORHOOD. 181 00:08:35,014 --> 00:08:36,983 THERE WAS A GERMAN FAMILY, IRISH FAMILIES, 182 00:08:37,049 --> 00:08:39,619 A JEWISH FAMILY AND ABOUT THREE BLACK FAMILIES. 183 00:08:39,685 --> 00:08:43,022 SO WE HAD A LEAGUE OF NATIONS ON THAT BLOCK. 184 00:08:43,089 --> 00:08:45,358 MY FATHER HAD MANY JOBS. 185 00:08:45,424 --> 00:08:47,493 HE WAS A TROLLEY CAR CONDUCTOR. 186 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:50,062 HE HAD A BARBER SHOP. 187 00:08:50,129 --> 00:08:52,064 MY MOTHER-- WHEN YOU SAY "HOUSEWIFE," 188 00:08:52,131 --> 00:08:54,133 SHE HAD NO TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE. 189 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,168 I MEAN, I'M ONE OF 17. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, 190 00:08:56,235 --> 00:08:58,237 THERE WAS 14 CHILDREN ALIVE. 191 00:08:58,304 --> 00:09:00,172 MY SISTER DIED WHEN I WAS 13, 192 00:09:00,239 --> 00:09:02,108 SO IT WAS 13 GROWING UP-- 193 00:09:02,174 --> 00:09:04,210 ONE OF THE REASONS I WORE NUMBER 13 194 00:09:04,277 --> 00:09:05,978 WHEN I GOT TO BROOKLYN. 195 00:09:06,045 --> 00:09:10,082 I WENT FROM BASEBALL TO FOOTBALL TO BASKETBALL. 196 00:09:10,149 --> 00:09:13,452 I ROOTED FOR THE GIANTS. 197 00:09:13,519 --> 00:09:16,522 MEL OTT AND CARL HUBBELL WERE MY HEROES. 198 00:09:16,589 --> 00:09:18,524 THEN I SIGNED WITH THE DODGERS 199 00:09:18,591 --> 00:09:21,127 JUNE 6, 1944, WHICH WAS D-DAY. 200 00:09:21,193 --> 00:09:23,129 AND FOR ME IT WAS DODGER DAY. 201 00:09:23,195 --> 00:09:26,465 AND NOW JUNE 11th I WAS IN THE BULLPEN IN THE POLO GROUNDS. 202 00:09:26,532 --> 00:09:29,936 AND THEY CALLED ME IN. AND I REMEMBER WALKING IN FROM THAT BULLPEN. 203 00:09:30,002 --> 00:09:32,872 I MEAN, I WALKED AND I WALKED AND I WALKED, 204 00:09:32,939 --> 00:09:34,807 LIKE I WAS WALKING ON A TREADMILL. 205 00:09:34,874 --> 00:09:38,477 AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I STRUCK OUT THE FIRST THREE GUYS I FACED. 206 00:09:38,544 --> 00:09:42,181 Schreiber: A TOUGH, STRONG, HARD-THROWING RIGHT-HANDER 207 00:09:42,248 --> 00:09:44,317 WITH AN EXPLOSIVE FASTBALL, 208 00:09:44,383 --> 00:09:47,353 BRANCA WON 53 GAMES BEFORE HIS 24TH BIRTHDAY. 209 00:09:47,420 --> 00:09:50,656 BUT IN 1951 CHARLIE DRESSEN, 210 00:09:50,723 --> 00:09:53,592 THE DODGERS' NEW MANAGER, MOVED BRANCA TO THE BULLPEN, 211 00:09:53,659 --> 00:09:55,594 WHERE HE SPENT THE FIRST MONTH 212 00:09:55,661 --> 00:09:57,997 OF BROOKLYN'S UP-AND-DOWN SEASON. 213 00:09:58,064 --> 00:09:59,966 Branca: THEY NEEDED A STARTER, 214 00:10:00,032 --> 00:10:02,568 AND I STARTED AGAINST ROBIN ROBERTS IN PHILADELPHIA. 215 00:10:02,635 --> 00:10:04,637 I WENT SEVEN INNINGS AND IT RAINED. 216 00:10:04,704 --> 00:10:07,506 AND I WENT IN, TOOK A SHOWER, 217 00:10:07,573 --> 00:10:10,109 GOT NEW OIL ON MY ARM, PUT ON A NEW UNIFORM, 218 00:10:10,176 --> 00:10:12,178 AND I WENT OUT AND GOT THE LAST SIX GUYS OUT. 219 00:10:12,244 --> 00:10:14,347 SO I PITCHED A COMPLETE GAME AND BEAT ROBIN. 220 00:10:14,413 --> 00:10:18,150 AND THEN IT WENT LIKE 2-1, 3-1, 4-2, 221 00:10:18,217 --> 00:10:20,119 AND ALL COMPLETE GAMES. 222 00:10:20,186 --> 00:10:22,922 SO I THINK THAT KIND OF STABILIZED THE STAFF 223 00:10:22,989 --> 00:10:26,625 AND I THINK IT TURNED THE TEAM AROUND. 224 00:10:26,692 --> 00:10:30,129 Schreiber: BY CONTRAST, LEO DUROCHER'S GIANTS 225 00:10:30,196 --> 00:10:32,598 HADN'T WON THE PENNANT SINCE 1937. 226 00:10:32,665 --> 00:10:34,600 AND WHILE THERE WAS SOME HOPE 227 00:10:34,667 --> 00:10:36,936 FOLLOWING A STRONG FINISH IN 1950, 228 00:10:37,003 --> 00:10:40,439 THE '51 SEASON BEGAN POORLY. 229 00:10:40,506 --> 00:10:42,641 Everett Parker: I USED TO KEEP A SCRAPBOOK 230 00:10:42,708 --> 00:10:46,379 WITH "THE DAILY NEWS" CLIPS, OR "THE DAILY MIRROR," OF EACH GAME. 231 00:10:46,445 --> 00:10:48,781 1951, I STARTED IT 232 00:10:48,848 --> 00:10:51,817 WITH GOOD INTENT IN MY HEART. 233 00:10:51,884 --> 00:10:54,587 Mike Getz: THEY CAME OUT OF THE GATE AND LOST THREE STRAIGHT 234 00:10:54,653 --> 00:10:56,355 TO THE DODGERS IN THE POLO GROUNDS. 235 00:10:56,422 --> 00:10:57,890 THE PHILLIES CAME IN AND SWEPT THEM. 236 00:10:57,957 --> 00:10:59,992 THEN THE BRAVES CAME IN AND KNOCKED THEM OFF. 237 00:11:00,059 --> 00:11:01,994 AND THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO EBBETS FIELD. 238 00:11:02,061 --> 00:11:04,030 AND THE DODGERS TOOK TWO OUT OF THE FIRST THREE. 239 00:11:04,096 --> 00:11:05,798 AND NOW WE'VE LOST 11 IN A ROW. 240 00:11:08,634 --> 00:11:11,437 THAT WAS THE END OF MY 1951 SCRAPBOOK. 241 00:11:11,504 --> 00:11:14,473 Peter Magowan: WE ALL KNEW THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN 242 00:11:14,540 --> 00:11:18,778 TO THE GIANTS-- SOME NEW PLAYER, SOME NEW SPARK. 243 00:11:19,845 --> 00:11:21,447 Schreiber: THAT PLAYER WAS 244 00:11:21,514 --> 00:11:23,949 20-YEAR-OLD WILLIE MAYS, 245 00:11:24,016 --> 00:11:26,652 WHOSE BOYISH ENTHUSIASM WAS A WELCOME CHANGE 246 00:11:26,719 --> 00:11:28,487 ON THE VETERAN GIANTS 247 00:11:28,554 --> 00:11:31,223 AS WELL AS ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK. 248 00:11:33,059 --> 00:11:34,927 Parker: HE WAS AS MUCH AT HOME 249 00:11:34,994 --> 00:11:36,896 ON 8th AVENUE PLAYING STICKBALL, 250 00:11:36,962 --> 00:11:38,998 WHICH HE DID WITH KIDS UP IN HARLEM, 251 00:11:39,065 --> 00:11:41,267 AS HE WAS ON A BASEBALL DIAMOND. 252 00:11:41,333 --> 00:11:43,569 Willie Mays: FOR A DAY GAME THEY'D WAKE ME UP AT 9:00. 253 00:11:43,636 --> 00:11:46,338 I'D GO OUT AND PLAY ABOUT TWO OR THREE GAMES WITH THEM, 254 00:11:46,405 --> 00:11:48,207 BUY THE ICE CREAM FOR THEM. 255 00:11:48,274 --> 00:11:51,377 ACTUALLY I LEARNED HOW TO HIT THE BREAKING BALL 256 00:11:51,444 --> 00:11:52,945 BECAUSE YOU HAD TO BOUNCE THE BALL. 257 00:11:53,012 --> 00:11:55,181 IT WOULD BREAK AND I WOULD HIT IT ALL THE TIME. 258 00:11:57,817 --> 00:11:59,552 Schreiber: NOT ALL THE TIME. 259 00:11:59,618 --> 00:12:01,520 AT LEAST NOT RIGHT AWAY. 260 00:12:01,587 --> 00:12:04,390 MAYS FOUND HIS FIRST FEW WEEKS IN THE MAJORS OVERWHELMING, 261 00:12:04,457 --> 00:12:06,358 ESPECIALLY AT THE PLATE, 262 00:12:06,425 --> 00:12:08,828 WHERE HIS BATTING AVERAGE DIPPED TO .043. 263 00:12:08,894 --> 00:12:11,964 Leo Durocher: WILLIE MAYS, WHEN HE FIRST JOINED THE GIANTS, 264 00:12:12,031 --> 00:12:14,700 HE JUST COULDN'T BUY A BASE HIT, WAS HITTING AN AWFUL TOUGH LUCK. 265 00:12:14,767 --> 00:12:16,602 AND ONE DAY I CAME IN THE CLUBHOUSE, 266 00:12:16,669 --> 00:12:19,405 WILLIE WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF HIS LOCKER. AND HE LOOKED UP AND HE SAID, 267 00:12:19,472 --> 00:12:22,208 "MR. LEO," HE SAYS, "I JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT." 268 00:12:22,274 --> 00:12:24,110 HE SAYS, "I JUST CAN'T BUY A BASE HIT." 269 00:12:24,176 --> 00:12:26,212 AND HE SAYS, "I JUST CAN'T HELP THIS CLUB AT ALL." 270 00:12:26,278 --> 00:12:27,947 AND I SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT, WILLIE. 271 00:12:28,013 --> 00:12:29,849 WE BROUGHT YOU UP HERE TO PLAY CENTERFIELD, 272 00:12:29,915 --> 00:12:31,884 AND YOU'RE GONNA PLAY CENTERFIELD. 273 00:12:31,951 --> 00:12:33,752 YOU'RE THE CENTERFIELDER IN THIS BALL CLUB TODAY 274 00:12:33,819 --> 00:12:36,922 AND YOU'RE GONNA BE THE CENTERFIELDER TOMORROW AND NEXT WEEK AND NEXT MONTH." 275 00:12:36,989 --> 00:12:38,757 AND I THINK THAT TOOK HIM OUT OF THE SLUMP. 276 00:12:38,824 --> 00:12:41,827 AND HE DID COME ON TO HIT QUITE WELL THE BALANCE OF THE WAY. 277 00:12:41,894 --> 00:12:44,563 Monte Irvin: WHEN WILLIE WOULD DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, 278 00:12:44,630 --> 00:12:47,399 HE WOULD HAVE A SUIT HANGING IN THE LOCKER NEXT DAY 279 00:12:47,466 --> 00:12:50,369 OR HALF A DOZEN SHIRTS OR A WRISTWATCH 280 00:12:50,436 --> 00:12:52,771 OR SOMETHING TO LET HIM KNOW, 281 00:12:52,838 --> 00:12:54,907 "JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING." 282 00:12:54,974 --> 00:12:57,877 HE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE HE GOT SO MUCH STUFF 283 00:12:57,943 --> 00:13:00,846 HE STARTED DISTRIBUTING IT TO US-- THE REST OF THE PLAYERS IN THE CLUBHOUSE. 284 00:13:00,913 --> 00:13:03,582 WE'D GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "WHAT HAVE YOU GOT NEW?" 285 00:13:03,649 --> 00:13:06,585 AND HE'D SAY, "HERE, YOU CAN HAVE THIS. YOU CAN HAVE THAT." 286 00:13:06,652 --> 00:13:09,855 Schreiber: WHILE MAYS'S TURNAROUND MADE HIM INCREASINGLY POPULAR 287 00:13:09,922 --> 00:13:11,957 WITH HIS TEAMMATES AND GIANT FANS, 288 00:13:12,024 --> 00:13:14,059 THERE WAS A COMPLICATION. 289 00:13:14,126 --> 00:13:16,962 WILLIE PLAYED CENTERFIELD-- A POSITION THAT BELONGED 290 00:13:17,029 --> 00:13:20,766 TO A WELL-LIKED, ESTABLISHED VETERAN. 291 00:13:20,833 --> 00:13:22,668 I KNEW THAT HE MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT PROSPECT, 292 00:13:22,735 --> 00:13:25,171 BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT CENTERFIELDER IN BOBBY THOMSON. 293 00:13:25,237 --> 00:13:27,740 BOBBY THOMSON WAS NOT A RINKY-DINK. 294 00:13:27,806 --> 00:13:30,676 WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I'M GONNA BE MOVED OUT 295 00:13:30,743 --> 00:13:32,711 OF CENTERFIELD, I ACCEPTED THAT. 296 00:13:32,778 --> 00:13:35,181 I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY 297 00:13:35,247 --> 00:13:38,884 TO DO WHAT I WAS TOLD AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS. 298 00:13:40,085 --> 00:13:41,854 Schreiber: ROBERT BROWN THOMSON 299 00:13:41,921 --> 00:13:43,956 WAS BORN IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, 300 00:13:44,023 --> 00:13:47,092 ON OCTOBER 25, 1923. 301 00:13:48,527 --> 00:13:50,329 Bobby Thomson: I WAS THE YOUNGEST OF SIX KIDS. 302 00:13:50,396 --> 00:13:52,998 AND MY DAD DECIDED THAT AMERICA WAS 303 00:13:53,065 --> 00:13:55,334 THE BEST PLACE FOR HIS KIDS TO GROW UP. 304 00:13:55,401 --> 00:13:57,570 THERE WAS A LONG WAITING LIST 305 00:13:57,636 --> 00:13:59,505 TO GET OVER TO THIS COUNTRY. 306 00:13:59,572 --> 00:14:01,473 AND HE'D BEEN ON THAT LIST. 307 00:14:01,540 --> 00:14:03,475 WELL, WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT? 308 00:14:03,542 --> 00:14:05,244 MY MOTHER WAS EXPECTING ME 309 00:14:05,311 --> 00:14:07,780 WHEN HIS NAME CAME UP TO COME OVER. 310 00:14:07,846 --> 00:14:09,949 AND HE HAD THIS DECISION TO MAKE 311 00:14:10,015 --> 00:14:11,884 WHETHER TO STAY THERE 312 00:14:11,951 --> 00:14:14,119 AND HELP HIS WIFE AND KIDS 313 00:14:14,186 --> 00:14:16,055 OR GO FORWARD WITH HIS PLAN. 314 00:14:16,121 --> 00:14:19,058 WELL, MY DAD DID COME OVER HERE ON HIS OWN. 315 00:14:19,124 --> 00:14:20,926 HE WAS A CABINETMAKER. 