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Liev Schreiber: THE FOLLOWING IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION
OF THE HBO SPORTS DOCUMENTARY SERIES
"LEGENDS & LEGACIES."
Gordon McLendon: After 156 games,
each two more than the regular schedule called for,
Da Bums from Brooklyn, the Giants from New York
have come down to the wire,
to where it is all or nothing.
20 years from now the fans will be talking
about this afternoon's hero, as yet unknown,
but the man and the hour are about to meet.
If there is a goat,
his name will echo down the corridor of time.
Ralph Branca from Mount Vernon, New York,
is going on the mound to throw for the Brooklyns.
Branca, Ralph, who wears his number 13.
And will that be lucky for the Brooklyn Dodgers?
They're at the door of disaster
in the last half on the ninth inning.
Boy, I'm telling you what they're gonna say
about this one, I don't know.
There is the Royal Scot Bobby Thomson,
as dangerous as a Great Dane
behind a meat counter.
Russ Hodges: Branca throws. There's a long drive.
It's gonna be, I believe--
the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!
The Giants win the pennant!
Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck
of the left-field stands.
The Giants win the pennant and they're going crazy.
They're going crazy. Hey-oh!
Liev Schreiber: BEFORE WORLD WAR II
MUCH OF NEW YORK'S BASEBALL HISTORY
WAS WRITTEN BY ONE TEAM--
THE NEW YORK YANKEES.
THE GIANTS HAD SOME SUCCESS IN THE '20s AND '30s,
BUT THE 1940s WAS A VAST WASTELAND
FOR THE TEAM FROM MANHATTAN.
THE DODGERS WERE JUST AS INEPT.
BEFORE BROOKLYN MADE AN UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE
IN THE 1941 SERIES, IT HAD BEEN TWO DECADES
SINCE THE TEAM HAD PLAYED A GAME IN OCTOBER.
BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR,
THAT CHANGED AND NEW YORK CITY BECAME
THE BASEBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
BEGINNING IN 1947,
AT LEAST ONE OF THE THREE NEW YORK TEAMS
WOULD APPEAR IN THE WORLD SERIES
IN 10 OF THE NEXT 11 SEASONS.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR DODGER AND GIANT FANS,
IT WAS STILL THAT HATED TEAM IN THE BRONX
THAT DID MOST OF THE WINNING.
THE YANKEES WERE SORT OF THIS ELITIST,
CORPORATE, PINSTRIPE TYPES.
THEIR FANS EXPECTED WINNING,
DIDN'T BOTHER TO LEARN MUCH ABOUT BASEBALL.
AND IN RARE INSTANCES WHEN THE YANKEES WEREN'T WINNING,
THEY WEREN'T YANKEE FANS.
YANKEE FANS I THOUGHT OF AS FRONT RUNNERS--
THE KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ROOTED FOR THE GOVERNMENT
IN AN INCOME-TAX SUIT.
THE YANKEES WERE UP THERE IN THE BRONX,
UP ON A HILL.
AND THEY WERE JUST CASCADING.
YANKEES HAD USHERS, HAD MITTENS
WHEN THEY BROUGHT YOU DOWN TO A SEAT.
YOU FELT YOU HAD TO WEAR A TIE.
YANKEE STADIUM WAS FOR TOURISTS.
Schreiber: DIRECTLY ACROSS THE HARLEM RIVER
FROM YANKEE STADIUM STOOD THE POLO GROUNDS--
THE ODD-SHAPED, RUNDOWN HOME
OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS.
Stuart Leeds: I REMEMBER COMING OUT OF THE SUBWAY--
THE STOP WAS 155th STREET AND 8th AVENUE--
AND THERE WAS THIS BIG GREEN THING THERE,
THIS BIG GREEN EDIFICE.
AND YOU WERE GREETED BY THIS SMELL--
SMOKE, TAR, CHEAP CIGARS.
Ray Robinson: IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO WATCH A BALLGAME.
FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU SAT OUT IN THE RIGHT FIELD,
OFTENTIMES YOU COULDN'T SEE THE RIGHT FIELDER.
HE WAS RIGHT BELOW YOU. AND YOU'D HAVE TO YELL OVER TO SOMEBODY,
"HEY, WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT PLAY? WHERE'D THE BALL GO?"
Ted Saretsky: IT FELT AS IF THE SEATS HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED.
THERE WAS PIGEON DROPPINGS
ON THESE OLD, GREEN WOODEN SEATS.
AND THE FACADE OF THE POLO GROUNDS
LOOKED LIKE IT HADN'T CHANGED SINCE 1908.
Steve Rand: WE DETESTED THE POLO GROUNDS.
THE RIDE WAS INTERMINABLE.
AND IT WAS THIS FOREBODING,
DARK PLACE. WE DETESTED IT.
Schreiber: FAR FROM UNINVITING,
BROOKLYN'S EBBETS FIELD WAS A VIBRANT,
INTIMATE, CHARMING PARK.
A DAY AT EBBETS WAS LIKE A BASEBALL CARNIVAL
FOR BOTH THE DODGERS AND THEIR FANS.
YOU PAID YOUR 75 CENTS FOR THE BLEACHER SEAT
OR IF YOU WERE REALLY FLUSH,
THE BUCK AND A HALF FOR A GRANDSTAND SEAT.
YOU WERE RIGHT ON THE FIELD.
YOU COULD LEAN AGAINST THE FENCES AND YELL,
"HI JACKIE. HI PEE WEE.
HI DUKE. HI CARL."
I COULD STAND ON THE MOUND-- I HEAR GUYS TALKING TO YOU
REAL EASY. IT WASN'T LIKE THEY WERE YELLING LOUD.
THIS GUYS IS JUST TALKING-- "HEY ERSK, HEY ERSK,
THROW IT THROUGH HIS HEAD."
I MEAN, IT WAS WONDERFUL.
IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES IN THE WORLD
FOR A COMIC TO GET HIS MATERIAL.
THEY WERE SO FUNNY.
AND THEY WERE SO OUTLANDISHLY BRASH.
Schreiber: DIFFERENT AS THEY WERE,
DODGER AND GIANT FANS HAD ONE THING IN COMMON--
AN INTENSE DISLIKE FOR EACH OTHER
PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS OF DISDAIN.
Valleda Rupert: MY FATHER AND I WOULD GO OVER TO EBBETS FIELD.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE GOING INTO ANOTHER WORLD.
ONE OF THE GUARDS USED TO COME DOWN AND SIT BEHIND US,
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'D THROW THINGS AT US.
Joe Bologna: I WOULD NEVER GO TO THE POLO GROUNDS--
NEVER, EVEN WHEN THE DODGERS WERE PLAYING THERE.
I HATED THE POLO GROUNDS, HATED THE GIANTS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE FUN-- IS TO HATE.
THE HATE IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE LOVING.
WELL, YOU HATED THE DODGERS BECAUSE YOU WERE A GIANT FAN
AND THAT WAS THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
TO BEAT THE DODGERS--
IT'S SOMETHING I LIVED OFF ALL WINTER LONG.
IF YOU WERE A GIANT, YOU WERE HATED.
SID GORDON, A JEWISH GUY, GREW UP THREE BLOCKS FROM EBBETS FIELD,
PLAYED FOR THE GIANTS. WE HATED HIM.
Everett Parker: I WOULD HAVE ROOTED FOR THE RED RUSSIANS
OVER THE BROOKLYN DODGERS.
ALL I WISHED FOR THEM
WERE 14-INNING GAMES PLAYED IN RAIN.
THEY HATED THE DODGER FANS AND THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN
BECAUSE IN BROOKLYN WE HAD MORE.
WE HAD THE TROLLEY CAR. WE HAD THE SUBWAY.
WE HAD PLENTY OF KOSHER DELICATESSENS.
AND WE HAD 500 POOL ROOMS.
THEY WERE JEALOUS.
FOR INSTANCE, AFTER THE GAME
DID THEY HAVE A NATHAN'S TO GO TO ON CONEY ISLAND?
NO. NO NATHAN'S FOR THEM.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CONEY ISLAND.
THEY HAD ORCHARD BEACH--
NO COMPARISON. NO COMPARISON.
Schreiber: AS THE '51 SEASON BEGAN,
THERE WAS NO COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.
THE FAMED "BOYS OF SUMMER"
WERE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THEIR HISTORIC RUN.
Larry King: 1951, THE DODGERS HAD
HODGES, ROBINSON,
REESE, COX--
STILL THE BEST INFIELD I'VE EVER SEEN.
IN RIGHT FIELD-- FURILLO,
A TERRIFIC BALLPLAYER.
CENTERFIELD-- SNIDER-- WHEW! WE HAD A GREAT TEAM.
Ralph Branca: AND OF COURSE CAMPANELLA BACK AT THE PLATE.