316 00:14:20,993 --> 00:14:22,861 AND ACTUALLY IT TOOK HIM TWO YEARS 317 00:14:22,928 --> 00:14:26,131 BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO SEND FOR US TO COME OVER HERE. 318 00:14:26,198 --> 00:14:28,033 WE LANDED, 319 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:31,704 AND OFF TO STATEN ISLAND WE WENT. 320 00:14:31,770 --> 00:14:34,940 MY DAD TOOK TO BASEBALL AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT? 321 00:14:35,007 --> 00:14:38,077 HE WAS A DODGER FAN. HE ROOTED FOR THE DODGERS. 322 00:14:38,143 --> 00:14:40,346 Schreiber: IN YOUTH LEAGUES, 323 00:14:40,412 --> 00:14:42,381 BOBBY EXCELLED AT BASEBALL. 324 00:14:42,448 --> 00:14:44,984 BUT HIS DAYS AS A PLAYER WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORT-LIVED 325 00:14:45,050 --> 00:14:46,785 IF NOT FOR HIS OLDER BROTHER JIM. 326 00:14:46,852 --> 00:14:49,555 MY BROTHER WAS MY MENTOR. 327 00:14:49,622 --> 00:14:51,824 HE'S THE GUY THAT BOUGHT ME MY FIRST GLOVE 328 00:14:51,890 --> 00:14:54,059 WHEN HE WORKED FOR SEARS ROEBUCK'S. 329 00:14:54,126 --> 00:14:57,196 AND HE'S THE GUY WHO HAD ME OUT IN THE BACKYARD 330 00:14:57,263 --> 00:15:00,866 WHEN I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A BAT. 331 00:15:00,933 --> 00:15:02,901 WHEN I FIRST WENT AWAY 332 00:15:02,968 --> 00:15:05,671 TO PLAY CLASS-D BALL OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, 333 00:15:05,738 --> 00:15:07,773 I WASN'T DOING TOO WELL 334 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,209 AND I GUESS HE COULD TELL BY MY LETTERS. 335 00:15:10,276 --> 00:15:12,244 AND HE'D WRITE TO ME AND TELL ME 336 00:15:12,311 --> 00:15:14,113 TO "KEEP YOUR CHIN UP," KEEP HUSTLING 337 00:15:14,179 --> 00:15:17,216 AND GET MAD, HIT SOMEBODY WHO'S SLIDING INTO SECOND BASE. 338 00:15:17,283 --> 00:15:20,986 AND AFTER A LOT OF INSTRUCTIONS, HE'D SIGN, 339 00:15:21,053 --> 00:15:22,955 "YOUR SEVEREST CRITIC 340 00:15:23,022 --> 00:15:25,724 BUT MOST ARDENT ADMIRER." 341 00:15:25,791 --> 00:15:30,329 AND THAT KIND OF-- THAT TOOK HOLD OF ME. 342 00:15:30,396 --> 00:15:32,298 Donald Honig: HE HAD A WORLD OF TALENT. 343 00:15:32,364 --> 00:15:35,668 HE HAD POWER. HE HAD SPEED. 344 00:15:37,569 --> 00:15:40,039 BUT HE WAS JUST INCONSISTENT. 345 00:15:40,105 --> 00:15:42,374 IF YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD, HE HAD A GOOD YEAR, A BAD YEAR, 346 00:15:42,441 --> 00:15:44,276 A GOOD YEAR, A BAD YEAR. 347 00:15:44,343 --> 00:15:47,546 Schreiber: UNFORTUNATELY FOR BOTH THOMSON AND THE GIANTS, 348 00:15:47,613 --> 00:15:51,583 '51 WAS SHAPING UP TO BE ONE OF THOSE BAD YEARS. 349 00:15:51,650 --> 00:15:55,521 AT THE END OF APRIL THE LAST-PLACE NEW YORKERS HAD ONLY THREE WINS. 350 00:15:55,587 --> 00:15:58,757 AND WHILE MAY AND JUNE SAW SOME IMPROVEMENT, 351 00:15:58,824 --> 00:16:00,793 BY MID-JULY THE GIANTS STILL TRAILED 352 00:16:00,859 --> 00:16:02,961 JACKIE ROBINSON AND THE FIRST-PLACE DODGERS-- 353 00:16:03,028 --> 00:16:04,430 A CONFIDENT TEAM 354 00:16:04,496 --> 00:16:07,132 LED BY THE MOST CONFIDENT OF PLAYERS. 355 00:16:07,199 --> 00:16:10,336 Jules Tygiel: IN 1951 JACKIE ROBINSON WAS AT HIS PEAK 356 00:16:10,402 --> 00:16:14,139 AS BOTH A PLAYER AND AS A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE. 357 00:16:14,206 --> 00:16:16,709 HE BATS .338. 358 00:16:16,775 --> 00:16:19,545 HE'S THE DOMINANT PLAYER ON THE DODGER TEAM, 359 00:16:19,611 --> 00:16:22,681 BUT HE'S ALSO COMPLETELY LIBERATED HIMSELF. 360 00:16:22,748 --> 00:16:25,651 Buzzie Bavasi: IN 1947 JACKIE WAS TOLD BY MR. RICKEY 361 00:16:25,718 --> 00:16:28,987 HE WAS NOT TO TAKE PART IN ANY ARGUMENTS ON THE FIELD. 362 00:16:29,054 --> 00:16:30,956 HE WAS TO DO AS HE'S TOLD. 363 00:16:31,023 --> 00:16:33,025 WELL, IN 1951 I CALLED HIM IN THE OFFICE AND SAID, 364 00:16:33,092 --> 00:16:35,394 "JACKIE, THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. YOU'VE HAD YOUR PROBATION NOW. 365 00:16:35,461 --> 00:16:37,563 FOUR YEARS ARE UP. DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO." 366 00:16:37,629 --> 00:16:39,398 Steve Rand: IT WAS PAYBACK TIME. 367 00:16:39,465 --> 00:16:41,667 AND HE WAS DISHING IT OUT VERBALLY, 368 00:16:41,734 --> 00:16:43,502 PHYSICALLY ON THE BASES. 369 00:16:46,572 --> 00:16:49,041 THERE WAS A GAME IN BOSTON THAT WE PLAYED. 370 00:16:49,108 --> 00:16:52,177 AND THE DODGERS ARE WINNING IT 11-3. 371 00:16:52,244 --> 00:16:54,046 AND JACKIE STOLE HOME WITH A BIG LEAD. 372 00:16:54,113 --> 00:16:56,081 AND THEY GOT ON HIS CASE. 373 00:16:56,148 --> 00:16:58,317 Jack Lang: AND WHEN THEY STARTED RAZZING HIM, 374 00:16:58,384 --> 00:17:00,352 JACKIE GOT BACK TO THE DUGOUT, 375 00:17:00,419 --> 00:17:02,187 HE TURNED AROUND, 376 00:17:02,254 --> 00:17:04,456 PATTED HIS BACKSIDE AND THREW A KISS TO THEM. 377 00:17:06,291 --> 00:17:09,294 Duke Snider: HIS VOICE HAD GREAT CARRY TO IT. 378 00:17:09,361 --> 00:17:13,465 AND THAT LAUGH-- IT WAS AN IRRITATING TYPE LAUGH TO THE OPPOSITION. 379 00:17:13,532 --> 00:17:15,467 HE WOULD ALWAYS HOLLER SOMETHING TO LEO 380 00:17:15,534 --> 00:17:17,536 BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE LEO. 381 00:17:17,603 --> 00:17:19,638 Joe Bologna: HE AND DUROCHER WOULD JAW BACK AND FORTH 382 00:17:19,705 --> 00:17:21,440 AND CALL EACH OTHER EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK. 383 00:17:21,507 --> 00:17:23,308 HE HIT HIM WITH EVERYTHING HE COULD-- 384 00:17:23,375 --> 00:17:26,545 PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT LORRAINE DAY TO WHOM DUROCHER HAD MARRIED. 385 00:17:26,612 --> 00:17:29,848 JACKIE USED TO ACCUSE LEO OF WEARING LORRAINE'S PERFUME. 386 00:17:29,915 --> 00:17:33,252 Roger Kahn: ROBINSON WAS UP. AND AS ROBINSON WAS IN THERE, 387 00:17:33,318 --> 00:17:36,622 DUROCHER'S BULLHORN VOICE SAID, "MY DICK TO YOU, ROBINSON." 388 00:17:36,688 --> 00:17:39,158 AND ROBINSON DIDN'T STEP OUT OF THE BATTER'S BOX, 389 00:17:39,224 --> 00:17:41,126 DIDN'T LOWER HIS BAT. HE SAID, 390 00:17:41,193 --> 00:17:44,496 "GIVE IT TO LORRAINE. SHE NEEDS IT MORE THAN I DO." 391 00:17:44,563 --> 00:17:46,532 Schreiber: THE TENSE INTERACTION 392 00:17:46,598 --> 00:17:49,134 BETWEEN ROBINSON AND DUROCHER WAS NOTHING NEW. 393 00:17:49,201 --> 00:17:53,105 IN 1948 LEO HAD BEEN JACKIE'S MANAGER WITH THE DODGERS 394 00:17:53,172 --> 00:17:56,875 AND THE TWO DEVELOPED AN INTENSE DISLIKE FOR EACH OTHER. 395 00:17:58,544 --> 00:18:01,713 WHEN THE DODGERS SWEPT THREE FROM THE GIANTS IN EARLY AUGUST-- 396 00:18:01,780 --> 00:18:04,249 THEIR 12th WIN IN 15 GAMES BETWEEN THE TEAMS, 397 00:18:04,316 --> 00:18:06,819 BROOKLYN'S LEAD GREW TO 12 1/2 GAMES 398 00:18:06,885 --> 00:18:11,356 AND ROBINSON'S TAUNTING GREW EVEN LOUDER. 399 00:18:11,423 --> 00:18:13,258 DRESSEN WAS HIGHER THAN A KITE. 400 00:18:13,325 --> 00:18:16,829 HE GAVE HIS PLAYERS A GREEN LIGHT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TAUNTING. 401 00:18:16,895 --> 00:18:18,764 AND THE TWO LOCKER ROOMS WERE SIDE BY SIDE. 402 00:18:18,831 --> 00:18:20,365 THERE USED TO BE A DOOR IN-BETWEEN. 403 00:18:20,432 --> 00:18:23,235 SO DRESSEN COMES DOWN AND HE SAYS, "COME ON BACK TO THE DOOR. 404 00:18:23,302 --> 00:18:25,170 WE'RE GONNA SING 'THE GIANTS ARE DEAD.'" 405 00:18:25,237 --> 00:18:27,139 - "THE GIANTS ARE DEAD." - "THE GIANTS IS DEAD." 406 00:18:27,206 --> 00:18:29,808 SOME PLAYERS DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT. OTHERS DID WILLINGLY. 407 00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:31,844 Branca: AND YOU COULD HEAR ONE VOICE 408 00:18:31,910 --> 00:18:35,414 ABOVE EVERYBODY ELSE'S. IT WAS JACKIE'S. 409 00:18:35,481 --> 00:18:39,084 "EAT YOUR HEART OUT, LEO. YOU'LL BE LAST BEFORE THE SEASON'S OVER." 410 00:18:39,151 --> 00:18:41,253 Dave Smith: THIS IS SOMETHING 411 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:43,322 THAT JUST TOTALLY INFURIATED THE GIANTS. 412 00:18:43,388 --> 00:18:45,457 AND THEY DIDN'T BANG ON THE DOOR BACK TO THEM. 413 00:18:45,524 --> 00:18:47,326 THEY DIDN'T YELL. DUROCHER JUST SAID... 414 00:18:47,392 --> 00:18:50,062 Monte Irvin: "FELLAS," HE SAID, "YOU HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING? 415 00:18:50,128 --> 00:18:51,964 LET'S GET OUR ACT TOGETHER AND GO ON OUT 416 00:18:52,030 --> 00:18:54,833 AND SHOW THEM WHAT WE CAN DO." 417 00:18:54,900 --> 00:18:57,569 WE'RE 13 1/2 GAMES AHEAD ON AUGUST 13th-- 418 00:18:57,636 --> 00:19:00,038 13 1/2. IT'S A JOKE. 419 00:19:00,105 --> 00:19:03,242 Branca: I THINK THE WHOLE TEAM FELT WE HAD IT WON. 420 00:19:03,308 --> 00:19:05,344 I MEAN, HOW GOOD IS A TEAM GONNA GO TO CATCH YOU? 421 00:19:05,410 --> 00:19:07,179 WE BEAT THE PHILLIES TWO OUT OF THREE. 422 00:19:07,246 --> 00:19:09,081 THEY BEAT THE BRAVES THREE OUT OF THREE. 423 00:19:09,147 --> 00:19:11,683 WE WENT THREE OUT OF FOUR. THEY WENT FOUR OUT OF FOUR. 424 00:19:11,750 --> 00:19:15,420 SPAHN AND SAIN AND ROBERTS AND SIMMONS-- 425 00:19:15,487 --> 00:19:18,023 WE WERE BEATING EVERYBODY THAT THEY THREW AT US. 426 00:19:18,090 --> 00:19:20,659 George Spencer: THE STARTING PITCHER WOULD GET THE LEAD OF ONE RUN 427 00:19:20,726 --> 00:19:22,728 AND SOMEBODY ON THE BASE WOULD SAY, "OKAY, THERE'S YOUR LEAD. 428 00:19:22,794 --> 00:19:24,596 HOLD IT." AND THEY DID. 429 00:19:24,663 --> 00:19:26,498 AND LEO SAID, "OKAY, WHATEVER YOU DO, 430 00:19:26,565 --> 00:19:28,734 EVERYBODY DO THE SAME THING TOMORROW." 431 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,770 AND HE WAS JUST VERY VERY SUPERSTITIOUS. 432 00:19:31,837 --> 00:19:35,207 LEO HAD A THING-- NOBODY COULD TOUCH BOBBY THOMSON'S GLOVE. 433 00:19:35,274 --> 00:19:37,676 THOMSON NEVER BROUGHT HIS GLOVE IN. 434 00:19:37,743 --> 00:19:40,012 LEO WOULD KEEP IT IN THE COACHES' BOX. 435 00:19:40,078 --> 00:19:42,681 AND HE WOULD TAP IT THREE TIMES 436 00:19:42,748 --> 00:19:45,717 AND THEN TOUCH THE BAG AND COME BACK AND PUT IT DOWN. 437 00:19:47,419 --> 00:19:49,721 HERMAN FRANKS WORE THE SAME SEERSUCKER SUIT 438 00:19:49,788 --> 00:19:51,557 FOR 16 DAYS. 439 00:19:51,623 --> 00:19:53,926 Thomson: I USED TO WEAR THESE UNDERWEAR PANTS 440 00:19:53,992 --> 00:19:55,193 WITH ANTS ON THEM. 441 00:19:55,260 --> 00:19:57,195 WELL, I WORE THOSE PANTS EVERY DAY 442 00:19:57,262 --> 00:20:00,499 TO THE POINT WHERE THE FIRST THING THOSE GUYS LOOKED FOR 443 00:20:00,566 --> 00:20:03,268 WERE THOSE PANTS HANGING UP. 444 00:20:05,804 --> 00:20:09,741 EVERY GAME WE WON MADE IT MORE IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO THE NEXT ONE. 445 00:20:09,808 --> 00:20:12,511 IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAYING "GOOD MORNING" TO YOUR WIFE. 446 00:20:12,578 --> 00:20:14,513 WE WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW THEY DID. 447 00:20:14,580 --> 00:20:16,848 THE GIANTS JUST DIDN'T STOP WINNING, PERIOD. 