AND WE HAD A GOOD PITCHING STAFF--
NEWCOMBE, PREACHER ROE, ERSKINE.
WE FELT WE WERE THE FAVORITES AND WE SHOULD WIN.
WE HAD A GOOD-- WE HAD A GOOD BALL CLUB.
Schreiber: RALPH BRANCA
WAS ONE OF THOSE GOOD BROOKLYN PITCHERS.
BY 1951 BRANCA WAS ALREADY
AN ESTABLISHED AND POPULAR DODGER--
A 20-GAME WINNER AT THE AGE OF 21
AND A NATIVE NEW YORKER.
Branca: MY FATHER'S FROM ITALY
AND MY MOTHER'S FROM A SMALL TOWN IN HUNGARY.
AND THEY MET IN NEW YORK CITY, EAST SIDE OF HARLEM,
GOT MARRIED AND THEN MOVED TO MOUNT VERNON.
IT WAS A MIXED NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WAS A GERMAN FAMILY, IRISH FAMILIES,
A JEWISH FAMILY AND ABOUT THREE BLACK FAMILIES.
SO WE HAD A LEAGUE OF NATIONS ON THAT BLOCK.
MY FATHER HAD MANY JOBS.
HE WAS A TROLLEY CAR CONDUCTOR.
HE HAD A BARBER SHOP.
MY MOTHER-- WHEN YOU SAY "HOUSEWIFE,"
SHE HAD NO TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
I MEAN, I'M ONE OF 17. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,
THERE WAS 14 CHILDREN ALIVE.
MY SISTER DIED WHEN I WAS 13,
SO IT WAS 13 GROWING UP--
ONE OF THE REASONS I WORE NUMBER 13
WHEN I GOT TO BROOKLYN.
I WENT FROM BASEBALL TO FOOTBALL TO BASKETBALL.
I ROOTED FOR THE GIANTS.
MEL OTT AND CARL HUBBELL WERE MY HEROES.
THEN I SIGNED WITH THE DODGERS
JUNE 6, 1944, WHICH WAS D-DAY.
AND FOR ME IT WAS DODGER DAY.
AND NOW JUNE 11th I WAS IN THE BULLPEN IN THE POLO GROUNDS.
AND THEY CALLED ME IN. AND I REMEMBER WALKING IN FROM THAT BULLPEN.
I MEAN, I WALKED AND I WALKED AND I WALKED,
LIKE I WAS WALKING ON A TREADMILL.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I STRUCK OUT THE FIRST THREE GUYS I FACED.
Schreiber: A TOUGH, STRONG, HARD-THROWING RIGHT-HANDER
WITH AN EXPLOSIVE FASTBALL,
BRANCA WON 53 GAMES BEFORE HIS 24TH BIRTHDAY.
BUT IN 1951 CHARLIE DRESSEN,
THE DODGERS' NEW MANAGER, MOVED BRANCA TO THE BULLPEN,
WHERE HE SPENT THE FIRST MONTH
OF BROOKLYN'S UP-AND-DOWN SEASON.
Branca: THEY NEEDED A STARTER,
AND I STARTED AGAINST ROBIN ROBERTS IN PHILADELPHIA.
I WENT SEVEN INNINGS AND IT RAINED.
AND I WENT IN, TOOK A SHOWER,
GOT NEW OIL ON MY ARM, PUT ON A NEW UNIFORM,
AND I WENT OUT AND GOT THE LAST SIX GUYS OUT.
SO I PITCHED A COMPLETE GAME AND BEAT ROBIN.
AND THEN IT WENT LIKE 2-1, 3-1, 4-2,
AND ALL COMPLETE GAMES.
SO I THINK THAT KIND OF STABILIZED THE STAFF
AND I THINK IT TURNED THE TEAM AROUND.
Schreiber: BY CONTRAST, LEO DUROCHER'S GIANTS
HADN'T WON THE PENNANT SINCE 1937.
AND WHILE THERE WAS SOME HOPE
FOLLOWING A STRONG FINISH IN 1950,
THE '51 SEASON BEGAN POORLY.
Everett Parker: I USED TO KEEP A SCRAPBOOK
WITH "THE DAILY NEWS" CLIPS, OR "THE DAILY MIRROR," OF EACH GAME.
1951, I STARTED IT
WITH GOOD INTENT IN MY HEART.
Mike Getz: THEY CAME OUT OF THE GATE AND LOST THREE STRAIGHT
TO THE DODGERS IN THE POLO GROUNDS.
THE PHILLIES CAME IN AND SWEPT THEM.
THEN THE BRAVES CAME IN AND KNOCKED THEM OFF.
AND THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO EBBETS FIELD.
AND THE DODGERS TOOK TWO OUT OF THE FIRST THREE.
AND NOW WE'VE LOST 11 IN A ROW.
THAT WAS THE END OF MY 1951 SCRAPBOOK.
Peter Magowan: WE ALL KNEW THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO HAPPEN
TO THE GIANTS-- SOME NEW PLAYER, SOME NEW SPARK.
Schreiber: THAT PLAYER WAS
20-YEAR-OLD WILLIE MAYS,
WHOSE BOYISH ENTHUSIASM WAS A WELCOME CHANGE
ON THE VETERAN GIANTS
AS WELL AS ON THE STREETS OF NEW YORK.
Parker: HE WAS AS MUCH AT HOME
ON 8th AVENUE PLAYING STICKBALL,
WHICH HE DID WITH KIDS UP IN HARLEM,
AS HE WAS ON A BASEBALL DIAMOND.
Willie Mays: FOR A DAY GAME THEY'D WAKE ME UP AT 9:00.
I'D GO OUT AND PLAY ABOUT TWO OR THREE GAMES WITH THEM,
BUY THE ICE CREAM FOR THEM.
ACTUALLY I LEARNED HOW TO HIT THE BREAKING BALL
BECAUSE YOU HAD TO BOUNCE THE BALL.
IT WOULD BREAK AND I WOULD HIT IT ALL THE TIME.
Schreiber: NOT ALL THE TIME.
AT LEAST NOT RIGHT AWAY.
MAYS FOUND HIS FIRST FEW WEEKS IN THE MAJORS OVERWHELMING,
ESPECIALLY AT THE PLATE,
WHERE HIS BATTING AVERAGE DIPPED TO .043.
Leo Durocher: WILLIE MAYS, WHEN HE FIRST JOINED THE GIANTS,
HE JUST COULDN'T BUY A BASE HIT, WAS HITTING AN AWFUL TOUGH LUCK.
AND ONE DAY I CAME IN THE CLUBHOUSE,
WILLIE WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF HIS LOCKER. AND HE LOOKED UP AND HE SAID,
"MR. LEO," HE SAYS, "I JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT."
HE SAYS, "I JUST CAN'T BUY A BASE HIT."
AND HE SAYS, "I JUST CAN'T HELP THIS CLUB AT ALL."
AND I SAID, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT, WILLIE.
WE BROUGHT YOU UP HERE TO PLAY CENTERFIELD,
AND YOU'RE GONNA PLAY CENTERFIELD.
YOU'RE THE CENTERFIELDER IN THIS BALL CLUB TODAY
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE THE CENTERFIELDER TOMORROW AND NEXT WEEK AND NEXT MONTH."
AND I THINK THAT TOOK HIM OUT OF THE SLUMP.
AND HE DID COME ON TO HIT QUITE WELL THE BALANCE OF THE WAY.
Monte Irvin: WHEN WILLIE WOULD DO SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY,
HE WOULD HAVE A SUIT HANGING IN THE LOCKER NEXT DAY
OR HALF A DOZEN SHIRTS OR A WRISTWATCH
OR SOMETHING TO LET HIM KNOW,
"JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING."
HE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE HE GOT SO MUCH STUFF
HE STARTED DISTRIBUTING IT TO US-- THE REST OF THE PLAYERS IN THE CLUBHOUSE.
WE'D GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "WHAT HAVE YOU GOT NEW?"
AND HE'D SAY, "HERE, YOU CAN HAVE THIS. YOU CAN HAVE THAT."
Schreiber: WHILE MAYS'S TURNAROUND MADE HIM INCREASINGLY POPULAR
WITH HIS TEAMMATES AND GIANT FANS,
THERE WAS A COMPLICATION.
WILLIE PLAYED CENTERFIELD-- A POSITION THAT BELONGED
TO A WELL-LIKED, ESTABLISHED VETERAN.
I KNEW THAT HE MUST HAVE BEEN A GREAT PROSPECT,
BECAUSE WE HAD A GREAT CENTERFIELDER IN BOBBY THOMSON.
BOBBY THOMSON WAS NOT A RINKY-DINK.
WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT I'M GONNA BE MOVED OUT
OF CENTERFIELD, I ACCEPTED THAT.
I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY
TO DO WHAT I WAS TOLD AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS.
Schreiber: ROBERT BROWN THOMSON
WAS BORN IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND,
ON OCTOBER 25, 1923.
Bobby Thomson: I WAS THE YOUNGEST OF SIX KIDS.
AND MY DAD DECIDED THAT AMERICA WAS
THE BEST PLACE FOR HIS KIDS TO GROW UP.
THERE WAS A LONG WAITING LIST
TO GET OVER TO THIS COUNTRY.
AND HE'D BEEN ON THAT LIST.
WELL, WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT?
MY MOTHER WAS EXPECTING ME
WHEN HIS NAME CAME UP TO COME OVER.
AND HE HAD THIS DECISION TO MAKE
WHETHER TO STAY THERE
AND HELP HIS WIFE AND KIDS
OR GO FORWARD WITH HIS PLAN.
WELL, MY DAD DID COME OVER HERE ON HIS OWN.
HE WAS A CABINETMAKER.
AND ACTUALLY IT TOOK HIM TWO YEARS
BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO SEND FOR US TO COME OVER HERE.
WE LANDED,
AND OFF TO STATEN ISLAND WE WENT.
MY DAD TOOK TO BASEBALL AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?
HE WAS A DODGER FAN. HE ROOTED FOR THE DODGERS.
Schreiber: IN YOUTH LEAGUES,
BOBBY EXCELLED AT BASEBALL.
BUT HIS DAYS AS A PLAYER WOULD HAVE BEEN SHORT-LIVED
IF NOT FOR HIS OLDER BROTHER JIM.
MY BROTHER WAS MY MENTOR.
HE'S THE GUY THAT BOUGHT ME MY FIRST GLOVE
WHEN HE WORKED FOR SEARS ROEBUCK'S.
AND HE'S THE GUY WHO HAD ME OUT IN THE BACKYARD
WHEN I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD A BAT.
WHEN I FIRST WENT AWAY
TO PLAY CLASS-D BALL OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL,
I WASN'T DOING TOO WELL
AND I GUESS HE COULD TELL BY MY LETTERS.
AND HE'D WRITE TO ME AND TELL ME
TO "KEEP YOUR CHIN UP," KEEP HUSTLING
AND GET MAD, HIT SOMEBODY WHO'S SLIDING INTO SECOND BASE.
AND AFTER A LOT OF INSTRUCTIONS, HE'D SIGN,
"YOUR SEVEREST CRITIC
BUT MOST ARDENT ADMIRER."
AND THAT KIND OF-- THAT TOOK HOLD OF ME.
Donald Honig: HE HAD A WORLD OF TALENT.
HE HAD POWER. HE HAD SPEED.
BUT HE WAS JUST INCONSISTENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD, HE HAD A GOOD YEAR, A BAD YEAR,
A GOOD YEAR, A BAD YEAR.
Schreiber: UNFORTUNATELY FOR BOTH THOMSON AND THE GIANTS,
'51 WAS SHAPING UP TO BE ONE OF THOSE BAD YEARS.
AT THE END OF APRIL THE LAST-PLACE NEW YORKERS HAD ONLY THREE WINS.
AND WHILE MAY AND JUNE SAW SOME IMPROVEMENT,
BY MID-JULY THE GIANTS STILL TRAILED
JACKIE ROBINSON AND THE FIRST-PLACE DODGERS--
A CONFIDENT TEAM
LED BY THE MOST CONFIDENT OF PLAYERS.
Jules Tygiel: IN 1951 JACKIE ROBINSON WAS AT HIS PEAK
AS BOTH A PLAYER AND AS A CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE.
HE BATS .338.
HE'S THE DOMINANT PLAYER ON THE DODGER TEAM,
BUT HE'S ALSO COMPLETELY LIBERATED HIMSELF.
Buzzie Bavasi: IN 1947 JACKIE WAS TOLD BY MR. RICKEY
HE WAS NOT TO TAKE PART IN ANY ARGUMENTS ON THE FIELD.
HE WAS TO DO AS HE'S TOLD.
WELL, IN 1951 I CALLED HIM IN THE OFFICE AND SAID,
"JACKIE, THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. YOU'VE HAD YOUR PROBATION NOW.
FOUR YEARS ARE UP. DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO."
Steve Rand: IT WAS PAYBACK TIME.
AND HE WAS DISHING IT OUT VERBALLY,
PHYSICALLY ON THE BASES.
THERE WAS A GAME IN BOSTON THAT WE PLAYED.
AND THE DODGERS ARE WINNING IT 11-3.
AND JACKIE STOLE HOME WITH A BIG LEAD.
AND THEY GOT ON HIS CASE.
Jack Lang: AND WHEN THEY STARTED RAZZING HIM,
JACKIE GOT BACK TO THE DUGOUT,
HE TURNED AROUND,
PATTED HIS BACKSIDE AND THREW A KISS TO THEM.
Duke Snider: HIS VOICE HAD GREAT CARRY TO IT.
AND THAT LAUGH-- IT WAS AN IRRITATING TYPE LAUGH TO THE OPPOSITION.
HE WOULD ALWAYS HOLLER SOMETHING TO LEO
BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LIKE LEO.
Joe Bologna: HE AND DUROCHER WOULD JAW BACK AND FORTH
AND CALL EACH OTHER EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK.
HE HIT HIM WITH EVERYTHING HE COULD--
PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT LORRAINE DAY TO WHOM DUROCHER HAD MARRIED.
JACKIE USED TO ACCUSE LEO OF WEARING LORRAINE'S PERFUME.
Roger Kahn: ROBINSON WAS UP. AND AS ROBINSON WAS IN THERE,
DUROCHER'S BULLHORN VOICE SAID, "MY DICK TO YOU, ROBINSON."
AND ROBINSON DIDN'T STEP OUT OF THE BATTER'S BOX,
DIDN'T LOWER HIS BAT. HE SAID,
"GIVE IT TO LORRAINE. SHE NEEDS IT MORE THAN I DO."
Schreiber: THE TENSE INTERACTION
BETWEEN ROBINSON AND DUROCHER WAS NOTHING NEW.
IN 1948 LEO HAD BEEN JACKIE'S MANAGER WITH THE DODGERS
AND THE TWO DEVELOPED AN INTENSE DISLIKE FOR EACH OTHER.
WHEN THE DODGERS SWEPT THREE FROM THE GIANTS IN EARLY AUGUST--
THEIR 12th WIN IN 15 GAMES BETWEEN THE TEAMS,
BROOKLYN'S LEAD GREW TO 12 1/2 GAMES
AND ROBINSON'S TAUNTING GREW EVEN LOUDER.
DRESSEN WAS HIGHER THAN A KITE.
HE GAVE HIS PLAYERS A GREEN LIGHT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TAUNTING.
AND THE TWO LOCKER ROOMS WERE SIDE BY SIDE.
THERE USED TO BE A DOOR IN-BETWEEN.
SO DRESSEN COMES DOWN AND HE SAYS, "COME ON BACK TO THE DOOR.
WE'RE GONNA SING 'THE GIANTS ARE DEAD.'"
- "THE GIANTS ARE DEAD." - "THE GIANTS IS DEAD."
SOME PLAYERS DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT. OTHERS DID WILLINGLY.
Branca: AND YOU COULD HEAR ONE VOICE
ABOVE EVERYBODY ELSE'S. IT WAS JACKIE'S.
"EAT YOUR HEART OUT, LEO. YOU'LL BE LAST BEFORE THE SEASON'S OVER."
Dave Smith: THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT JUST TOTALLY INFURIATED THE GIANTS.
AND THEY DIDN'T BANG ON THE DOOR BACK TO THEM.
THEY DIDN'T YELL. DUROCHER JUST SAID...
Monte Irvin: "FELLAS," HE SAID, "YOU HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING?
LET'S GET OUR ACT TOGETHER AND GO ON OUT
AND SHOW THEM WHAT WE CAN DO."
WE'RE 13 1/2 GAMES AHEAD ON AUGUST 13th--
13 1/2. IT'S A JOKE.
Branca: I THINK THE WHOLE TEAM FELT WE HAD IT WON.
I MEAN, HOW GOOD IS A TEAM GONNA GO TO CATCH YOU?
WE BEAT THE PHILLIES TWO OUT OF THREE.
THEY BEAT THE BRAVES THREE OUT OF THREE.
WE WENT THREE OUT OF FOUR. THEY WENT FOUR OUT OF FOUR.
SPAHN AND SAIN AND ROBERTS AND SIMMONS--
WE WERE BEATING EVERYBODY THAT THEY THREW AT US.
George Spencer: THE STARTING PITCHER WOULD GET THE LEAD OF ONE RUN
AND SOMEBODY ON THE BASE WOULD SAY, "OKAY, THERE'S YOUR LEAD.