448 00:20:16,915 --> 00:20:20,419 AND IT BECAME A VERY SCARY THING FOR DODGER FANS. 449 00:20:23,722 --> 00:20:25,891 IT SEEMED THERE WAS ALMOST A SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT. 450 00:20:25,958 --> 00:20:27,993 Rand: I SAW ALL THESE INSANITIES. 451 00:20:28,060 --> 00:20:30,128 I WAS JUST HOPING THAT I WAS WRONG. 452 00:20:30,195 --> 00:20:32,164 PHILADELPHIA LEFT-FIELDER DICK SISLER 453 00:20:32,230 --> 00:20:34,466 MISPLAYED A DRIVE BY MONTE IRVIN 454 00:20:34,533 --> 00:20:37,536 THAT LET IN THE WINNING TWO RUNS. 455 00:20:37,603 --> 00:20:40,038 AND YOU SAID, "UH-HUH. UH-HUH." 456 00:20:40,105 --> 00:20:42,874 IT WAS LIKE A DIVINE PLAN WAS UNFOLDING. 457 00:20:42,941 --> 00:20:46,445 - AND WHEN THEY WERE CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT LEAD-- - 10 1/2. 458 00:20:46,511 --> 00:20:48,747 --LIKE SOMEBODY COMING UP BEHIND YOU AND HITTING YOU WITH A CLUB. 459 00:20:48,814 --> 00:20:51,316 - 8 1/2. - WE GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER AND CLOSER. 460 00:20:51,383 --> 00:20:54,553 - 6 1/2. - HERE'S A SHOT. AND NOW HERE'S ONE ON THE ELBOW. 461 00:20:54,620 --> 00:20:57,356 - 5 1/2. - AND YOU JUST HAD THIS SENSE OF DOOM. 462 00:20:57,422 --> 00:20:59,858 IT WAS EXCRUCIATING. I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE PILLORY. 463 00:20:59,925 --> 00:21:02,194 Schreiber: TURNING THEIR SEASON AROUND, 464 00:21:02,260 --> 00:21:04,830 THE GIANTS HAD WON 16 STRAIGHT IN AUGUST 465 00:21:04,896 --> 00:21:07,399 AND NOW TRAILED THE DODGERS BY JUST FIVE GAMES 466 00:21:07,466 --> 00:21:10,002 WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH TO PLAY. 467 00:21:10,068 --> 00:21:12,137 MONTE IRVIN LED THE REVIVAL 468 00:21:12,204 --> 00:21:14,873 ALONG WITH THE RESURGENT BOBBY THOMSON 469 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:16,908 WHO FOUND A NEW HOME AT THIRD 470 00:21:16,975 --> 00:21:19,778 AND A NEW STROKE AT THE PLATE. 471 00:21:19,845 --> 00:21:23,815 AT THE MIDPOINT IN 1951 HE WAS BATTING .232. 472 00:21:23,882 --> 00:21:25,817 LOCKMAN AND LEO DUROCHER GOT TOGETHER 473 00:21:25,884 --> 00:21:27,786 AND DECIDED TO ADAPT HIS STANCE 474 00:21:27,853 --> 00:21:29,821 TO GIVE HIM MORE OF A CROUCH. 475 00:21:29,888 --> 00:21:32,057 Thomson: I THOUGHT, "HEY, WHAT HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?" 476 00:21:32,124 --> 00:21:33,992 YOU KNOW, TO BEND THE KNEES A LITTLE MORE, 477 00:21:34,059 --> 00:21:36,028 CROUCH OVER, GET A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE. 478 00:21:36,094 --> 00:21:38,397 AND I GOT PULLING THE BALL MORE. 479 00:21:38,463 --> 00:21:41,933 Schreiber: AS MUCH AS THOMSON'S RESURRECTION HELPED THE GIANTS, 480 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,936 THE REAL CATALYST FOR NEW YORK'S CHANGE IN FORTUNE 481 00:21:45,003 --> 00:21:46,938 MAY HAVE COME ON JUNE 30th 482 00:21:47,005 --> 00:21:49,541 WITH THE ACQUISITION OF PITTSBURGH INFIELDER 483 00:21:49,608 --> 00:21:51,777 HANK SCHENZ. 484 00:21:54,513 --> 00:21:56,748 ALTHOUGH SCHENZ DID NOT PLAY IN THE FIELD 485 00:21:56,815 --> 00:21:58,750 OR HAVE AN AT-BAT IN A SINGLE GAME, 486 00:21:58,817 --> 00:22:00,852 HE DID HELP DEVISE AND EXECUTE 487 00:22:00,919 --> 00:22:03,221 AN ELABORATE SIGN-STEALING SYSTEM 488 00:22:03,288 --> 00:22:05,824 WITH MANAGER LEO DUROCHER'S BLESSING. 489 00:22:05,891 --> 00:22:07,726 FROM A HIDDEN PERCH 490 00:22:07,793 --> 00:22:09,861 IN DUROCHER'S OFFICE IN CENTERFIELD, 491 00:22:09,928 --> 00:22:13,365 THE GIANTS STOLE THE OPPOSING CATCHERS' SIGNS, 492 00:22:13,432 --> 00:22:15,834 RELAYED THEM ELECTRONICALLY TO THE GIANT BULLPEN 493 00:22:15,901 --> 00:22:19,838 WHERE THEY WERE THEN PASSED ON TO THE HITTER. 494 00:22:19,905 --> 00:22:22,340 THIS IS THE INFAMOUS SPYGLASS THAT MY DAD INTRODUCED 495 00:22:22,407 --> 00:22:24,810 IN THE 1951 BASEBALL SEASON. 496 00:22:24,876 --> 00:22:27,479 AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH WHEN IT'S CLOSED-- 497 00:22:27,546 --> 00:22:29,381 VERY SMALL, 498 00:22:29,448 --> 00:22:31,550 BUT WHEN EXTENDED TO ITS FULL LENGTH, 499 00:22:31,616 --> 00:22:33,518 IT ENABLED MY DAD 500 00:22:33,585 --> 00:22:35,487 SITTING IN THE CENTERFIELD-- 501 00:22:35,554 --> 00:22:38,490 I GUESS, THE CENTERFIELD OFFICE OF MR. DUROCHER-- 502 00:22:38,557 --> 00:22:40,292 TO ZOOM RIGHT ON IN 503 00:22:40,358 --> 00:22:42,894 ON THE SIGNALS THAT THE CATCHER WAS GIVING. 504 00:22:42,961 --> 00:22:44,863 Al Corwin: AND IT WAS RELAYED 505 00:22:44,930 --> 00:22:46,965 FROM LEO'S OFFICE TO THE BULLPEN, 506 00:22:47,032 --> 00:22:48,867 FROM THE BULLPEN TO THE HITTER. 507 00:22:48,934 --> 00:22:51,069 AND YOU HAD, LIKE, TWO OR THREE SECONDS TO DO IT. 508 00:22:51,136 --> 00:22:53,205 Schreiber: THE PLAYER ENTRUSTED WITH RELAYING 509 00:22:53,271 --> 00:22:55,073 THE SIGNS FROM THE BULLPEN 510 00:22:55,140 --> 00:22:57,642 WAS LITTLE-USED CATCHER SAL YVARS, 511 00:22:57,709 --> 00:22:59,845 WHO LISTENED INTENTLY 512 00:22:59,911 --> 00:23:02,814 FOR A TELLTALE SIGNAL. 513 00:23:02,881 --> 00:23:04,816 Sal Yvars: NO BUZZ-- FASTBALL. 514 00:23:04,883 --> 00:23:07,219 ONE BUZZ-- BREAKING BALL. 515 00:23:07,285 --> 00:23:09,554 IF THERE WAS NO BUZZ-- 516 00:23:09,621 --> 00:23:13,258 I HAD A BALL IN MY HAND-- I DID NOTHING WITH THE BALL. 517 00:23:13,325 --> 00:23:16,061 IF IT WAS A BREAKING BALL, I'D THROW IT UP IN THE AIR. 518 00:23:16,128 --> 00:23:20,232 LEO'S WORD, WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT WHETHER WE COULD DO THIS, WAS, 519 00:23:20,298 --> 00:23:22,801 "WHAT THE HELL DO WE HAVE TO LOSE?" 520 00:23:22,868 --> 00:23:25,003 SO WE DID IT. 521 00:23:27,205 --> 00:23:31,276 DON MUELLER HIT FIVE HOME RUNS IN TWO DAYS. 522 00:23:31,343 --> 00:23:33,712 YOU KNOW WHO DON MUELLER WAS? HE WAS A LEFT-HANDED BATTER, 523 00:23:33,779 --> 00:23:35,747 HIT BALLS INSIDE OF THIRD BASE. 524 00:23:35,814 --> 00:23:38,450 ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S HITTING BOMBS OUT IN THE RIGHT FIELD. 525 00:23:38,517 --> 00:23:41,052 THEY NEVER CAUGHT ON. 526 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,155 WE GOT FIVE RUNS AHEAD-- WE STOPPED. 527 00:23:43,221 --> 00:23:45,657 THEY'D COME CLOSE TO US-- 528 00:23:45,724 --> 00:23:47,793 THERE WE GO AGAIN. 529 00:23:47,859 --> 00:23:49,528 WE KNEW EVERY PITCH. 530 00:23:49,594 --> 00:23:51,963 Thomson: HEY, LET'S FACE IT: WE STOLE SIGNS. 531 00:23:52,030 --> 00:23:53,965 SURE I TOOK THEM ONCE IN A WHILE, 532 00:23:54,032 --> 00:23:55,967 BUT I DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF IT-- 533 00:23:56,034 --> 00:23:58,270 NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF, FRANKLY. 534 00:23:58,336 --> 00:24:00,705 I DOUBT IF THEY HELPED ME THAT MUCH. 535 00:24:00,772 --> 00:24:04,543 NOT MANY GUYS WERE PEOPLE WHO REALLY RELIED ON IT. 536 00:24:04,609 --> 00:24:06,411 YOU HAVE A MATTER OF SECONDS, 537 00:24:06,478 --> 00:24:09,381 BECAUSE THAT PITCHER'S NOT STANDING THERE DOING ANYTHING. 538 00:24:09,447 --> 00:24:12,217 HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS WINDUP SOMETIMES. 539 00:24:12,284 --> 00:24:13,685 AND THIS WAS GIVEN TO US. 540 00:24:13,752 --> 00:24:15,821 AND WE WOULD HURRIEDLY THROW A BALL UP IN THE AIR. 541 00:24:15,887 --> 00:24:17,889 SO IT WAS A VERY CUMBERSOME 542 00:24:17,956 --> 00:24:20,125 AND SOMETIMES LESS THAN ACCURATE SYSTEM. 543 00:24:20,192 --> 00:24:22,527 NO MATTER HOW YOU GET THE SIGNS, 544 00:24:22,594 --> 00:24:25,297 IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING, YOU'VE STILL GOT TO HIT IT. 545 00:24:25,363 --> 00:24:28,366 AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO HIT IT. 546 00:24:28,433 --> 00:24:32,537 AND PEOPLE SAY, "HEY, KNOWING THE SIGNS DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT." 547 00:24:32,604 --> 00:24:34,806 THEN WHY WOULD YOU DO IT, IF IT DIDN'T HELP? 548 00:24:34,873 --> 00:24:37,709 ONCE THEY GOT THE SIGNS, THERE'S YOUR MAGIC WAND. 549 00:24:37,776 --> 00:24:41,479 THEY MADE THEM 37-7. 550 00:24:41,546 --> 00:24:43,448 Schreiber: IT WOULD BE EASY TO ATTRIBUTE 551 00:24:43,515 --> 00:24:45,784 THE GIANTS' REMARKABLE 16-GAME WINNING STREAK 552 00:24:45,851 --> 00:24:48,553 AND TORRID FINISH TO THEIR SIGN-STEALING ABILITY, 553 00:24:48,620 --> 00:24:52,123 BUT THE NUMBERS SUGGEST A DIFFERENT STORY. 554 00:24:54,559 --> 00:24:56,194 IT TURNS OUT OF ALL THE GIANTS' BATTERS, 555 00:24:56,261 --> 00:24:58,096 ONLY THREE OF THEM HAD AN IMPROVEMENT 556 00:24:58,163 --> 00:24:59,564 IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON-- 557 00:24:59,631 --> 00:25:02,601 WHITEY LOCKMAN, MONTE IRVIN 558 00:25:02,667 --> 00:25:07,072 AND THOMSON, WHO WENT UP BY 120 POINTS. 559 00:25:07,138 --> 00:25:09,841 ALL THE REST WENT DOWN DRAMATICALLY. 560 00:25:09,908 --> 00:25:12,711 I WOULD LOVE TO FIND SOME SMOKING GUN THAT SAYS, 561 00:25:12,777 --> 00:25:15,480 "HERE'S THE NUMBER THAT SHOWS THE GIANTS STOLE THE PENNANT." 562 00:25:15,547 --> 00:25:17,382 I DON'T SEE IT. 563 00:25:17,449 --> 00:25:20,819 Schreiber: NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE GIANTS' BATTING AVERAGE 564 00:25:20,886 --> 00:25:23,488 ACTUALLY ROSE 17 POINTS ON THE ROAD 565 00:25:23,555 --> 00:25:26,858 AND AT THE SAME TIME DROPPED 7 POINTS AT HOME. 566 00:25:31,396 --> 00:25:34,032 THE PITCHING NUMBERS ARE EVEN MORE ENLIGHTENING. 567 00:25:34,099 --> 00:25:37,002 FROM JULY 20th UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON 568 00:25:37,068 --> 00:25:39,704 THE GIANTS' STAFF E.R.A. WAS A FULL POINT LOWER 569 00:25:39,771 --> 00:25:42,941 THAN IT HAD BEEN EARLIER IN THE YEAR. 570 00:25:44,309 --> 00:25:48,013 Branca: YOU CAN DO ALL THE STATS THAT YOU WANT, 571 00:25:48,079 --> 00:25:50,815 ALL THE FIGURES. FIGURES LIE AND LIES FIGURE. 572 00:25:50,882 --> 00:25:54,486 AND BASEBALL IS STILL PLAYED BETWEEN THE TWO WHITE LINES. 573 00:25:54,552 --> 00:25:56,388 ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET ONE HIT 574 00:25:56,454 --> 00:25:58,390 SOMEPLACE, SOMEHOW, KNOWING THE SIGNS. 575 00:25:58,456 --> 00:26:00,492 THAT'S ALL YOU NEED, IS TO WIN ONE GAME 576 00:26:00,558 --> 00:26:02,327 OUT OF 44 GAMES. 577 00:26:02,394 --> 00:26:05,497 Schreiber: WHETHER OR NOT THE SIGN-STEALING HELPED THEM, 578 00:26:05,563 --> 00:26:07,499 THE GIANTS HAD CLEARLY BECOME 579 00:26:07,565 --> 00:26:09,534 A MORE CONFIDENT AND BRASH TEAM-- 580 00:26:09,601 --> 00:26:11,670 AN ATTITUDE THAT MIRRORED THEIR MANAGER 581 00:26:11,736 --> 00:26:14,039 LEO DUROCHER. 582 00:26:14,105 --> 00:26:15,974 Ernie Harwell: LEO HAD COME OFF THE STREETS 583 00:26:16,041 --> 00:26:18,343 AND THE POOL HALLS OF NEW ENGLAND. 584 00:26:18,410 --> 00:26:20,211 HE WAS A REAL HUSTLER. 585 00:26:20,278 --> 00:26:23,081 AND HE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO WIN A BALLGAME. 586 00:26:23,148 --> 00:26:25,116 PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN HIM 587 00:26:25,183 --> 00:26:27,852 BECAUSE HE WAS CONFIDENCE PERSONIFIED. 588 00:26:27,919 --> 00:26:30,789 LEO WAS THE DAPPEREST MAN IN BASEBALL. 589 00:26:30,855 --> 00:26:33,024 HE HAD CLOTHES MADE. HE HAD TIES MADE. 590 00:26:33,091 --> 00:26:34,859 HE HAD SHOES MADE. 591 00:26:34,926 --> 00:26:37,862 Angelo Ambrosio: SHARP AS A TACK. HE HAD A GOLD CHAIN. 592 00:26:37,929 --> 00:26:39,698 HE HAD THAT SLICK HAIR. 593 00:26:39,764 --> 00:26:43,468 Jerry Lewis: HE WAS NATTY-- I MEAN NATTY. 594 00:26:43,535 --> 00:26:45,470 YOU COULD SMELL HIM THREE BLOCKS AWAY. 595 00:26:45,537 --> 00:26:47,038 HE LOVED THE PERFUME AND STUFF. 596 00:26:47,105 --> 00:26:48,974 I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS FRUITY WITH ALL THIS STUFF ON. 597 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:51,009 YOU KNOW, HE WAS KIND OF A HOLLYWOOD GUY. 598 00:26:51,076 --> 00:26:53,111 AND HE DRESSED LIKE A HOLLYWOOD GUY. 599 00:26:53,178 --> 00:26:54,579 HE TALKED LIKE ONE. 600 00:26:54,646 --> 00:26:58,116 Maury Allen: HE LOVED THE SHOW BUSINESS CROWD. 601 00:26:58,183 --> 00:26:59,951 HE HUNG OUT WITH ALL THE BIG SHOTS. 602 00:27:00,018 --> 00:27:01,953 GEORGE BURNS AND DANNY KAYE AND THE MARX BROTHERS 603 00:27:02,020 --> 00:27:03,488 AND DEAN AND MYSELF. 604 00:27:03,555 --> 00:27:05,824 Roger Kahn: ONE SPRING TRAINING DEAN MARTIN AND JERRY LEWIS 605 00:27:05,890 --> 00:27:08,326 WERE SHOOTING A MOVIE NEAR WHERE THE GIANTS WERE TRAINING. 606 00:27:08,393 --> 00:27:11,429 AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM WAS SHY, SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK OUT 607 00:27:11,496 --> 00:27:13,732 IN THE INFIELD WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS. 608 00:27:13,798 --> 00:27:16,434 DUROCHER SAID, "GREAT. LOVE TO HAVE YOU BOYS." 609 00:27:16,501 --> 00:27:18,937 AND THE WHOLE DAY'S WORKOUT WAS DISRUPTED 610 00:27:19,004 --> 00:27:23,141 BY THESE TWO CLOWNS KICKING GROUND BALLS. 611 00:27:23,208 --> 00:27:25,744 DOES HE STILL LOSE HIS TEMPER THE WAY HE USED TO? 612 00:27:25,810 --> 00:27:27,712 HE NEVER LOST HIS TEMPER. 613 00:27:27,779 --> 00:27:31,049 WHICH LEO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? 614 00:27:31,116 --> 00:27:32,984 I USED TO PLAY CARDS WITH LEO. 615 00:27:33,051 --> 00:27:36,154 AND HE WOULD YELL OUT, "I'M RAISING YOU!" 616 00:27:36,221 --> 00:27:38,656 HE JUST WAS A VOLCANO. 617 00:27:38,723 --> 00:27:40,925 LEO WAS ANGER PERSONIFIED. 618 00:27:40,992 --> 00:27:42,761 Jerry Lewis: I NEVER SAW LEO PLAY. 619 00:27:42,827 --> 00:27:44,896 HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TERRIBLE. 620 00:27:46,898 --> 00:27:49,300 OH, HE'S LOOKING DOWN FROM UP THERE SAYING, 621 00:27:49,367 --> 00:27:52,604 "I'LL GET YOU, YOU RAT BASTARD." 622 00:27:52,670 --> 00:27:56,141 Schreiber: DUROCHER'S CONFIDENCE AND BRAVADO 623 00:27:56,207 --> 00:27:58,977 WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO HIS BROOKLYN COUNTERPART-- 624 00:27:59,044 --> 00:28:01,546 THE INSECURE AND RESERVED 625 00:28:01,613 --> 00:28:03,481 CHARLIE DRESSEN. 626 00:28:03,548 --> 00:28:06,284 AS BROOKLYN'S LEAD STARTED TO EVAPORATE, 627 00:28:06,351 --> 00:28:09,320 A JITTERY DRESSEN REACTED WITH CURIOUS MOVES 628 00:28:09,387 --> 00:28:12,724 THAT PUZZLED HIS PLAYERS. 629 00:28:12,791 --> 00:28:15,794 Branca: WHEN WE WERE GOING WELL, CHARLIE WAS KIND OF LOOSEY-GOOSEY. 630 00:28:15,860 --> 00:28:18,396 AND THEN WHEN THE GIANTS GOT CLOSE, HE KIND OF TIGHTENED UP. 631 00:28:18,463 --> 00:28:21,266 I THINK HE MADE SOME AWFUL MOVES. 632 00:28:21,332 --> 00:28:25,837 HE RAN THE PITCHING STAFF INTO THE GROUND. 633 00:28:25,904 --> 00:28:29,541 HE BASICALLY STARTED USING JUST FIVE PITCHERS. 634 00:28:29,607 --> 00:28:31,543 Bill Gutman: CARL ERSKINE HAD AN ARM 635 00:28:31,609 --> 00:28:33,411 THAT WAS BOTHERING HIM. 636 00:28:33,478 --> 00:28:35,447 NEWCOMBE'S ARM TOWARD THE END OF THE SEASON 637 00:28:35,513 --> 00:28:37,882 WAS GETTING TIRED. 638 00:28:37,949 --> 00:28:40,318 DRESSEN WOULD CONSTANTLY SAY, "YOU'RE IMAGINING IT." 639 00:28:40,385 --> 00:28:41,820 HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT. 640 00:28:41,886 --> 00:28:44,189 WE'VE GOT 11 PITCHERS THAT ARE SOUND. 641 00:28:44,255 --> 00:28:45,857 AND THEIR ARMS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. 642 00:28:45,924 --> 00:28:48,293 Branca: HE KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT PITCHING-- 643 00:28:48,359 --> 00:28:50,995 ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT PITCHING 644 00:28:51,062 --> 00:28:53,832 YOU COULD PUT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN IN THE BOLDEST PRINT IN THE WORLD 645 00:28:53,898 --> 00:28:56,801 AND YOU'D STILL HAVE ROOM FOR THE CONSTITUTION ON IT. 646 00:28:58,503 --> 00:29:00,472 Schreiber: IN THEIR LAST 44 GAMES 647 00:29:00,538 --> 00:29:02,574 THE BEST THE DODGERS COULD DO 648 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,210 WAS PLAY 500 BALL. 649 00:29:05,276 --> 00:29:08,079 MEANWHILE, THE GIANTS WENT 37-7 650 00:29:08,146 --> 00:29:11,916 AND FINALLY CAUGHT BROOKLYN WITH TWO GAMES LEFT. 651 00:29:13,218 --> 00:29:15,420 STILL TIED ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON, 652 00:29:15,487 --> 00:29:19,023 NEW YORK WENT TO BOSTON WHERE THEY BEAT THE BRAVES 3-1 653 00:29:19,090 --> 00:29:21,893 ON A BOBBY THOMSON HOMER. 654 00:29:26,364 --> 00:29:28,133 AFTER THE WIN, 655 00:29:28,199 --> 00:29:30,702 THE GIANTS EXCITEDLY LOOKED TO PHILADELPHIA, 656 00:29:30,768 --> 00:29:32,704 WHERE THE DODGERS WERE IN TROUBLE. 657 00:29:32,770 --> 00:29:34,739 BROOKLYN TRAILED THE PHILLS 6-1 658 00:29:34,806 --> 00:29:37,308 IN THE THIRD INNING OF A GAME THEY NOW NEEDED TO WIN 659 00:29:37,375 --> 00:29:39,744 JUST TO FORCE A PLAYOFF. 660 00:29:39,811 --> 00:29:42,380 GIANTS WIN EARLY. THEY'RE ON A TRAIN HEADING BACK 661 00:29:42,447 --> 00:29:44,983 AND THEY'RE STARTING TO CELEBRATE A LITTLE. 662 00:29:45,049 --> 00:29:46,618 WE HAD CHAMPAGNE ON ICE ON THE TRAIN. 663 00:29:46,684 --> 00:29:48,720 WE WERE GONNA RIDE INTO GRAND CENTRAL STATION 664 00:29:48,786 --> 00:29:51,289 AS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT WINNERS. 665 00:29:51,356 --> 00:29:54,125 Rand: I COULDN'T STAND IT. A PHYSICAL PAIN WAS GOING THROUGH ME. 666 00:29:54,192 --> 00:29:57,529 AND I STARTED TO WALK. AND THEN SOMEONE SAID, "IT'S 8-5." 667 00:29:57,595 --> 00:29:59,597 SO I WAS CONVINCED AT THIS POINT 668 00:29:59,664 --> 00:30:01,566 THAT MY WALKING WAS MAKING THEM SCORE RUNS 669 00:30:01,633 --> 00:30:03,935 AND IF I STOPPED MY WALKING 670 00:30:04,002 --> 00:30:06,604 THEY'D STOP SCORING. AND IT WAS 8-6. 671 00:30:06,671 --> 00:30:09,607 AND WHEN IT CAME 8-7, YOU SAY TO GOD, 672 00:30:09,674 --> 00:30:12,777 "I'LL NEVER CURSE OR I'LL NEVER BE BAD TO MY PARENTS AGAIN 673 00:30:12,844 --> 00:30:14,779 IF YOU JUST LET THEM WIN THIS GAME." 674 00:30:14,846 --> 00:30:16,581 YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MAKING A BARGAIN WITH GOD. 675 00:30:16,648 --> 00:30:19,651 AND AS I'M WALKING, IT'S 8-8. 676 00:30:19,717 --> 00:30:21,653 AND NOW THE PHILLIES ARE UP, 677 00:30:21,719 --> 00:30:23,555 BUT THEY HAVE THE BASES LOADED. 678 00:30:23,621 --> 00:30:26,624 AND WAITKUS HITS THIS LINE DRIVE. AND YOUR HEART SINKS. 679 00:30:26,691 --> 00:30:28,793 Jules Tygiel: OUT OF NOWHERE ROBINSON APPEARS 680 00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:30,762 AND SPEARS THAT BALL. 681 00:30:30,828 --> 00:30:32,597 HE FELL WITH THE BALL IN THE GLOVE 682 00:30:32,664 --> 00:30:34,399 AND IT HIT HIM IN THE STERNUM HERE. 683 00:30:34,465 --> 00:30:37,335 SO IT KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF HIM AND WE THOUGHT, "OH MY GOD, HE'S GONE." 684 00:30:37,402 --> 00:30:39,037 THEY THINK HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE. 685 00:30:39,103 --> 00:30:41,506 AND IN FACT PEE WEE REESE HAS TO PUSH HIM OUT OF THE DUGOUT 686 00:30:41,573 --> 00:30:43,575 IN THE NEXT INNING TO GET HIM BACK ON THE FIELD. 687 00:30:43,641 --> 00:30:46,244 Gutman: THEN HE HIT A HOME RUN IN THE 14th. 688 00:30:46,311 --> 00:30:49,581 SO JACKIE ROBINSON SINGLEHANDEDLY SAVED THE SEASON. 689 00:30:49,647 --> 00:30:53,885 Rand: AND THE CHURCH BELLS RING IN BROOKLYN. 690 00:30:53,952 --> 00:30:56,421 AND I WAS NOW MILES FROM HOME. 691 00:30:58,289 --> 00:31:00,658 Schreiber: AFTER 154 GAMES, 692 00:31:00,725 --> 00:31:02,727 A THREE-GAME PLAYOFF WAS NEEDED 693 00:31:02,794 --> 00:31:04,929 TO DECIDE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION. 694 00:31:04,996 --> 00:31:06,931 THE DODGERS WON A COIN TOSS, 695 00:31:06,998 --> 00:31:08,967 BUT DRESSEN SURPRISINGLY CHOSE 696 00:31:09,033 --> 00:31:11,002 TO PLAY THE FIRST GAME AT HOME 697 00:31:11,069 --> 00:31:13,004 WITH THE SECOND AND PIVOTAL THIRD GAME 698 00:31:13,071 --> 00:31:15,006 SCHEDULED FOR THE POLO GROUNDS. 699 00:31:15,073 --> 00:31:17,909 Maury Allen: THE FEELING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BROOKLYN 700 00:31:17,976 --> 00:31:20,478 AS WE GOT READY FOR THE FIRST GAME WAS-- 701 00:31:20,545 --> 00:31:23,548 THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO TORTURE GIANT FANS. 702 00:31:23,615 --> 00:31:26,651 LET THEM TIE US ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON, 703 00:31:26,718 --> 00:31:28,620 AND NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PLAYOFF 704 00:31:28,686 --> 00:31:30,822 AND REALLY STICK IT TO 'EM. 705 00:31:30,888 --> 00:31:34,359 Schreiber: IN GAME ONE, WITH RALPH BRANCA PITCHING, 706 00:31:34,425 --> 00:31:36,828 BOBBY THOMSON HIT A TWO-RUN HOMER 707 00:31:36,894 --> 00:31:40,398 IN A 3-1 NEW YORK WIN. 708 00:31:40,465 --> 00:31:42,967 WITH TWO HOME GAMES LEFT, 709 00:31:43,034 --> 00:31:45,169 GIANT FANS WERE BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE, 710 00:31:45,236 --> 00:31:48,072 ESPECIALLY WHEN DRESSEN UNEXPECTEDLY SELECTED 711 00:31:48,139 --> 00:31:50,808 LITTLE-USED PITCHER CLEM LABINE 712 00:31:50,875 --> 00:31:53,511 TO START GAME TWO. 713 00:31:53,578 --> 00:31:56,281 AND I WAS UP IN SECTION 20 SAYING, 714 00:31:56,347 --> 00:31:59,250 "WE GOT 'EM. WE GOT 'EM." 715 00:31:59,317 --> 00:32:02,453 WE GO TO THE POLO GROUNDS. WE WIN 10-NOTHING. 