HOLD IT." AND THEY DID.
AND LEO SAID, "OKAY, WHATEVER YOU DO,
EVERYBODY DO THE SAME THING TOMORROW."
AND HE WAS JUST VERY VERY SUPERSTITIOUS.
LEO HAD A THING-- NOBODY COULD TOUCH BOBBY THOMSON'S GLOVE.
THOMSON NEVER BROUGHT HIS GLOVE IN.
LEO WOULD KEEP IT IN THE COACHES' BOX.
AND HE WOULD TAP IT THREE TIMES
AND THEN TOUCH THE BAG AND COME BACK AND PUT IT DOWN.
HERMAN FRANKS WORE THE SAME SEERSUCKER SUIT
FOR 16 DAYS.
Thomson: I USED TO WEAR THESE UNDERWEAR PANTS
WITH ANTS ON THEM.
WELL, I WORE THOSE PANTS EVERY DAY
TO THE POINT WHERE THE FIRST THING THOSE GUYS LOOKED FOR
WERE THOSE PANTS HANGING UP.
EVERY GAME WE WON MADE IT MORE IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO THE NEXT ONE.
IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAYING "GOOD MORNING" TO YOUR WIFE.
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT HOW THEY DID.
THE GIANTS JUST DIDN'T STOP WINNING, PERIOD.
AND IT BECAME A VERY SCARY THING FOR DODGER FANS.
IT SEEMED THERE WAS ALMOST A SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT.
Rand: I SAW ALL THESE INSANITIES.
I WAS JUST HOPING THAT I WAS WRONG.
PHILADELPHIA LEFT-FIELDER DICK SISLER
MISPLAYED A DRIVE BY MONTE IRVIN
THAT LET IN THE WINNING TWO RUNS.
AND YOU SAID, "UH-HUH. UH-HUH."
IT WAS LIKE A DIVINE PLAN WAS UNFOLDING.
- AND WHEN THEY WERE CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT LEAD-- - 10 1/2.
--LIKE SOMEBODY COMING UP BEHIND YOU AND HITTING YOU WITH A CLUB.
- 8 1/2. - WE GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER AND CLOSER.
- 6 1/2. - HERE'S A SHOT. AND NOW HERE'S ONE ON THE ELBOW.
- 5 1/2. - AND YOU JUST HAD THIS SENSE OF DOOM.
IT WAS EXCRUCIATING. I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE PILLORY.
Schreiber: TURNING THEIR SEASON AROUND,
THE GIANTS HAD WON 16 STRAIGHT IN AUGUST
AND NOW TRAILED THE DODGERS BY JUST FIVE GAMES
WITH A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH TO PLAY.
MONTE IRVIN LED THE REVIVAL
ALONG WITH THE RESURGENT BOBBY THOMSON
WHO FOUND A NEW HOME AT THIRD
AND A NEW STROKE AT THE PLATE.
AT THE MIDPOINT IN 1951 HE WAS BATTING .232.
LOCKMAN AND LEO DUROCHER GOT TOGETHER
AND DECIDED TO ADAPT HIS STANCE
TO GIVE HIM MORE OF A CROUCH.
Thomson: I THOUGHT, "HEY, WHAT HAVE I GOT TO LOSE?"
YOU KNOW, TO BEND THE KNEES A LITTLE MORE,
CROUCH OVER, GET A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE.
AND I GOT PULLING THE BALL MORE.
Schreiber: AS MUCH AS THOMSON'S RESURRECTION HELPED THE GIANTS,
THE REAL CATALYST FOR NEW YORK'S CHANGE IN FORTUNE
MAY HAVE COME ON JUNE 30th
WITH THE ACQUISITION OF PITTSBURGH INFIELDER
HANK SCHENZ.
ALTHOUGH SCHENZ DID NOT PLAY IN THE FIELD
OR HAVE AN AT-BAT IN A SINGLE GAME,
HE DID HELP DEVISE AND EXECUTE
AN ELABORATE SIGN-STEALING SYSTEM
WITH MANAGER LEO DUROCHER'S BLESSING.
FROM A HIDDEN PERCH
IN DUROCHER'S OFFICE IN CENTERFIELD,
THE GIANTS STOLE THE OPPOSING CATCHERS' SIGNS,
RELAYED THEM ELECTRONICALLY TO THE GIANT BULLPEN
WHERE THEY WERE THEN PASSED ON TO THE HITTER.
THIS IS THE INFAMOUS SPYGLASS THAT MY DAD INTRODUCED
IN THE 1951 BASEBALL SEASON.
AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH WHEN IT'S CLOSED--
VERY SMALL,
BUT WHEN EXTENDED TO ITS FULL LENGTH,
IT ENABLED MY DAD
SITTING IN THE CENTERFIELD--
I GUESS, THE CENTERFIELD OFFICE OF MR. DUROCHER--
TO ZOOM RIGHT ON IN
ON THE SIGNALS THAT THE CATCHER WAS GIVING.
Al Corwin: AND IT WAS RELAYED
FROM LEO'S OFFICE TO THE BULLPEN,
FROM THE BULLPEN TO THE HITTER.
AND YOU HAD, LIKE, TWO OR THREE SECONDS TO DO IT.
Schreiber: THE PLAYER ENTRUSTED WITH RELAYING
THE SIGNS FROM THE BULLPEN
WAS LITTLE-USED CATCHER SAL YVARS,
WHO LISTENED INTENTLY
FOR A TELLTALE SIGNAL.
Sal Yvars: NO BUZZ-- FASTBALL.
ONE BUZZ-- BREAKING BALL.
IF THERE WAS NO BUZZ--
I HAD A BALL IN MY HAND-- I DID NOTHING WITH THE BALL.
IF IT WAS A BREAKING BALL, I'D THROW IT UP IN THE AIR.
LEO'S WORD, WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT WHETHER WE COULD DO THIS, WAS,
"WHAT THE HELL DO WE HAVE TO LOSE?"
SO WE DID IT.
DON MUELLER HIT FIVE HOME RUNS IN TWO DAYS.
YOU KNOW WHO DON MUELLER WAS? HE WAS A LEFT-HANDED BATTER,
HIT BALLS INSIDE OF THIRD BASE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S HITTING BOMBS OUT IN THE RIGHT FIELD.
THEY NEVER CAUGHT ON.
WE GOT FIVE RUNS AHEAD-- WE STOPPED.
THEY'D COME CLOSE TO US--
THERE WE GO AGAIN.
WE KNEW EVERY PITCH.
Thomson: HEY, LET'S FACE IT: WE STOLE SIGNS.
SURE I TOOK THEM ONCE IN A WHILE,
BUT I DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA OF IT--
NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF, FRANKLY.
I DOUBT IF THEY HELPED ME THAT MUCH.
NOT MANY GUYS WERE PEOPLE WHO REALLY RELIED ON IT.
YOU HAVE A MATTER OF SECONDS,
BECAUSE THAT PITCHER'S NOT STANDING THERE DOING ANYTHING.
HE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS WINDUP SOMETIMES.
AND THIS WAS GIVEN TO US.
AND WE WOULD HURRIEDLY THROW A BALL UP IN THE AIR.
SO IT WAS A VERY CUMBERSOME
AND SOMETIMES LESS THAN ACCURATE SYSTEM.
NO MATTER HOW YOU GET THE SIGNS,
IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S COMING, YOU'VE STILL GOT TO HIT IT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO HIT IT.
AND PEOPLE SAY, "HEY, KNOWING THE SIGNS DOESN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT."
THEN WHY WOULD YOU DO IT, IF IT DIDN'T HELP?
ONCE THEY GOT THE SIGNS, THERE'S YOUR MAGIC WAND.
THEY MADE THEM 37-7.
Schreiber: IT WOULD BE EASY TO ATTRIBUTE
THE GIANTS' REMARKABLE 16-GAME WINNING STREAK
AND TORRID FINISH TO THEIR SIGN-STEALING ABILITY,
BUT THE NUMBERS SUGGEST A DIFFERENT STORY.
IT TURNS OUT OF ALL THE GIANTS' BATTERS,
ONLY THREE OF THEM HAD AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON--
WHITEY LOCKMAN, MONTE IRVIN
AND THOMSON, WHO WENT UP BY 120 POINTS.
ALL THE REST WENT DOWN DRAMATICALLY.
I WOULD LOVE TO FIND SOME SMOKING GUN THAT SAYS,
"HERE'S THE NUMBER THAT SHOWS THE GIANTS STOLE THE PENNANT."
I DON'T SEE IT.
Schreiber: NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE GIANTS' BATTING AVERAGE
ACTUALLY ROSE 17 POINTS ON THE ROAD
AND AT THE SAME TIME DROPPED 7 POINTS AT HOME.
THE PITCHING NUMBERS ARE EVEN MORE ENLIGHTENING.
FROM JULY 20th UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON
THE GIANTS' STAFF E.R.A. WAS A FULL POINT LOWER
THAN IT HAD BEEN EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
Branca: YOU CAN DO ALL THE STATS THAT YOU WANT,
ALL THE FIGURES. FIGURES LIE AND LIES FIGURE.
AND BASEBALL IS STILL PLAYED BETWEEN THE TWO WHITE LINES.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET ONE HIT
SOMEPLACE, SOMEHOW, KNOWING THE SIGNS.
THAT'S ALL YOU NEED, IS TO WIN ONE GAME
OUT OF 44 GAMES.
Schreiber: WHETHER OR NOT THE SIGN-STEALING HELPED THEM,
THE GIANTS HAD CLEARLY BECOME
A MORE CONFIDENT AND BRASH TEAM--
AN ATTITUDE THAT MIRRORED THEIR MANAGER
LEO DUROCHER.
Ernie Harwell: LEO HAD COME OFF THE STREETS
AND THE POOL HALLS OF NEW ENGLAND.
HE WAS A REAL HUSTLER.
AND HE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO WIN A BALLGAME.
PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS CONFIDENCE PERSONIFIED.
LEO WAS THE DAPPEREST MAN IN BASEBALL.
HE HAD CLOTHES MADE. HE HAD TIES MADE.
HE HAD SHOES MADE.
Angelo Ambrosio: SHARP AS A TACK. HE HAD A GOLD CHAIN.
HE HAD THAT SLICK HAIR.
Jerry Lewis: HE WAS NATTY-- I MEAN NATTY.
YOU COULD SMELL HIM THREE BLOCKS AWAY.
HE LOVED THE PERFUME AND STUFF.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS FRUITY WITH ALL THIS STUFF ON.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS KIND OF A HOLLYWOOD GUY.
AND HE DRESSED LIKE A HOLLYWOOD GUY.
HE TALKED LIKE ONE.
Maury Allen: HE LOVED THE SHOW BUSINESS CROWD.
HE HUNG OUT WITH ALL THE BIG SHOTS.
GEORGE BURNS AND DANNY KAYE AND THE MARX BROTHERS
AND DEAN AND MYSELF.
Roger Kahn: ONE SPRING TRAINING DEAN MARTIN AND JERRY LEWIS
WERE SHOOTING A MOVIE NEAR WHERE THE GIANTS WERE TRAINING.
AND NEITHER ONE OF THEM WAS SHY, SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK OUT
IN THE INFIELD WITH THE NEW YORK GIANTS.
DUROCHER SAID, "GREAT. LOVE TO HAVE YOU BOYS."
AND THE WHOLE DAY'S WORKOUT WAS DISRUPTED
BY THESE TWO CLOWNS KICKING GROUND BALLS.
DOES HE STILL LOSE HIS TEMPER THE WAY HE USED TO?
HE NEVER LOST HIS TEMPER.
WHICH LEO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
I USED TO PLAY CARDS WITH LEO.
AND HE WOULD YELL OUT, "I'M RAISING YOU!"
HE JUST WAS A VOLCANO.
LEO WAS ANGER PERSONIFIED.
Jerry Lewis: I NEVER SAW LEO PLAY.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TERRIBLE.
OH, HE'S LOOKING DOWN FROM UP THERE SAYING,
"I'LL GET YOU, YOU RAT BASTARD."
Schreiber: DUROCHER'S CONFIDENCE AND BRAVADO
WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO HIS BROOKLYN COUNTERPART--
THE INSECURE AND RESERVED
CHARLIE DRESSEN.
AS BROOKLYN'S LEAD STARTED TO EVAPORATE,
A JITTERY DRESSEN REACTED WITH CURIOUS MOVES
THAT PUZZLED HIS PLAYERS.
Branca: WHEN WE WERE GOING WELL, CHARLIE WAS KIND OF LOOSEY-GOOSEY.
AND THEN WHEN THE GIANTS GOT CLOSE, HE KIND OF TIGHTENED UP.
I THINK HE MADE SOME AWFUL MOVES.
HE RAN THE PITCHING STAFF INTO THE GROUND.
HE BASICALLY STARTED USING JUST FIVE PITCHERS.
Bill Gutman: CARL ERSKINE HAD AN ARM
THAT WAS BOTHERING HIM.
NEWCOMBE'S ARM TOWARD THE END OF THE SEASON
WAS GETTING TIRED.
DRESSEN WOULD CONSTANTLY SAY, "YOU'RE IMAGINING IT."
HE JUST DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.
WE'VE GOT 11 PITCHERS THAT ARE SOUND.
AND THEIR ARMS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE.
Branca: HE KNEW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT PITCHING--
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT PITCHING
YOU COULD PUT ON THE HEAD OF A PIN IN THE BOLDEST PRINT IN THE WORLD
AND YOU'D STILL HAVE ROOM FOR THE CONSTITUTION ON IT.
Schreiber: IN THEIR LAST 44 GAMES
THE BEST THE DODGERS COULD DO
WAS PLAY 500 BALL.
MEANWHILE, THE GIANTS WENT 37-7
AND FINALLY CAUGHT BROOKLYN WITH TWO GAMES LEFT.
STILL TIED ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON,
NEW YORK WENT TO BOSTON WHERE THEY BEAT THE BRAVES 3-1
ON A BOBBY THOMSON HOMER.
AFTER THE WIN,
THE GIANTS EXCITEDLY LOOKED TO PHILADELPHIA,
WHERE THE DODGERS WERE IN TROUBLE.
BROOKLYN TRAILED THE PHILLS 6-1
IN THE THIRD INNING OF A GAME THEY NOW NEEDED TO WIN
JUST TO FORCE A PLAYOFF.
GIANTS WIN EARLY. THEY'RE ON A TRAIN HEADING BACK
AND THEY'RE STARTING TO CELEBRATE A LITTLE.
WE HAD CHAMPAGNE ON ICE ON THE TRAIN.
WE WERE GONNA RIDE INTO GRAND CENTRAL STATION
AS THE NATIONAL LEAGUE PENNANT WINNERS.
Rand: I COULDN'T STAND IT. A PHYSICAL PAIN WAS GOING THROUGH ME.
AND I STARTED TO WALK. AND THEN SOMEONE SAID, "IT'S 8-5."
SO I WAS CONVINCED AT THIS POINT
THAT MY WALKING WAS MAKING THEM SCORE RUNS
AND IF I STOPPED MY WALKING
THEY'D STOP SCORING. AND IT WAS 8-6.
AND WHEN IT CAME 8-7, YOU SAY TO GOD,
"I'LL NEVER CURSE OR I'LL NEVER BE BAD TO MY PARENTS AGAIN
IF YOU JUST LET THEM WIN THIS GAME."
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MAKING A BARGAIN WITH GOD.
AND AS I'M WALKING, IT'S 8-8.
AND NOW THE PHILLIES ARE UP,
BUT THEY HAVE THE BASES LOADED.
AND WAITKUS HITS THIS LINE DRIVE. AND YOUR HEART SINKS.
Jules Tygiel: OUT OF NOWHERE ROBINSON APPEARS
AND SPEARS THAT BALL.
HE FELL WITH THE BALL IN THE GLOVE
AND IT HIT HIM IN THE STERNUM HERE.
SO IT KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF HIM AND WE THOUGHT, "OH MY GOD, HE'S GONE."
THEY THINK HE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.
AND IN FACT PEE WEE REESE HAS TO PUSH HIM OUT OF THE DUGOUT
IN THE NEXT INNING TO GET HIM BACK ON THE FIELD.
Gutman: THEN HE HIT A HOME RUN IN THE 14th.
SO JACKIE ROBINSON SINGLEHANDEDLY SAVED THE SEASON.
Rand: AND THE CHURCH BELLS RING IN BROOKLYN.
AND I WAS NOW MILES FROM HOME.
Schreiber: AFTER 154 GAMES,
A THREE-GAME PLAYOFF WAS NEEDED
TO DECIDE THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION.
THE DODGERS WON A COIN TOSS,
BUT DRESSEN SURPRISINGLY CHOSE
TO PLAY THE FIRST GAME AT HOME
WITH THE SECOND AND PIVOTAL THIRD GAME
SCHEDULED FOR THE POLO GROUNDS.
Maury Allen: THE FEELING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN BROOKLYN
AS WE GOT READY FOR THE FIRST GAME WAS--
THIS IS A BETTER WAY TO TORTURE GIANT FANS.
LET THEM TIE US ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON,
AND NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PLAYOFF
AND REALLY STICK IT TO 'EM.