716 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,189 LABINE PITCHES A SHUTOUT. IT'S A JOKE. 717 00:32:05,256 --> 00:32:06,958 Parker: THEY BEAT US 718 00:32:07,025 --> 00:32:08,993 AND THEY DRAGGED OUR NOSES THROUGH IT. 719 00:32:09,060 --> 00:32:10,595 IT WAS HORRIBLE. 720 00:32:10,662 --> 00:32:12,697 Larry King: I'M JUMPING IN THE STREETS. 721 00:32:12,764 --> 00:32:15,433 MY DODGERS ARE BACK. THE GIANTS ARE DEAD. 722 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:18,770 Parker: I JINXED THEM ON OCTOBER 2nd, 1951, 723 00:32:18,836 --> 00:32:20,772 BY BEING THERE. 724 00:32:20,838 --> 00:32:23,541 I COULDN'T GO BACK FOR GAME THREE. 725 00:32:23,608 --> 00:32:25,543 IN FACT, I THOUGHT 726 00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:28,246 THAT GAME THREE MIGHT END IN DISASTER. 727 00:32:28,313 --> 00:32:30,315 Rand: I WENT TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT 728 00:32:30,381 --> 00:32:32,550 AND I REMEMBER THE LINE BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS. 729 00:32:32,617 --> 00:32:36,387 IT'S THE LAST LINE OF A BOOK HE WROTE CALLED "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK." 730 00:32:36,454 --> 00:32:39,390 IT SAYS, "WE LIVE IN HOPE AND DIE IN DESPAIR." 731 00:32:39,457 --> 00:32:41,392 AND I SAID, "MY GOD, 732 00:32:41,459 --> 00:32:44,329 I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TOMORROW." 733 00:32:50,268 --> 00:32:52,337 Irving Aks: I WAS IN THE STALL WITH MY BROTHER 734 00:32:52,403 --> 00:32:55,006 WHO WAS A FLORIST ON PITKIN AVENUE IN BROOKLYN. 735 00:32:55,073 --> 00:32:58,109 AND HE STARTS TO MAKE A FUNERAL WREATH. 736 00:32:58,176 --> 00:33:00,111 AND I SAID, "RUBY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" 737 00:33:00,178 --> 00:33:02,113 HE SAYS, "MAKING THIS WREATH 738 00:33:02,180 --> 00:33:04,982 WITH A 'SYMPATHY TO THE GIANTS' ON THE RIBBON." 739 00:33:05,049 --> 00:33:08,553 AND HE SAYS TO ME, "WHEN BROOKLYN WINS 740 00:33:08,619 --> 00:33:11,055 AND WE BEAT THE NEW YORK GIANTS, 741 00:33:11,122 --> 00:33:12,990 WE'LL HOP OUT OF THE STANDS WITH THE WREATH 742 00:33:13,057 --> 00:33:15,193 AND PLACE THE WREATH ON HOME PLATE. 743 00:33:15,259 --> 00:33:16,894 WE'RE GONNA BURY THE GIANTS." 744 00:33:16,961 --> 00:33:18,896 McLendon: After 156 games, 745 00:33:18,963 --> 00:33:21,566 Da Bums from Brooklyn, the Giants from New York 746 00:33:21,632 --> 00:33:23,501 have come down to the wire 747 00:33:23,568 --> 00:33:26,571 to where it is all or nothing. 748 00:33:26,637 --> 00:33:29,674 Stan Isaacs: IT WAS A DARK DAY, SORT OF A BLEARY DAY. 749 00:33:29,741 --> 00:33:32,877 AND I THINK THERE WAS NERVOUS EXPECTATION WHEREVER YOU WENT. 750 00:33:32,944 --> 00:33:34,812 I MEAN, THE FANS-- IT WAS ALMOST LIKE 751 00:33:34,879 --> 00:33:36,948 THEY WERE AFRAID THEIR TEAM WAS GOING TO LOSE. 752 00:33:37,014 --> 00:33:39,016 McLendon: It's the greatest show on earth-- 753 00:33:39,083 --> 00:33:40,985 the Brooklyn Dodgers' and the New York Giants' 754 00:33:41,052 --> 00:33:43,788 final sudden-death-showdown playoff game. 755 00:33:43,855 --> 00:33:46,591 Mrs. Joan Hodges: BOBBY THOMSON HAD PULLED UP AT THE POLO GROUNDS 756 00:33:46,657 --> 00:33:48,726 AT THE SAME TIME GIL AND I DID 757 00:33:48,793 --> 00:33:50,862 TO GO INTO THE BALLPARK. 758 00:33:50,928 --> 00:33:53,431 AND HE SAID, "GIL, I'D LIKE TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU NOW 759 00:33:53,498 --> 00:33:56,000 AND WISH YOU LUCK, BECAUSE ONE OF US 760 00:33:56,067 --> 00:33:58,836 IS GONNA BE WALKING AWAY FROM HERE VERY HAPPY TODAY 761 00:33:58,903 --> 00:34:01,372 AND WE MAY NOT GET THE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE." 762 00:34:05,209 --> 00:34:07,078 THERE WAS TENSION. I REMEMBER TALKING 763 00:34:07,145 --> 00:34:09,080 TO PEE WEE AND JACKIE AND SAYING, 764 00:34:09,147 --> 00:34:11,282 "HEY, YOU GOT ANY BUTTERFLIES?" 765 00:34:11,349 --> 00:34:12,917 McLendon: 20 years from now 766 00:34:12,984 --> 00:34:15,286 the fans will be talking about this afternoon's hero, 767 00:34:15,353 --> 00:34:17,188 as yet unknown, 768 00:34:17,255 --> 00:34:20,057 but the man and the hour are about to meet. 769 00:34:20,124 --> 00:34:22,827 AND THEN WHEN THE GAME STARTED WE DIDN'T DO TOO WELL IN THE BEGINNING. 770 00:34:22,894 --> 00:34:24,328 McLendon: The pitch to Robinson, 771 00:34:24,395 --> 00:34:26,697 swung on, driven down for a base hit in the hole. 772 00:34:26,764 --> 00:34:29,767 Here's Pee Wee Reese around third on his way in to score, 773 00:34:29,834 --> 00:34:33,304 running in. Dodgers lead 1-nothing. 774 00:34:33,371 --> 00:34:35,973 Schreiber: THE DODGERS TOOK THAT 1-NOTHING LEAD 775 00:34:36,040 --> 00:34:37,542 INTO THE SEVENTH, 776 00:34:37,608 --> 00:34:39,544 BEHIND A DOMINANT DON NEWCOMBE. 777 00:34:39,610 --> 00:34:43,681 WITH ONE OUT, MONTE IRVIN REACHED THIRD 778 00:34:43,748 --> 00:34:46,050 AND UP CAME BOBBY THOMSON. 779 00:34:46,117 --> 00:34:48,786 Thomson: I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT TIME AT BAT. 780 00:34:48,853 --> 00:34:53,524 IT WAS THE TOUGHEST AT-BAT IN MY LIFE. 781 00:34:53,591 --> 00:34:57,195 NUKE FELT LIKE HE WAS THROWING 130mph. 782 00:34:57,261 --> 00:34:59,831 HE GOT AHEAD OF ME TWO STRIKES. 783 00:34:59,897 --> 00:35:02,133 I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE, 784 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:04,569 CROUCHED OVER, SQUEEZING THAT BAT. 785 00:35:04,635 --> 00:35:08,172 I HAD TO GET THAT RUN IN. HEY, WE WERE PLAYING FOR THE PENNANT. 786 00:35:09,607 --> 00:35:12,677 McLendon: Long drive deep out of left field. 787 00:35:12,743 --> 00:35:15,246 That will bring home the run. Back goes Snider. 788 00:35:15,313 --> 00:35:17,215 He's under it. Irvin tags up. 789 00:35:17,281 --> 00:35:19,183 Here he comes into the plate. 790 00:35:19,250 --> 00:35:23,354 And it's a 1-1 tie in New York. 791 00:35:23,421 --> 00:35:25,323 Schreiber: GIANT ELATION, HOWEVER, 792 00:35:25,389 --> 00:35:27,024 WAS FLEETING. 793 00:35:27,091 --> 00:35:28,593 McLendon: Robinson batting. 794 00:35:28,659 --> 00:35:30,628 And the pitch gets away from Westrum. 795 00:35:30,695 --> 00:35:33,364 Reese racing in to score. Dodgers lead 2-1. 796 00:35:33,431 --> 00:35:37,001 Bobby Thomson, the Giants outfielder turned infielder, 797 00:35:37,068 --> 00:35:39,103 bobbles a hard hit grounder 798 00:35:39,170 --> 00:35:41,339 down the third-base line. Dodgers lead 3-1. 799 00:35:41,405 --> 00:35:43,307 Sal delivers. Swings. 800 00:35:43,374 --> 00:35:46,177 This one's down and off his glove into left field. 801 00:35:46,244 --> 00:35:49,347 Robinson around third, on his way into the fourth Dodger run. 802 00:35:49,413 --> 00:35:52,450 Dodgers lead 4-1. 803 00:35:52,517 --> 00:35:55,019 Schreiber: WHEN THE DODGERS HELD THAT 4-1 LEAD 804 00:35:55,086 --> 00:35:56,854 IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH, 805 00:35:56,921 --> 00:35:59,857 THOMSON, WHO HAD FAILED TO MAKE TWO PLAYS AT THIRD IN THE EIGHTH, 806 00:35:59,924 --> 00:36:02,860 THOUGHT THE GIANTS' SEASON-LONG COMEBACK WAS FINISHED. 807 00:36:02,927 --> 00:36:04,829 Thomson: I GET ON THE BENCH 808 00:36:04,896 --> 00:36:07,031 AND NEVER MORE DEPRESSED IN MY LIFE. 809 00:36:07,098 --> 00:36:08,966 I REMEMBER THROWING DOWN MY GLOVE, 810 00:36:09,033 --> 00:36:11,002 THINKING WE JUST WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH 811 00:36:11,068 --> 00:36:13,871 TO GO BEYOND THIS POINT. 812 00:36:13,938 --> 00:36:15,940 Aks: I WENT TO BRING OUT THE WREATH. 813 00:36:16,007 --> 00:36:19,243 I BROUGHT IT OUT AND I WAS HOLDING IT UP-- 814 00:36:19,310 --> 00:36:21,145 YOU KNOW, "SYMPATHY TO THE GIANTS." 815 00:36:21,212 --> 00:36:23,414 WE WERE AHEAD, YOU KNOW, 4-1. THIS WAS IT. 816 00:36:23,481 --> 00:36:26,150 George Spencer: MY GOSH, THE WAY NEWCOMBE'S PITCHING, 817 00:36:26,217 --> 00:36:28,119 HE'S THROWING B.B.s. 818 00:36:28,185 --> 00:36:30,588 YOU'RE SAYING, "IT'S GOTTA BE ALL OVER." 819 00:36:30,655 --> 00:36:32,189 BUT IT WASN'T. 820 00:36:32,256 --> 00:36:34,091 McLendon: Here's Alvin Dark-- 821 00:36:34,158 --> 00:36:36,160 the first hitter in the last half of the ninth. 822 00:36:36,227 --> 00:36:38,930 THE COUNT IS 1-2 AND NEWCOMBE DOES THE RIGHT THING-- 823 00:36:38,996 --> 00:36:40,364 HE THROWS A WASTE PITCH. 824 00:36:40,431 --> 00:36:42,266 IT'S GOING OUTSIDE. 825 00:36:42,333 --> 00:36:45,102 AND DARK SWINGS AND HITS THE BALL 826 00:36:45,169 --> 00:36:49,407 LIKE IT HAD EYES. 827 00:36:49,473 --> 00:36:52,777 AND YOU KNOW THAT IT'S THE BEGINNING OF AGGRAVATION. 828 00:36:52,843 --> 00:36:55,146 YOU JUST SENSE IT. YOU FEEL IT. 829 00:36:55,212 --> 00:36:57,415 IT'S LIKE THE DREAD IS PALPABLE. 830 00:36:57,481 --> 00:37:00,151 Schreiber: AT THAT POINT DRESSEN MADE 831 00:37:00,217 --> 00:37:02,520 A SIMPLE YET COSTLY MISTAKE 832 00:37:02,587 --> 00:37:04,589 BY FAILING TO NOTICE THAT GIL HODGES 833 00:37:04,655 --> 00:37:07,024 WAS PLAYING TOO CLOSE TO THE FIRST-BASE BAG. 834 00:37:07,091 --> 00:37:09,760 WITH A THREE-RUN LEAD, DRESSEN SHOULD HAVE TOLD HODGES 835 00:37:09,827 --> 00:37:12,697 TO PLAY BEHIND THE RUNNER. 836 00:37:12,763 --> 00:37:16,400 THE MUELLER BALL TO ME WAS A 3-6-3 DOUBLE PLAY. 837 00:37:16,467 --> 00:37:18,369 IF HODGES IS POSITIONED CORRECTLY 838 00:37:18,436 --> 00:37:20,404 AND IF IT'S NOT A 3-6-3 DOUBLE PLAY, 839 00:37:20,471 --> 00:37:23,341 AT LEAST IT'S A FORCED OUT AT SECOND. AND THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. 840 00:37:23,407 --> 00:37:25,276 Parker: THEN WHITEY LOCKMAN 841 00:37:25,343 --> 00:37:27,345 PROCEEDS TO DOUBLE DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE. 842 00:37:27,411 --> 00:37:30,715 AND NOW I'M OFF THE CHAIR, ALMOST RESTING ON THE GROUND 843 00:37:30,781 --> 00:37:32,583 BECAUSE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING. 844 00:37:32,650 --> 00:37:36,587 NOW IT'S 4-2 AND THE GIANTS HAVE SECOND AND THIRD. 845 00:37:36,654 --> 00:37:38,589 Schreiber: THE GIANTS' RALLY 846 00:37:38,656 --> 00:37:40,558 BROUGHT THE WINNING RUN TO THE PLATE. 847 00:37:40,625 --> 00:37:42,560 BUT BEFORE THE GAME COULD CONTINUE, 848 00:37:42,627 --> 00:37:45,630 AN INJURED DON MUELLER, WHO HAD SLID AWKWARDLY AT THIRD, 849 00:37:45,696 --> 00:37:47,765 HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE FIELD. 