Schreiber: IN GAME ONE, WITH RALPH BRANCA PITCHING,
BOBBY THOMSON HIT A TWO-RUN HOMER
IN A 3-1 NEW YORK WIN.
WITH TWO HOME GAMES LEFT,
GIANT FANS WERE BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN DRESSEN UNEXPECTEDLY SELECTED
LITTLE-USED PITCHER CLEM LABINE
TO START GAME TWO.
AND I WAS UP IN SECTION 20 SAYING,
"WE GOT 'EM. WE GOT 'EM."
WE GO TO THE POLO GROUNDS. WE WIN 10-NOTHING.
LABINE PITCHES A SHUTOUT. IT'S A JOKE.
Parker: THEY BEAT US
AND THEY DRAGGED OUR NOSES THROUGH IT.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.
Larry King: I'M JUMPING IN THE STREETS.
MY DODGERS ARE BACK. THE GIANTS ARE DEAD.
Parker: I JINXED THEM ON OCTOBER 2nd, 1951,
BY BEING THERE.
I COULDN'T GO BACK FOR GAME THREE.
IN FACT, I THOUGHT
THAT GAME THREE MIGHT END IN DISASTER.
Rand: I WENT TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT
AND I REMEMBER THE LINE BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS.
IT'S THE LAST LINE OF A BOOK HE WROTE CALLED "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK."
IT SAYS, "WE LIVE IN HOPE AND DIE IN DESPAIR."
AND I SAID, "MY GOD,
I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TOMORROW."
Irving Aks: I WAS IN THE STALL WITH MY BROTHER
WHO WAS A FLORIST ON PITKIN AVENUE IN BROOKLYN.
AND HE STARTS TO MAKE A FUNERAL WREATH.
AND I SAID, "RUBY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
HE SAYS, "MAKING THIS WREATH
WITH A 'SYMPATHY TO THE GIANTS' ON THE RIBBON."
AND HE SAYS TO ME, "WHEN BROOKLYN WINS
AND WE BEAT THE NEW YORK GIANTS,
WE'LL HOP OUT OF THE STANDS WITH THE WREATH
AND PLACE THE WREATH ON HOME PLATE.
WE'RE GONNA BURY THE GIANTS."
McLendon: After 156 games,
Da Bums from Brooklyn, the Giants from New York
have come down to the wire
to where it is all or nothing.
Stan Isaacs: IT WAS A DARK DAY, SORT OF A BLEARY DAY.
AND I THINK THERE WAS NERVOUS EXPECTATION WHEREVER YOU WENT.
I MEAN, THE FANS-- IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
THEY WERE AFRAID THEIR TEAM WAS GOING TO LOSE.
McLendon: It's the greatest show on earth--
the Brooklyn Dodgers' and the New York Giants'
final sudden-death-showdown playoff game.
Mrs. Joan Hodges: BOBBY THOMSON HAD PULLED UP AT THE POLO GROUNDS
AT THE SAME TIME GIL AND I DID
TO GO INTO THE BALLPARK.
AND HE SAID, "GIL, I'D LIKE TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU NOW
AND WISH YOU LUCK, BECAUSE ONE OF US
IS GONNA BE WALKING AWAY FROM HERE VERY HAPPY TODAY
AND WE MAY NOT GET THE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE."
THERE WAS TENSION. I REMEMBER TALKING
TO PEE WEE AND JACKIE AND SAYING,
"HEY, YOU GOT ANY BUTTERFLIES?"
McLendon: 20 years from now
the fans will be talking about this afternoon's hero,
as yet unknown,
but the man and the hour are about to meet.
AND THEN WHEN THE GAME STARTED WE DIDN'T DO TOO WELL IN THE BEGINNING.
McLendon: The pitch to Robinson,
swung on, driven down for a base hit in the hole.
Here's Pee Wee Reese around third on his way in to score,
running in. Dodgers lead 1-nothing.
Schreiber: THE DODGERS TOOK THAT 1-NOTHING LEAD
INTO THE SEVENTH,
BEHIND A DOMINANT DON NEWCOMBE.
WITH ONE OUT, MONTE IRVIN REACHED THIRD
AND UP CAME BOBBY THOMSON.
Thomson: I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT TIME AT BAT.
IT WAS THE TOUGHEST AT-BAT IN MY LIFE.
NUKE FELT LIKE HE WAS THROWING 130mph.
HE GOT AHEAD OF ME TWO STRIKES.
I WAS FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE,
CROUCHED OVER, SQUEEZING THAT BAT.
I HAD TO GET THAT RUN IN. HEY, WE WERE PLAYING FOR THE PENNANT.
McLendon: Long drive deep out of left field.
That will bring home the run. Back goes Snider.
He's under it. Irvin tags up.
Here he comes into the plate.
And it's a 1-1 tie in New York.
Schreiber: GIANT ELATION, HOWEVER,
WAS FLEETING.
McLendon: Robinson batting.
And the pitch gets away from Westrum.
Reese racing in to score. Dodgers lead 2-1.
Bobby Thomson, the Giants outfielder turned infielder,
bobbles a hard hit grounder
down the third-base line. Dodgers lead 3-1.
Sal delivers. Swings.
This one's down and off his glove into left field.
Robinson around third, on his way into the fourth Dodger run.
Dodgers lead 4-1.
Schreiber: WHEN THE DODGERS HELD THAT 4-1 LEAD
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH,
THOMSON, WHO HAD FAILED TO MAKE TWO PLAYS AT THIRD IN THE EIGHTH,
THOUGHT THE GIANTS' SEASON-LONG COMEBACK WAS FINISHED.
Thomson: I GET ON THE BENCH
AND NEVER MORE DEPRESSED IN MY LIFE.
I REMEMBER THROWING DOWN MY GLOVE,
THINKING WE JUST WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH
TO GO BEYOND THIS POINT.
Aks: I WENT TO BRING OUT THE WREATH.
I BROUGHT IT OUT AND I WAS HOLDING IT UP--
YOU KNOW, "SYMPATHY TO THE GIANTS."
WE WERE AHEAD, YOU KNOW, 4-1. THIS WAS IT.
George Spencer: MY GOSH, THE WAY NEWCOMBE'S PITCHING,
HE'S THROWING B.B.s.
YOU'RE SAYING, "IT'S GOTTA BE ALL OVER."
BUT IT WASN'T.
McLendon: Here's Alvin Dark--
the first hitter in the last half of the ninth.
THE COUNT IS 1-2 AND NEWCOMBE DOES THE RIGHT THING--
HE THROWS A WASTE PITCH.
IT'S GOING OUTSIDE.
AND DARK SWINGS AND HITS THE BALL
LIKE IT HAD EYES.
AND YOU KNOW THAT IT'S THE BEGINNING OF AGGRAVATION.
YOU JUST SENSE IT. YOU FEEL IT.
IT'S LIKE THE DREAD IS PALPABLE.
Schreiber: AT THAT POINT DRESSEN MADE
A SIMPLE YET COSTLY MISTAKE
BY FAILING TO NOTICE THAT GIL HODGES
WAS PLAYING TOO CLOSE TO THE FIRST-BASE BAG.
WITH A THREE-RUN LEAD, DRESSEN SHOULD HAVE TOLD HODGES
TO PLAY BEHIND THE RUNNER.
THE MUELLER BALL TO ME WAS A 3-6-3 DOUBLE PLAY.
IF HODGES IS POSITIONED CORRECTLY
AND IF IT'S NOT A 3-6-3 DOUBLE PLAY,
AT LEAST IT'S A FORCED OUT AT SECOND. AND THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Parker: THEN WHITEY LOCKMAN
PROCEEDS TO DOUBLE DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE.
AND NOW I'M OFF THE CHAIR, ALMOST RESTING ON THE GROUND
BECAUSE SOMETHING'S HAPPENING.
NOW IT'S 4-2 AND THE GIANTS HAVE SECOND AND THIRD.
Schreiber: THE GIANTS' RALLY
BROUGHT THE WINNING RUN TO THE PLATE.
BUT BEFORE THE GAME COULD CONTINUE,
AN INJURED DON MUELLER, WHO HAD SLID AWKWARDLY AT THIRD,
HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE FIELD.
DURING THE DELAY,
DRESSEN MADE HIS FATEFUL DECISION.
HE WOULD REMOVE NEWCOMBE
AND BRING IN HIS STARTER FROM GAME ONE-- RALPH BRANCA.
Branca: MY ARM WAS REALLY STIFF,
'CAUSE I HAD PITCHED EIGHT INNINGS ON MONDAY
AND PITCHED TWO INNINGS ON SUNDAY.
AND I JUST KEPT LOB-TOSSING
FROM 40'-45' JUST TO GET LOOSE.
Carl Erskine: RALPH AND I WERE OUT THROWING.