850 00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:49,834 DURING THE DELAY, 851 00:37:49,900 --> 00:37:51,936 DRESSEN MADE HIS FATEFUL DECISION. 852 00:37:52,003 --> 00:37:53,771 HE WOULD REMOVE NEWCOMBE 853 00:37:53,838 --> 00:37:56,874 AND BRING IN HIS STARTER FROM GAME ONE-- RALPH BRANCA. 854 00:37:56,941 --> 00:37:59,377 Branca: MY ARM WAS REALLY STIFF, 855 00:37:59,443 --> 00:38:01,379 'CAUSE I HAD PITCHED EIGHT INNINGS ON MONDAY 856 00:38:01,445 --> 00:38:03,280 AND PITCHED TWO INNINGS ON SUNDAY. 857 00:38:03,347 --> 00:38:05,282 AND I JUST KEPT LOB-TOSSING 858 00:38:05,349 --> 00:38:07,752 FROM 40'-45' JUST TO GET LOOSE. 859 00:38:07,818 --> 00:38:09,620 Carl Erskine: RALPH AND I WERE OUT THROWING. 860 00:38:09,687 --> 00:38:12,089 CHARLIE CALLS THE BULLPEN. CLYDE SUKEFORTH ANSWERED THE PHONE 861 00:38:12,156 --> 00:38:14,025 AND HE SAID, "YEAH, THEY'RE BOTH READY." 862 00:38:14,091 --> 00:38:17,328 "WHO'S GOT THE BEST STUFF?" CLYDE SAID, "THEY'RE BOTH THROWING OKAY." 863 00:38:17,395 --> 00:38:20,431 AND HE BOUNCED A CURVE BALL JUST WHEN HE WAS TALKING TO HIM. 864 00:38:20,498 --> 00:38:23,100 SUKEY SAID, "OH, ERSKINE JUST BOUNCED A CURVE." 865 00:38:23,167 --> 00:38:25,069 WELL, I HAD THIS HARD OVERHAND CURVE BALL 866 00:38:25,136 --> 00:38:26,604 THAT HAD TO BE LOW TO BE GOOD. 867 00:38:26,671 --> 00:38:29,206 AND CAMPY CAUGHT ME THROUGH MOST OF MY CAREER. 868 00:38:29,273 --> 00:38:31,542 CAMPY WAS HURT. RUBE WALKER WAS CATCHING. 869 00:38:31,609 --> 00:38:34,879 DRESSEN SAID, "I DON'T WANT ANY WILD PITCHES IN THIS SITUATION." 870 00:38:34,945 --> 00:38:37,081 Branca: AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID, "GIVE ME BRANCA." 871 00:38:37,148 --> 00:38:40,651 McLendon: Ralph Branca, who wears his number 13, 872 00:38:40,718 --> 00:38:43,020 and will that be lucky for the Brooklyn Dodgers 873 00:38:43,087 --> 00:38:45,523 here in the last half of the ninth? 874 00:38:45,589 --> 00:38:47,591 Branca: I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER THE WALK 875 00:38:47,658 --> 00:38:49,427 GOING FROM THE BULLPEN TILL I GOT TO THE INFIELD. 876 00:38:49,493 --> 00:38:51,696 AND THEN I REMEMBER SEEING JACKIE AND PEE WEE 877 00:38:51,762 --> 00:38:54,765 AND AGAIN SAYING, "ANY BUTTERFLIES?" 878 00:38:56,333 --> 00:38:58,335 DUROCHER WAS COACHING AT THIRD. 879 00:38:58,402 --> 00:39:00,304 I REMEMBER HIM PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND ME 880 00:39:00,371 --> 00:39:02,873 AND SAYING, "BOBBY, IF YOU EVER HIT ONE, 881 00:39:02,940 --> 00:39:04,742 HIT ONE NOW." 882 00:39:04,809 --> 00:39:06,677 WELL, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, 883 00:39:06,744 --> 00:39:08,979 "LEO, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND." 884 00:39:09,046 --> 00:39:10,915 Branca: THEY GOT TO THE MOUND 885 00:39:10,981 --> 00:39:12,917 AND CHARLIE SAID, "GET HIM OUT." 886 00:39:12,983 --> 00:39:15,453 AND HE TURNED AND WALKED AWAY. 887 00:39:15,519 --> 00:39:18,756 Thomson: I STARTED PSYCHING MYSELF UP, 888 00:39:18,823 --> 00:39:20,791 TELLING MYSELF, "DO A GOOD JOB. 889 00:39:20,858 --> 00:39:23,494 GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO HIT, YOU S.O.B." 890 00:39:23,561 --> 00:39:25,496 AND I GET TO HOME PLATE 891 00:39:25,563 --> 00:39:28,733 AND THERE'S BRANCA ON THE MOUND. 892 00:39:28,799 --> 00:39:32,103 I HADN'T EVEN BEEN AWARE THEY HAD CHANGED PITCHERS. 893 00:39:32,169 --> 00:39:36,040 I WAS IN THE PARK ALL BY MYSELF. 894 00:39:36,107 --> 00:39:38,609 Branca: THE CONCENTRATION IS SO DEEP 895 00:39:38,676 --> 00:39:40,911 THAT YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING. 896 00:39:40,978 --> 00:39:43,247 THE ATOM BOMB COULD HAVE GONE OFF AT CENTERFIELD 897 00:39:43,314 --> 00:39:45,116 AND I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE HEARD IT. 898 00:39:45,182 --> 00:39:47,051 I WANTED TO GET AT HIM, SO THE FIRST PITCH WAS, 899 00:39:47,118 --> 00:39:50,121 I MEAN, DEAD CENTER, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. 900 00:39:50,187 --> 00:39:52,656 Thomson: THE GUYS ON THE BENCH WANTED TO KILL ME 901 00:39:52,723 --> 00:39:56,227 FOR TAKING THAT FIRST FASTBALL RIGHT OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE PLATE. 902 00:39:56,293 --> 00:39:59,263 IN THE NEXT PITCH I WANTED TO GO UP AND IN, WASTE A FASTBALL. 903 00:39:59,330 --> 00:40:01,465 AND I REMEMBER THE SECOND PITCH 904 00:40:01,532 --> 00:40:04,735 COMING IN HIGH INSIDE. 905 00:40:04,802 --> 00:40:07,471 AND I REMEMBER JUST GETTING A GLIMPSE OF IT 906 00:40:07,538 --> 00:40:09,673 AND JUMPING ON IT. 907 00:40:09,740 --> 00:40:12,109 McLendon: Branca throws. Bobby swings. There's a long line drive 908 00:40:12,176 --> 00:40:14,145 to the left. Going, going, gone! 909 00:40:14,211 --> 00:40:16,614 And the Giants win the pennant! 910 00:40:19,049 --> 00:40:20,951 I don't know what to say. 911 00:40:21,018 --> 00:40:22,953 I just don't know what to say. 912 00:40:23,020 --> 00:40:26,357 It's the greatest victory of all baseball history, 913 00:40:26,423 --> 00:40:29,527 as Bobby Thomson-- a two-on-base home run 914 00:40:29,593 --> 00:40:31,529 in the last half of the ninth inning. 915 00:40:31,595 --> 00:40:33,631 And the new National League champions 916 00:40:33,697 --> 00:40:36,600 are the New York Giants. 917 00:40:37,635 --> 00:40:41,472 This scene here is one of wild pandemonium 918 00:40:41,539 --> 00:40:43,607 the like of which I have never seen. 919 00:40:49,013 --> 00:40:50,881 Branca: I THREW THE ROSIN BAG DOWN. 920 00:40:50,948 --> 00:40:52,983 AND THEN I WALKED TO CENTERFIELD, 921 00:40:53,050 --> 00:40:55,186 WHICH, YOU KNOW, WAS A LONG WALK. 922 00:40:55,252 --> 00:40:57,221 Thomson: I HEADED ON TO HOME PLATE. 923 00:40:57,288 --> 00:40:59,557 I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS SHOWBOATING, 924 00:40:59,623 --> 00:41:02,560 TAKING THAT LAST BIG JUMP ONTO THE PLATE 925 00:41:02,626 --> 00:41:04,528 INTO THE ARMS OF ALL THE GUYS 926 00:41:04,595 --> 00:41:07,998 WHO WERE WAITING FOR ME. 927 00:41:08,065 --> 00:41:11,936 I FELT LIKE I WAS KIND OF BUMPING ALONG THERE SOMEHOW, 928 00:41:12,002 --> 00:41:14,605 WITH MY FEET NOT TOUCHING THE GROUND 929 00:41:14,672 --> 00:41:17,174 AND HYPERVENTILATING. 930 00:41:17,241 --> 00:41:21,412 AND I'M MAKING THESE CRAZY NOISES. 931 00:41:22,813 --> 00:41:24,548 Branca: I REMEMBER GETTING IN THE LOCKER ROOM 932 00:41:24,615 --> 00:41:26,517 AND I LAID DOWN ON THE STEPS. 933 00:41:26,584 --> 00:41:29,053 I LET THE TEAM DOWN. I LET THE FANS DOWN. 934 00:41:29,119 --> 00:41:31,755 I LET MYSELF DOWN. 935 00:41:34,158 --> 00:41:36,527 Thomson: I ALMOST FELT NAUSEOUS 936 00:41:36,594 --> 00:41:38,963 FOR A LITTLE WHILE FROM THE EXCITEMENT. 937 00:41:39,029 --> 00:41:40,998 IT WAS WALL-TO-WALL PEOPLE. 938 00:41:41,065 --> 00:41:43,567 YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET YOUR ARMS STRAIGHT UP. 939 00:41:43,634 --> 00:41:45,703 DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GONNA HIT THAT HOMER? 940 00:41:45,769 --> 00:41:47,938 I CERTAINLY DIDN'T. WHY, IT WAS JUST A DREAM ALL THE TIME. 941 00:41:48,005 --> 00:41:49,940 AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S HAPPENED YET. 942 00:41:50,007 --> 00:41:51,842 IT'S JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. 943 00:41:51,909 --> 00:41:53,444 DID HE PUT IT RIGHT DOWN FOR YOU? 944 00:41:53,510 --> 00:41:55,346 NO, HE DIDN'T. HE PUT IT OVER MY HEAD 945 00:41:55,412 --> 00:41:58,115 AND I JUST SWUNG AT IT. I JUST SEEN A FASTBALL COMING 946 00:41:58,182 --> 00:42:00,084 AND I WAS JUST LUCKY IN HITTING IT, I GUESS. 947 00:42:00,150 --> 00:42:02,086 BUT, BOY, IT SURE TURNED OUT GREAT. 948 00:42:02,152 --> 00:42:04,355 - OH, YOU HIT IT GREAT, YOU SON OF A GUN. - TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. 949 00:42:05,723 --> 00:42:07,658 Branca: IT'S JUST HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE 950 00:42:07,725 --> 00:42:10,294 THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. I REMEMBER TAKING A SHOWER 951 00:42:10,361 --> 00:42:12,363 AND FEELING AWFULLY LONELY. 952 00:42:12,429 --> 00:42:14,298 JACKIE WAS REALLY THE ONLY ONE CAME OVER 953 00:42:14,365 --> 00:42:16,300 AND SAID SOMETHING-- "HEY, HANG IN THERE. 954 00:42:16,367 --> 00:42:19,737 IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFF." 955 00:42:19,803 --> 00:42:21,639 Thomson: PEOPLE STARTED TO LEAVE. 956 00:42:21,705 --> 00:42:23,641 AND THIS GUY REPRESENTING PERRY COMO 957 00:42:23,707 --> 00:42:25,342 ASKED ME TO GO ON DOWN THERE. 958 00:42:25,409 --> 00:42:27,544 "WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU ON 'THE PERRY COMO SHOW.' 959 00:42:27,611 --> 00:42:29,880 WE'LL GIVE YOU $500." AND I THOUGHT, "OOH. 960 00:42:29,947 --> 00:42:34,385 HEY, 500 BUCKS-- I COULD USE THE $500. 961 00:42:34,451 --> 00:42:37,154 BUT, YOU KNOW, AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS 962 00:42:37,221 --> 00:42:40,524 I JUST WANT TO GET HOME AND SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY." 963 00:42:40,591 --> 00:42:42,393 THE GUY SAID, 964 00:42:42,459 --> 00:42:44,862 "WELL, BOBBY, WE REALLY WANT YOU DOWN THERE. 965 00:42:44,929 --> 00:42:47,264 WE'LL GIVE YOU $1000." 966 00:42:47,331 --> 00:42:49,600 "WELL," I THOUGHT, "FOR $1000 967 00:42:49,667 --> 00:42:52,436 I GUESS THE FAMILY CAN WAIT." 968 00:42:57,007 --> 00:42:58,909 Schreiber: LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER 969 00:42:58,976 --> 00:43:01,211 THE GIANTS FACED THE YANKS IN A WORLD SERIES 970 00:43:01,278 --> 00:43:03,113 THEY WOULD LOSE IN SIX GAMES. 971 00:43:03,180 --> 00:43:06,216 ALTHOUGH THAT LOSS DID LITTLE TO DIMINISH THOMSON'S FEAT, 972 00:43:06,283 --> 00:43:08,152 THE ADMISSION OF SIGN-STEALING 973 00:43:08,218 --> 00:43:10,721 HAS BROUGHT THE HOME RUN'S CREDIBILITY INTO QUESTION. 974 00:43:10,788 --> 00:43:15,092 BUT THOSE INVOLVED DENY ANY PLAYOFF LARCENY. 975 00:43:15,159 --> 00:43:17,127 Corwin: THERE WAS JUST TOO MUCH TURMOIL 976 00:43:17,194 --> 00:43:19,496 WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND ALL THE DIGNITARIES 977 00:43:19,563 --> 00:43:22,132 THAT WERE IN THE CLUBHOUSE. IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS 978 00:43:22,199 --> 00:43:24,435 TO EVEN THINK OF DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT. 979 00:43:24,501 --> 00:43:26,337 I DEFINITELY REMEMBER 980 00:43:26,403 --> 00:43:29,640 THE SIGNS WERE NOT GIVEN DURING THE PLAYOFFS, 981 00:43:29,707 --> 00:43:31,976 BECAUSE LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS. 982 00:43:32,042 --> 00:43:33,877 BOBBY THOMSON HIT A HOME RUN OFF BRANCA 983 00:43:33,944 --> 00:43:35,813 IN THE FIRST GAME AT EBBETS FIELD. 