CHARLIE CALLS THE BULLPEN. CLYDE SUKEFORTH ANSWERED THE PHONE
AND HE SAID, "YEAH, THEY'RE BOTH READY."
"WHO'S GOT THE BEST STUFF?" CLYDE SAID, "THEY'RE BOTH THROWING OKAY."
AND HE BOUNCED A CURVE BALL JUST WHEN HE WAS TALKING TO HIM.
SUKEY SAID, "OH, ERSKINE JUST BOUNCED A CURVE."
WELL, I HAD THIS HARD OVERHAND CURVE BALL
THAT HAD TO BE LOW TO BE GOOD.
AND CAMPY CAUGHT ME THROUGH MOST OF MY CAREER.
CAMPY WAS HURT. RUBE WALKER WAS CATCHING.
DRESSEN SAID, "I DON'T WANT ANY WILD PITCHES IN THIS SITUATION."
Branca: AND THAT'S WHEN HE SAID, "GIVE ME BRANCA."
McLendon: Ralph Branca, who wears his number 13,
and will that be lucky for the Brooklyn Dodgers
here in the last half of the ninth?
Branca: I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER THE WALK
GOING FROM THE BULLPEN TILL I GOT TO THE INFIELD.
AND THEN I REMEMBER SEEING JACKIE AND PEE WEE
AND AGAIN SAYING, "ANY BUTTERFLIES?"
DUROCHER WAS COACHING AT THIRD.
I REMEMBER HIM PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND ME
AND SAYING, "BOBBY, IF YOU EVER HIT ONE,
HIT ONE NOW."
WELL, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
"LEO, YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND."
Branca: THEY GOT TO THE MOUND
AND CHARLIE SAID, "GET HIM OUT."
AND HE TURNED AND WALKED AWAY.
Thomson: I STARTED PSYCHING MYSELF UP,
TELLING MYSELF, "DO A GOOD JOB.
GIVE YOURSELF A CHANCE TO HIT, YOU S.O.B."
AND I GET TO HOME PLATE
AND THERE'S BRANCA ON THE MOUND.
I HADN'T EVEN BEEN AWARE THEY HAD CHANGED PITCHERS.
I WAS IN THE PARK ALL BY MYSELF.
Branca: THE CONCENTRATION IS SO DEEP
THAT YOU CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING.
THE ATOM BOMB COULD HAVE GONE OFF AT CENTERFIELD
AND I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE HEARD IT.
I WANTED TO GET AT HIM, SO THE FIRST PITCH WAS,
I MEAN, DEAD CENTER, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
Thomson: THE GUYS ON THE BENCH WANTED TO KILL ME
FOR TAKING THAT FIRST FASTBALL RIGHT OVER THE MIDDLE OF THE PLATE.
IN THE NEXT PITCH I WANTED TO GO UP AND IN, WASTE A FASTBALL.
AND I REMEMBER THE SECOND PITCH
COMING IN HIGH INSIDE.
AND I REMEMBER JUST GETTING A GLIMPSE OF IT
AND JUMPING ON IT.
McLendon: Branca throws. Bobby swings. There's a long line drive
to the left. Going, going, gone!
And the Giants win the pennant!
I don't know what to say.
I just don't know what to say.
It's the greatest victory of all baseball history,
as Bobby Thomson-- a two-on-base home run
in the last half of the ninth inning.
And the new National League champions
are the New York Giants.
This scene here is one of wild pandemonium
the like of which I have never seen.
Branca: I THREW THE ROSIN BAG DOWN.
AND THEN I WALKED TO CENTERFIELD,
WHICH, YOU KNOW, WAS A LONG WALK.
Thomson: I HEADED ON TO HOME PLATE.
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS SHOWBOATING,
TAKING THAT LAST BIG JUMP ONTO THE PLATE
INTO THE ARMS OF ALL THE GUYS
WHO WERE WAITING FOR ME.
I FELT LIKE I WAS KIND OF BUMPING ALONG THERE SOMEHOW,
WITH MY FEET NOT TOUCHING THE GROUND
AND HYPERVENTILATING.
AND I'M MAKING THESE CRAZY NOISES.
Branca: I REMEMBER GETTING IN THE LOCKER ROOM
AND I LAID DOWN ON THE STEPS.
I LET THE TEAM DOWN. I LET THE FANS DOWN.
I LET MYSELF DOWN.
Thomson: I ALMOST FELT NAUSEOUS
FOR A LITTLE WHILE FROM THE EXCITEMENT.
IT WAS WALL-TO-WALL PEOPLE.
YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET YOUR ARMS STRAIGHT UP.
DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GONNA HIT THAT HOMER?
I CERTAINLY DIDN'T. WHY, IT WAS JUST A DREAM ALL THE TIME.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S HAPPENED YET.
IT'S JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
DID HE PUT IT RIGHT DOWN FOR YOU?
NO, HE DIDN'T. HE PUT IT OVER MY HEAD
AND I JUST SWUNG AT IT. I JUST SEEN A FASTBALL COMING
AND I WAS JUST LUCKY IN HITTING IT, I GUESS.
BUT, BOY, IT SURE TURNED OUT GREAT.
- OH, YOU HIT IT GREAT, YOU SON OF A GUN. - TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
Branca: IT'S JUST HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE
THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. I REMEMBER TAKING A SHOWER
AND FEELING AWFULLY LONELY.
JACKIE WAS REALLY THE ONLY ONE CAME OVER
AND SAID SOMETHING-- "HEY, HANG IN THERE.
IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THE PLAYOFF."
Thomson: PEOPLE STARTED TO LEAVE.
AND THIS GUY REPRESENTING PERRY COMO
ASKED ME TO GO ON DOWN THERE.
"WE'D LIKE TO HAVE YOU ON 'THE PERRY COMO SHOW.'
WE'LL GIVE YOU $500." AND I THOUGHT, "OOH.
HEY, 500 BUCKS-- I COULD USE THE $500.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AT A MOMENT LIKE THIS
I JUST WANT TO GET HOME AND SHARE IT WITH MY FAMILY."
THE GUY SAID,
"WELL, BOBBY, WE REALLY WANT YOU DOWN THERE.
WE'LL GIVE YOU $1000."
"WELL," I THOUGHT, "FOR $1000
I GUESS THE FAMILY CAN WAIT."
Schreiber: LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER
THE GIANTS FACED THE YANKS IN A WORLD SERIES
THEY WOULD LOSE IN SIX GAMES.
ALTHOUGH THAT LOSS DID LITTLE TO DIMINISH THOMSON'S FEAT,
THE ADMISSION OF SIGN-STEALING
HAS BROUGHT THE HOME RUN'S CREDIBILITY INTO QUESTION.
BUT THOSE INVOLVED DENY ANY PLAYOFF LARCENY.
Corwin: THERE WAS JUST TOO MUCH TURMOIL
WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AND ALL THE DIGNITARIES
THAT WERE IN THE CLUBHOUSE. IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS
TO EVEN THINK OF DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I DEFINITELY REMEMBER
THE SIGNS WERE NOT GIVEN DURING THE PLAYOFFS,
BECAUSE LET'S LOOK AT THE FACTS.
BOBBY THOMSON HIT A HOME RUN OFF BRANCA
IN THE FIRST GAME AT EBBETS FIELD.
NOW DID THEY HAVE SOMEBODY SITTING IN THE CENTERFIELD SEATS
GIVING THE SIGNS AT EBBETS FIELD?
THE NEXT GAME WE MOVE OVER INTO THE POLO GROUNDS,
AND CLEM LABINE BEAT US 10-NOTHING.
NOW IF WE WERE GETTING THE SIGNS,
WE DIDN'T HAVE VERY MUCH TALENT.
NOW THE LAST GAME. WE'RE DOWN 4-1.
WERE THEY GETTING THE SIGNS THEN?
Schreiber: SAL YVARS
IS A LONE GIANT DISSENTER,
INSISTING TO THIS DAY
THAT HIS TEAM STOLE THE SIGNS
AND PERHAPS THE PENNANT.
I'M UP THERE AND I'M GIVING THE SIGNS.
BOBBY KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
OF COURSE I DIDN'T GET THE SIGNS. IT'S RIDICULOUS.
I'LL DISAGREE WITH HIM. I THINK HE GOT THE SIGN.
IT'S LAUGHABLE.
Branca: IF YOU WATCH HIM SWING AT IT,
HE ATTACKS THE BALL. HE LEAPS LIKE A TIGER
POUNCING ON SOME WOUNDED ANTELOPE.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE SIGNS YOU WANT IN THE WORLD,
BUT THE ANSWER'S NO.
THEY'LL NEVER TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM ME.
I'VE NEVER CLAIMED TOO MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE,
BUT NEVER BEEN A QUESTION IN MY MIND
THAT I WON THAT DAY
AND RALPH LOST.