984 00:43:35,879 --> 00:43:38,782 NOW DID THEY HAVE SOMEBODY SITTING IN THE CENTERFIELD SEATS 985 00:43:38,849 --> 00:43:41,085 GIVING THE SIGNS AT EBBETS FIELD? 986 00:43:41,151 --> 00:43:43,554 THE NEXT GAME WE MOVE OVER INTO THE POLO GROUNDS, 987 00:43:43,620 --> 00:43:46,957 AND CLEM LABINE BEAT US 10-NOTHING. 988 00:43:48,492 --> 00:43:50,427 NOW IF WE WERE GETTING THE SIGNS, 989 00:43:50,494 --> 00:43:53,397 WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH TALENT. 990 00:43:54,732 --> 00:43:58,202 NOW THE LAST GAME. WE'RE DOWN 4-1. 991 00:43:58,268 --> 00:43:59,870 WERE THEY GETTING THE SIGNS THEN? 992 00:43:59,937 --> 00:44:02,473 Schreiber: SAL YVARS 993 00:44:02,539 --> 00:44:04,641 IS A LONE GIANT DISSENTER, 994 00:44:04,708 --> 00:44:06,510 INSISTING TO THIS DAY 995 00:44:06,577 --> 00:44:08,479 THAT HIS TEAM STOLE THE SIGNS 996 00:44:08,545 --> 00:44:12,716 AND PERHAPS THE PENNANT. 997 00:44:12,783 --> 00:44:14,918 I'M UP THERE AND I'M GIVING THE SIGNS. 998 00:44:16,954 --> 00:44:18,689 BOBBY KNEW WHAT WAS COMING. 999 00:44:18,756 --> 00:44:21,825 OF COURSE I DIDN'T GET THE SIGNS. IT'S RIDICULOUS. 1000 00:44:21,892 --> 00:44:24,661 I'LL DISAGREE WITH HIM. I THINK HE GOT THE SIGN. 1001 00:44:24,728 --> 00:44:26,930 IT'S LAUGHABLE. 1002 00:44:26,997 --> 00:44:28,832 Branca: IF YOU WATCH HIM SWING AT IT, 1003 00:44:28,899 --> 00:44:31,068 HE ATTACKS THE BALL. HE LEAPS LIKE A TIGER 1004 00:44:31,135 --> 00:44:34,371 POUNCING ON SOME WOUNDED ANTELOPE. 1005 00:44:34,438 --> 00:44:38,275 YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE SIGNS YOU WANT IN THE WORLD, 1006 00:44:38,342 --> 00:44:40,477 BUT THE ANSWER'S NO. 1007 00:44:40,544 --> 00:44:43,680 THEY'LL NEVER TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM ME. 1008 00:44:43,747 --> 00:44:47,684 I'VE NEVER CLAIMED TOO MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE, 1009 00:44:47,751 --> 00:44:50,421 BUT NEVER BEEN A QUESTION IN MY MIND 1010 00:44:50,487 --> 00:44:53,657 THAT I WON THAT DAY 1011 00:44:53,724 --> 00:44:56,460 AND RALPH LOST. 1012 00:45:00,898 --> 00:45:02,933 Schreiber: DESPITE THE SPIRITED DEBATE, 1013 00:45:03,000 --> 00:45:05,436 THIS MUCH IS CERTAIN: 1014 00:45:05,502 --> 00:45:09,606 ON OCTOBER 3rd, 1951, AT 3:58, 1015 00:45:09,673 --> 00:45:12,376 IN THE GATHERING DUSK OF A GLOOMY FALL AFTERNOON, 1016 00:45:12,443 --> 00:45:14,445 SCOTTISH-BORN BOBBY THOMSON 1017 00:45:14,511 --> 00:45:17,081 HIT THE MOST SENSATIONAL HOME RUN 1018 00:45:17,147 --> 00:45:20,484 IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S PASTIME. 1019 00:45:22,286 --> 00:45:24,321 WITH ONE STUNNING SWING, 1020 00:45:24,388 --> 00:45:26,590 THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD 1021 00:45:26,657 --> 00:45:29,026 ENDED A SUFFOCATING NEW YORK SUMMER 1022 00:45:29,093 --> 00:45:32,763 OF UNBEARABLE DRAMA AND TENSION 1023 00:45:32,830 --> 00:45:37,334 AND AFFECTED MORE LIVES IN MORE WAYS 1024 00:45:37,401 --> 00:45:40,270 THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED. 1025 00:45:42,072 --> 00:45:44,475 I WAS SITTING IN FOUL TERRITORY 1026 00:45:44,541 --> 00:45:49,413 AND I WAS SCREAMING, "CURVE! CURVE! CURVE!" 1027 00:45:49,480 --> 00:45:51,315 IT ONLY TOOK A FRACTION OF A SECOND, 1028 00:45:51,381 --> 00:45:54,051 BUT IT WAS GONE. 1029 00:45:54,118 --> 00:45:56,386 I JUST DROPPED THE WREATH 1030 00:45:56,453 --> 00:45:58,122 WHERE I WAS. 1031 00:45:58,188 --> 00:46:00,190 IT SEEMED LIKE NEW YORK 1032 00:46:00,257 --> 00:46:02,259 AND MAYBE THE WHOLE WORLD 1033 00:46:02,326 --> 00:46:04,828 STOOD STILL. 1034 00:46:04,895 --> 00:46:08,031 THERE WAS SILENCE EVERYWHERE 1035 00:46:08,098 --> 00:46:10,167 JUST FOR THAT FRACTION OF A SECOND. 1036 00:46:10,234 --> 00:46:13,036 ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING BROKE LOOSE. 1037 00:46:13,103 --> 00:46:15,072 MY FATHER KICKS OVER THE LAMP. 1038 00:46:15,139 --> 00:46:17,241 I JUST START SCREAMING. 1039 00:46:17,307 --> 00:46:20,477 THE GIANTS WON. 1040 00:46:20,544 --> 00:46:22,880 I SAID, "THANK GOD THE GIANTS WON." 1041 00:46:22,946 --> 00:46:24,915 Leeds: PEOPLE ARE BANGING ON POTS 1042 00:46:24,982 --> 00:46:26,917 AND TEARING UP NEWSPAPERS AND PHONE BOOKS 1043 00:46:26,984 --> 00:46:28,785 AND THROWING THE STUFF OUT THE WINDOW. 1044 00:46:28,852 --> 00:46:30,654 TEARS ARE ROLLING DOWN MY CHEEKS. 1045 00:46:30,721 --> 00:46:33,023 I SCREAMED ALL OVER THE LOT. I RUINED EIGHT TAKES 1046 00:46:33,090 --> 00:46:35,692 ON NINE DIFFERENT MOVIES FROM MY CARRYING ON. 1047 00:46:35,759 --> 00:46:38,595 King: I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF TAKING MY LIFE, 1048 00:46:38,662 --> 00:46:40,664 BUT IT PASSED BY 1049 00:46:40,731 --> 00:46:44,034 ON OCTOBER 3rd. 1050 00:46:44,101 --> 00:46:48,205 AND THEN I HAD TO FACE THE PROSPECT OF SEEING DAVY FRIED. 1051 00:46:48,272 --> 00:46:50,107 DAVY FRIED WAS A RUB-IT-IN GIANT FAN. 1052 00:46:50,174 --> 00:46:52,042 SO AS WE ALL CAME HOME THAT NIGHT, 1053 00:46:52,109 --> 00:46:54,545 HE WOULD STAND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIN STATION 1054 00:46:54,611 --> 00:46:56,713 AND LAUGH-- 1055 00:46:56,780 --> 00:46:58,916 JUST LAUGH. 1056 00:46:58,982 --> 00:47:02,386 THERE WERE DODGER FANS ALL OVER GLENDALE, QUEENS, WHERE I LIVED. 1057 00:47:02,452 --> 00:47:04,288 CARPY THE CAB DRIVER, 1058 00:47:04,354 --> 00:47:06,590 WHO USED TO TORMENT ME, WAS ON MYRTLE AVENUE. 1059 00:47:06,657 --> 00:47:10,160 HE SAW ME RUNNING THROUGH THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, TOOK OFF. 1060 00:47:10,227 --> 00:47:12,863 HE ALMOST HIT A FIRE ENGINE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. 1061 00:47:12,930 --> 00:47:14,932 Rob Oblas: THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 10 GUYS 1062 00:47:14,998 --> 00:47:17,100 STANDING IN FRONT OF MY BUILDING, YELLING, 1063 00:47:17,167 --> 00:47:19,770 "OBLAS, OBLAS, COME ON DOWN. 1064 00:47:19,836 --> 00:47:21,905 WE KNOW YOU GOTTA GO TO HEBREW SCHOOL TODAY." 1065 00:47:21,972 --> 00:47:24,408 SO HERE I COME DOWN WEARING A BLACK JACKET. 1066 00:47:24,474 --> 00:47:27,211 AND IT STARTS-- "HE'S IN MOURNING." 1067 00:47:27,277 --> 00:47:30,147 AND THE TEARS WANT TO COME, 1068 00:47:30,214 --> 00:47:32,849 BUT I WON'T LET THEM. AND THERE'S ONE FELLOW-- 1069 00:47:32,916 --> 00:47:34,851 AND I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS NAME TILL THE DAY I DIE-- 1070 00:47:34,918 --> 00:47:37,221 STEVE COOPER, WHO FINALLY SAID, 1071 00:47:37,287 --> 00:47:39,957 "LEAVE HIM ALONE. HE'S HAD ENOUGH." 1072 00:47:40,023 --> 00:47:42,793 Carl Prince: MY MOTHER TURNED THE TELEVISION OFF. 1073 00:47:42,859 --> 00:47:45,862 SHE WALKED INTO HER BEDROOM, 1074 00:47:45,929 --> 00:47:47,998 NEVER SAID A WORD, CLOSED THE DOOR. 1075 00:47:48,065 --> 00:47:50,467 MY FATHER WALKS IN WHITE-FACED. 1076 00:47:50,534 --> 00:47:53,403 HE SAYS, "WHERE'S MOM?" 1077 00:47:54,905 --> 00:47:56,306 "BEDROOM." 1078 00:47:56,373 --> 00:47:58,342 HE OPENS THE DOOR, TAKES ONE LOOK, 1079 00:47:58,408 --> 00:48:00,477 CLOSES THE DOOR. 1080 00:48:00,544 --> 00:48:02,412 HE SAID, "I'M MAKING SUPPER." 1081 00:48:02,479 --> 00:48:05,249 NOW MY FATHER NEVER BOILED AN EGG IN HIS WHOLE LIFE. 1082 00:48:05,315 --> 00:48:07,484 HE OPENED UP THREE CANS OF SPAGHETTIOS 1083 00:48:07,551 --> 00:48:09,853 AND POPPED THREE ROYAL CROWN COLAS. 1084 00:48:09,920 --> 00:48:13,457 MY MOTHER DID NOT COME OUT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING, 1085 00:48:13,523 --> 00:48:15,492 NEVER SAID A WORD ABOUT THAT BALLGAME. 1086 00:48:15,559 --> 00:48:17,728 I NEVER HAD THE COURAGE TO ASK. 1087 00:48:19,429 --> 00:48:21,365 Tygiel: THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD 1088 00:48:21,431 --> 00:48:23,433 IS EMBEDDED IN OUR MEMORIES 1089 00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:25,502 LARGELY BECAUSE OF TWO ARTIFACTS 1090 00:48:25,569 --> 00:48:27,571 THAT SURVIVE THAT HOME RUN: 1091 00:48:27,638 --> 00:48:29,740 ONE IS THE NEWSREEL FOOTAGE 1092 00:48:29,806 --> 00:48:31,708 OF THOMSON HITTING THE HOME RUN; 1093 00:48:31,775 --> 00:48:34,278 AND THE OTHER IS RUSS HODGES'S FAMOUS CALL 1094 00:48:34,344 --> 00:48:36,947 "THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!" 1095 00:48:37,014 --> 00:48:38,849 Hodges: The Giants win the pennant! 1096 00:48:38,915 --> 00:48:40,651 The Giants win the pennant! 1097 00:48:40,717 --> 00:48:42,586 Tygiel: FOR MOST PEOPLE, WE THINK 1098 00:48:42,653 --> 00:48:44,921 THAT'S THE WAY AMERICANS EXPERIENCED THIS GAME-- 1099 00:48:44,988 --> 00:48:47,024 HEARING RUSS HODGES MAKE THAT CALL. 1100 00:48:47,090 --> 00:48:49,826 BUT IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE FANS HAD THE OPTION 1101 00:48:49,893 --> 00:48:51,862 OF LISTENING TO THE GAME 1102 00:48:51,928 --> 00:48:54,331 ON THE DODGER NETWORK WITH RED BARBER... 1103 00:48:54,398 --> 00:48:56,366 Red Barber: Branca delivers a curve, swung on and belted. 1104 00:48:56,433 --> 00:48:59,703 Deep shot to left field. It is... a home run! 1105 00:48:59,770 --> 00:49:02,439 And the New York Giants win the National League pennant 1106 00:49:02,506 --> 00:49:05,075 and the Polo Grounds goes wild! 1107 00:49:05,142 --> 00:49:06,810 Tygiel: ...ON THE GIANT NETWORK 1108 00:49:06,877 --> 00:49:09,112 WITH ERNIE HARWELL AND RUSS HODGES. 1109 00:49:09,179 --> 00:49:12,382 THEY COULD HAVE LISTENED TO IT ON A NATIONAL HOOKUP ON THE MUTUAL NETWORK. 1110 00:49:12,449 --> 00:49:15,319 THERE WAS A LIBERTY HOOKUP WITH GORDON McLENDON. 1111 00:49:15,385 --> 00:49:17,220 IN ADDITION, THROUGHOUT THE NATION 1112 00:49:17,287 --> 00:49:20,424 THIS WAS THE FIRST NATIONALLY TELEVISED SPORTS EVENT. 1113 00:49:20,490 --> 00:49:22,993 SO THIS WAS A NATIONAL EVENT. 1114 00:49:23,060 --> 00:49:26,396 AND MOST PEOPLE DID NOT HEAR RUSS HODGES'S CALL, 1115 00:49:26,463 --> 00:49:28,398 EVEN THOUGH TODAY MOST PEOPLE 1116 00:49:28,465 --> 00:49:30,500 CAN HEAR THAT AND SEE THAT IN THEIR MIND. 1117 00:49:30,567 --> 00:49:32,402 Hodges: Branca throws. There's a long drive. 1118 00:49:32,469 --> 00:49:34,371 It's gonna be, I believe-- 1119 00:49:34,438 --> 00:49:37,274 the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 1120 00:49:37,341 --> 00:49:40,777 The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 1121 00:49:40,844 --> 00:49:43,780 Tygiel: THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE THAT 1122 00:49:43,847 --> 00:49:46,016 IS THAT A DODGER FAN IN BROOKLYN 1123 00:49:46,083 --> 00:49:48,151 WAS LISTENING TO THE GAME ON THE RADIO. 1124 00:49:48,218 --> 00:49:50,087 HE WAS SURE THE DODGERS WERE GOING TO WIN 1125 00:49:50,153 --> 00:49:52,656 GOING INTO THE NINTH INNING, AND SO WHAT HE DID WAS 1126 00:49:52,723 --> 00:49:54,791 HE WANTED TO TAPE NOT THE DODGERS IN VICTORY, 1127 00:49:54,858 --> 00:49:56,793 BUT HE WANTED TO HEAR HODGES HAVE TO CRY, 1128 00:49:56,860 --> 00:49:59,096 AS HE SAID, AS THE GIANTS LOST. 1129 00:49:59,162 --> 00:50:01,898 SO HE PUT ON HIS RADIO, ON TO THE GIANTS STATION. 1130 00:50:01,965 --> 00:50:04,501 HE PUT THE TAPE RECORDER NEXT TO THE RADIO. 1131 00:50:04,568 --> 00:50:08,105 AND HE ENDED UP RECORDING THIS FAMOUS CALL. 1132 00:50:08,171 --> 00:50:10,340 Hodges: And they're picking Bobby Thomson up 1133 00:50:10,407 --> 00:50:12,476 and carrying him off the field! 1134 00:50:12,542 --> 00:50:14,845 I GET MAD WHEN I HEAR THAT GUY'S VOICE. 1135 00:50:14,911 --> 00:50:17,881 I GET SO MAD. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MAD I GET. 1136 00:50:17,948 --> 00:50:21,284 FOR ABOUT 45 YEARS AFTER THE HOME RUN, 1137 00:50:21,351 --> 00:50:24,221 WHENEVER THEY WOULD PLAY THAT ON A TAPE OF SOMETHING, 1138 00:50:24,287 --> 00:50:26,223 I WOULD RUN OVER TO THE TV 1139 00:50:26,289 --> 00:50:27,924 AND IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF. 1140 00:50:27,991 --> 00:50:29,760 I'M GONNA GET OVER THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS. 1141 00:50:29,826 --> 00:50:32,362 IT WAS ONLY 50 YEARS AGO. YOU GOTTA GIVE ME TIME TO HEAL. 1142 00:50:32,429 --> 00:50:35,432 Hodges: The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 1143 00:50:35,499 --> 00:50:39,302 The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 1144 00:50:41,938 --> 00:50:43,940 Schreiber: OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE TWO PRINCIPALS 1145 00:50:44,007 --> 00:50:46,977 LIFE AFTER THE HOME RUN WAS NEVER THE SAME-- 1146 00:50:47,043 --> 00:50:50,213 THOMSON THE MODEST VICTOR, 1147 00:50:50,280 --> 00:50:53,283 AND BRANCA THE AFFABLE VANQUISHED, 1148 00:50:53,350 --> 00:50:56,086 WHOSE HARDSHIP WOULD CONTINUE UNRELENTING 1149 00:50:56,153 --> 00:50:58,054 FOR YEARS. 1150 00:50:58,121 --> 00:51:00,123 Branca: I DROVE HOME THAT NIGHT 1151 00:51:00,190 --> 00:51:02,025 TO BROOKLYN WITH ANN. 1152 00:51:02,092 --> 00:51:03,994 AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LONG, LONELY RIDE. 1153 00:51:04,060 --> 00:51:06,096 AND SHE STARTED TO CRY, 'CAUSE WE WERE GONNA 1154 00:51:06,163 --> 00:51:08,131 GET MARRIED IN 17 DAYS. 1155 00:51:08,198 --> 00:51:10,033 WHEN I GOT HOME, MY MOTHER AND FATHER 1156 00:51:10,100 --> 00:51:12,068 OF COURSE WAS DISAPPOINTED. 1157 00:51:12,135 --> 00:51:14,104 AND I THINK THEY BLED FOR ME. 1158 00:51:14,171 --> 00:51:16,973 MY MOTHER GOT A COUPLE PHONE CALLS-- "TEACH YOUR SON HOW TO PITCH." 1159 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:20,043 YOU KNOW, THEY'D HANG UP. AND THAT'S REALLY VICIOUS. 1160 00:51:20,110 --> 00:51:21,912 BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WORKED AT THE TIME-- 1161 00:51:21,978 --> 00:51:24,915 "OH, YOUR BROTHER STINKS," YOU KNOW, "YOUR BROTHER LOST THE GAME." 1162 00:51:24,981 --> 00:51:27,517 ANN GOING TO A GAS STATION AND GIVING HER CREDIT CARD, 1163 00:51:27,584 --> 00:51:30,654 AND THE GUY SAID, "HEY, YOUR HUSBAND THREW THE HOME RUN PITCH, RIGHT? 1164 00:51:30,720 --> 00:51:32,155 SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT NONSENSE. 1165 00:51:32,222 --> 00:51:36,827 HER COUSIN WAS THE DEAN OF CAMPUS MINISTRIES AT FORDHAM. 1166 00:51:36,893 --> 00:51:38,695 AND I SAID, "WHY ME?" 1167 00:51:38,762 --> 00:51:41,231 YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS IN SHAPE. 1168 00:51:41,298 --> 00:51:43,433 I DIDN'T DRINK OR SMOKE. 1169 00:51:43,500 --> 00:51:46,169 AND BASEBALL WAS MY LOVE. WHY ME? 1170 00:51:46,236 --> 00:51:48,171 AND HE GAVE A JESUIT ANSWER. 1171 00:51:48,238 --> 00:51:51,107 HE SAID, "GOD CHOSE YOU BECAUSE HE KNEW 1172 00:51:51,174 --> 00:51:53,176 YOUR FAITH WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH 1173 00:51:53,243 --> 00:51:56,246 TO BEAR THIS CROSS." 1174 00:51:58,415 --> 00:52:00,951 Schreiber: LIKE HE HAD DONE COMING TO THE GAME, 1175 00:52:01,017 --> 00:52:04,287 BOBBY THOMSON RETURNED HOME ON THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY, 1176 00:52:04,354 --> 00:52:07,791 A HUMBLE HERO HIDDEN AMONG THE MASSES. 1177 00:52:07,858 --> 00:52:10,694 Thomson: MY BROTHER JIM WAS THE FIRST FAMILY MEMBER 1178 00:52:10,760 --> 00:52:13,129 I BUMPED INTO IN STATEN ISLAND. 1179 00:52:13,196 --> 00:52:15,765 I REMEMBER SAYING, "JIM, DON'T ASK ME 1180 00:52:15,832 --> 00:52:17,434 WHAT WENT ON UP THERE. 1181 00:52:17,501 --> 00:52:19,769 THE GOOD LORD HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT. 1182 00:52:19,836 --> 00:52:22,172 AND HE SAID, "NO, BOB. 1183 00:52:22,239 --> 00:52:24,841 DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU DID?" 1184 00:52:24,908 --> 00:52:27,244 AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF A STUPID QUESTION. 1185 00:52:27,310 --> 00:52:29,779 I SAID, "OF COURSE I DO. I WAS UP THERE." 1186 00:52:29,846 --> 00:52:31,781 AND HE SAID, "NO, BOBBY." 1187 00:52:31,848 --> 00:52:33,850 HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT 1188 00:52:33,917 --> 00:52:35,752 MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN." 1189 00:52:35,819 --> 00:52:37,687 AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT ANYTHING 1190 00:52:37,754 --> 00:52:41,258 OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE BEAT THE DODGERS THAT DAY. 1191 00:52:41,324 --> 00:52:45,128 NOBODY IN THE BALL FIELD AT THAT TIME 1192 00:52:45,195 --> 00:52:48,331 WOULD EVER HAVE THOUGHT THEY'D BE TALKING ABOUT THIS THING 1193 00:52:48,398 --> 00:52:51,835 50 YEARS LATER. CERTAINLY I DIDN'T. 1194 00:52:55,305 --> 00:52:57,507 ♪ BECAUSE OF YOU ♪ 1195 00:52:57,574 --> 00:52:59,409 ♪ I SHOULD'VE NEVER ♪ 1196 00:52:59,476 --> 00:53:01,511 ♪ BEEN BORN... ♪ 1197 00:53:01,578 --> 00:53:04,214 ♪ BECAUSE OF YOU ♪ 1198 00:53:04,281 --> 00:53:06,716 ♪ BROOKLYN FANS ♪ 1199 00:53:06,783 --> 00:53:09,519 ♪ ARE FORLORN ♪ 1200 00:53:09,586 --> 00:53:11,855 ♪ BECAUSE OF YOU ♪ 1201 00:53:11,922 --> 00:53:14,357 ♪ THEY YELL, "DROP DEAD!" ♪ 1202 00:53:14,424 --> 00:53:16,126 ♪ SEVERAL MILLION... ♪ 1203 00:53:16,192 --> 00:53:18,595 - Schreiber: FOR HALF A CENTURY, RALPH BRANCA... - ♪ WANT MY HEAD... ♪ 1204 00:53:18,662 --> 00:53:21,665 - HAS CARRIED THE BURDEN OF BROOKLYN'S LOSS... - ♪ TO SEVER FOREVER ♪ 1205 00:53:21,731 --> 00:53:24,834 YET SOMEHOW HE'S MANAGED TO DO IT WITH DIGNITY. 1206 00:53:24,901 --> 00:53:27,637 THE DAY AFTER GIVING UP THE HOME RUN, 1207 00:53:27,704 --> 00:53:29,739 BRANCA SHOWED UP AT THE WORLD SERIES, 1208 00:53:29,806 --> 00:53:31,575 GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT-- 1209 00:53:31,641 --> 00:53:34,544 AN ATTITUDE HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH TO THIS DAY. 1210 00:53:34,611 --> 00:53:36,479 Branca: I WASN'T GONNA CRAWL UNDER A ROCK 1211 00:53:36,546 --> 00:53:38,448 AND STAY THERE. IT'S JUST A BALLGAME. 1212 00:53:38,515 --> 00:53:40,216 I HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. 1213 00:53:40,283 --> 00:53:42,586 I'M HAPPY WITH MY LIFE. I'M HAPPY WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED. 1214 00:53:42,652 --> 00:53:45,188 I'VE GOT A WONDERFUL WIFE. I'VE GOT TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS. 1215 00:53:45,255 --> 00:53:48,525 I REALLY HAVE NO REGRETS. 1216 00:53:48,592 --> 00:53:50,560 Schreiber: IN THE YEARS SINCE THE HOME RUN, 1217 00:53:50,627 --> 00:53:54,164 BRANCA AND THOMSON HAVE EMBRACED THEIR MUTUAL MOMENT 1218 00:53:54,230 --> 00:53:56,299 NOT AS BITTER RIVALS, 1219 00:53:56,366 --> 00:53:58,268 BUT AS FRIENDS 1220 00:53:58,335 --> 00:54:00,203 BOUND TOGETHER IN THE HISTORIC DRAMA 1221 00:54:00,270 --> 00:54:04,040 OF THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD. 1222 00:54:04,107 --> 00:54:05,475 Branca: WE BOTH WORKED IN NEW YORK. 1223 00:54:05,542 --> 00:54:07,243 AND WE'D RUN INTO EACH OTHER ONCE IN A WHILE. 1224 00:54:07,310 --> 00:54:09,212 WE'D PLAY SOME GOLF TOURNAMENTS TOGETHER. 1225 00:54:09,279 --> 00:54:11,214 AND I'D SEE HIM AT SPORTS DINNERS 1226 00:54:11,281 --> 00:54:13,283 OR AT A BALLGAME HERE AND THERE. 1227 00:54:13,350 --> 00:54:17,220 AND I GOT TO LIKE HIM. AND WE BECAME FRIENDS. 1228 00:54:17,287 --> 00:54:19,222 THANK GOD IT WAS BOBBY, 1229 00:54:19,289 --> 00:54:21,524 BECAUSE HE'S A HUMBLE GUY. 1230 00:54:21,591 --> 00:54:23,893 Thomson: HE'S HAD TO LIVE WITH IT ALL THESE YEARS. 1231 00:54:23,960 --> 00:54:26,730 AND I TRIED TO APPRECIATE WHAT HE'D GONE THROUGH. 1232 00:54:26,796 --> 00:54:29,366 AND I FELT FOR HIM. 1233 00:54:29,432 --> 00:54:33,003 WE BOTH REALIZED WHO WE WERE, 1234 00:54:33,069 --> 00:54:36,740 AND THE FULL TERMS OF LIFE. 1235 00:54:38,074 --> 00:54:41,077 WITHOUT THAT MOMENT WE'D BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT, 1236 00:54:41,144 --> 00:54:43,780 AS FAR AS BASEBALL HISTORY GOES. 1237 00:54:46,616 --> 00:54:48,318 Branca: I STILL THINK 1238 00:54:48,385 --> 00:54:51,021 IT'S THE GREATEST MOMENT IN BASEBALL HISTORY. 1239 00:54:51,087 --> 00:54:53,356 Hodges: Branca throws. There's a long drive. 1240 00:54:53,423 --> 00:54:55,225 It's gonna be, I believe-- 1241 00:54:55,291 --> 00:54:58,294 the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 1242 00:54:58,361 --> 00:55:01,798 The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! 1243 00:55:01,865 --> 00:55:04,300 Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck 1244 00:55:04,367 --> 00:55:06,136 of the left-field stands. 1245 00:55:06,202 --> 00:55:09,005 The Giants win the pennant and they're going crazy. 1246 00:55:09,072 --> 00:55:12,676 They're going crazy. Hey-oh! 1247 00:55:16,713 --> 00:55:18,682 ♪ MY FAME IS SURE ♪ 1248 00:55:18,748 --> 00:55:21,351 ♪ THANKS TO YOUR ♪ 1249 00:55:21,418 --> 00:55:24,320 ♪ SUNDAY PITCH ♪ 1250 00:55:24,387 --> 00:55:27,057 ♪ UP HIGH OR LOW ♪ 1251 00:55:27,123 --> 00:55:29,559 ♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪ 1252 00:55:29,626 --> 00:55:33,029 ♪ WHICH IS WHICH ♪ 1253 00:55:33,096 --> 00:55:36,633 ♪ BUT COME NEXT SPRING ♪ 1254 00:55:36,700 --> 00:55:40,136 ♪ KEEP THROWING ME THAT THING ♪ 1255 00:55:40,203 --> 00:55:43,273 ♪ AND I WILL SWING ♪ 1256 00:55:43,339 --> 00:55:47,210 ♪ BECAUSE OF YOU. ♪ 1257 00:57:29,879 --> 00:57:33,483 Schreiber: THIS HAS BEEN A PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.