Schreiber: DESPITE THE SPIRITED DEBATE,
THIS MUCH IS CERTAIN:
ON OCTOBER 3rd, 1951, AT 3:58,
IN THE GATHERING DUSK OF A GLOOMY FALL AFTERNOON,
SCOTTISH-BORN BOBBY THOMSON
HIT THE MOST SENSATIONAL HOME RUN
IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA'S PASTIME.
WITH ONE STUNNING SWING,
THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
ENDED A SUFFOCATING NEW YORK SUMMER
OF UNBEARABLE DRAMA AND TENSION
AND AFFECTED MORE LIVES IN MORE WAYS
THAN ANYONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED.
I WAS SITTING IN FOUL TERRITORY
AND I WAS SCREAMING, "CURVE! CURVE! CURVE!"
IT ONLY TOOK A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
BUT IT WAS GONE.
I JUST DROPPED THE WREATH
WHERE I WAS.
IT SEEMED LIKE NEW YORK
AND MAYBE THE WHOLE WORLD
STOOD STILL.
THERE WAS SILENCE EVERYWHERE
JUST FOR THAT FRACTION OF A SECOND.
ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYTHING BROKE LOOSE.
MY FATHER KICKS OVER THE LAMP.
I JUST START SCREAMING.
THE GIANTS WON.
I SAID, "THANK GOD THE GIANTS WON."
Leeds: PEOPLE ARE BANGING ON POTS
AND TEARING UP NEWSPAPERS AND PHONE BOOKS
AND THROWING THE STUFF OUT THE WINDOW.
TEARS ARE ROLLING DOWN MY CHEEKS.
I SCREAMED ALL OVER THE LOT. I RUINED EIGHT TAKES
ON NINE DIFFERENT MOVIES FROM MY CARRYING ON.
King: I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF TAKING MY LIFE,
BUT IT PASSED BY
ON OCTOBER 3rd.
AND THEN I HAD TO FACE THE PROSPECT OF SEEING DAVY FRIED.
DAVY FRIED WAS A RUB-IT-IN GIANT FAN.
SO AS WE ALL CAME HOME THAT NIGHT,
HE WOULD STAND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRAIN STATION
AND LAUGH--
JUST LAUGH.
THERE WERE DODGER FANS ALL OVER GLENDALE, QUEENS, WHERE I LIVED.
CARPY THE CAB DRIVER,
WHO USED TO TORMENT ME, WAS ON MYRTLE AVENUE.
HE SAW ME RUNNING THROUGH THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, TOOK OFF.
HE ALMOST HIT A FIRE ENGINE. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
Rob Oblas: THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 10 GUYS
STANDING IN FRONT OF MY BUILDING, YELLING,
"OBLAS, OBLAS, COME ON DOWN.
WE KNOW YOU GOTTA GO TO HEBREW SCHOOL TODAY."
SO HERE I COME DOWN WEARING A BLACK JACKET.
AND IT STARTS-- "HE'S IN MOURNING."
AND THE TEARS WANT TO COME,
BUT I WON'T LET THEM. AND THERE'S ONE FELLOW--
AND I WILL NEVER FORGET HIS NAME TILL THE DAY I DIE--
STEVE COOPER, WHO FINALLY SAID,
"LEAVE HIM ALONE. HE'S HAD ENOUGH."
Carl Prince: MY MOTHER TURNED THE TELEVISION OFF.
SHE WALKED INTO HER BEDROOM,
NEVER SAID A WORD, CLOSED THE DOOR.
MY FATHER WALKS IN WHITE-FACED.
HE SAYS, "WHERE'S MOM?"
"BEDROOM."
HE OPENS THE DOOR, TAKES ONE LOOK,
CLOSES THE DOOR.
HE SAID, "I'M MAKING SUPPER."
NOW MY FATHER NEVER BOILED AN EGG IN HIS WHOLE LIFE.
HE OPENED UP THREE CANS OF SPAGHETTIOS
AND POPPED THREE ROYAL CROWN COLAS.
MY MOTHER DID NOT COME OUT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING,
NEVER SAID A WORD ABOUT THAT BALLGAME.
I NEVER HAD THE COURAGE TO ASK.
Tygiel: THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
IS EMBEDDED IN OUR MEMORIES
LARGELY BECAUSE OF TWO ARTIFACTS
THAT SURVIVE THAT HOME RUN:
ONE IS THE NEWSREEL FOOTAGE
OF THOMSON HITTING THE HOME RUN;
AND THE OTHER IS RUSS HODGES'S FAMOUS CALL
"THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!"
Hodges: The Giants win the pennant!
The Giants win the pennant!
Tygiel: FOR MOST PEOPLE, WE THINK
THAT'S THE WAY AMERICANS EXPERIENCED THIS GAME--
HEARING RUSS HODGES MAKE THAT CALL.
BUT IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE FANS HAD THE OPTION
OF LISTENING TO THE GAME
ON THE DODGER NETWORK WITH RED BARBER...
Red Barber: Branca delivers a curve, swung on and belted.
Deep shot to left field. It is... a home run!
And the New York Giants win the National League pennant
and the Polo Grounds goes wild!
Tygiel: ...ON THE GIANT NETWORK
WITH ERNIE HARWELL AND RUSS HODGES.
THEY COULD HAVE LISTENED TO IT ON A NATIONAL HOOKUP ON THE MUTUAL NETWORK.
THERE WAS A LIBERTY HOOKUP WITH GORDON McLENDON.
IN ADDITION, THROUGHOUT THE NATION
THIS WAS THE FIRST NATIONALLY TELEVISED SPORTS EVENT.
SO THIS WAS A NATIONAL EVENT.
AND MOST PEOPLE DID NOT HEAR RUSS HODGES'S CALL,
EVEN THOUGH TODAY MOST PEOPLE
CAN HEAR THAT AND SEE THAT IN THEIR MIND.
Hodges: Branca throws. There's a long drive.
It's gonna be, I believe--
the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!
The Giants win the pennant!
Tygiel: THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE THAT
IS THAT A DODGER FAN IN BROOKLYN
WAS LISTENING TO THE GAME ON THE RADIO.
HE WAS SURE THE DODGERS WERE GOING TO WIN
GOING INTO THE NINTH INNING, AND SO WHAT HE DID WAS
HE WANTED TO TAPE NOT THE DODGERS IN VICTORY,
BUT HE WANTED TO HEAR HODGES HAVE TO CRY,
AS HE SAID, AS THE GIANTS LOST.
SO HE PUT ON HIS RADIO, ON TO THE GIANTS STATION.
HE PUT THE TAPE RECORDER NEXT TO THE RADIO.
AND HE ENDED UP RECORDING THIS FAMOUS CALL.
Hodges: And they're picking Bobby Thomson up
and carrying him off the field!
I GET MAD WHEN I HEAR THAT GUY'S VOICE.
I GET SO MAD. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MAD I GET.
FOR ABOUT 45 YEARS AFTER THE HOME RUN,
WHENEVER THEY WOULD PLAY THAT ON A TAPE OF SOMETHING,
I WOULD RUN OVER TO THE TV
AND IMMEDIATELY TURN IT OFF.
I'M GONNA GET OVER THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS.
IT WAS ONLY 50 YEARS AGO. YOU GOTTA GIVE ME TIME TO HEAL.
Hodges: The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!
The Giants win the pennant!
Schreiber: OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE TWO PRINCIPALS
LIFE AFTER THE HOME RUN WAS NEVER THE SAME--
THOMSON THE MODEST VICTOR,
AND BRANCA THE AFFABLE VANQUISHED,
WHOSE HARDSHIP WOULD CONTINUE UNRELENTING
FOR YEARS.
Branca: I DROVE HOME THAT NIGHT
TO BROOKLYN WITH ANN.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LONG, LONELY RIDE.
AND SHE STARTED TO CRY, 'CAUSE WE WERE GONNA
GET MARRIED IN 17 DAYS.
WHEN I GOT HOME, MY MOTHER AND FATHER
OF COURSE WAS DISAPPOINTED.
AND I THINK THEY BLED FOR ME.
MY MOTHER GOT A COUPLE PHONE CALLS-- "TEACH YOUR SON HOW TO PITCH."
YOU KNOW, THEY'D HANG UP. AND THAT'S REALLY VICIOUS.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WORKED AT THE TIME--
"OH, YOUR BROTHER STINKS," YOU KNOW, "YOUR BROTHER LOST THE GAME."
ANN GOING TO A GAS STATION AND GIVING HER CREDIT CARD,
AND THE GUY SAID, "HEY, YOUR HUSBAND THREW THE HOME RUN PITCH, RIGHT?
SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT NONSENSE.
HER COUSIN WAS THE DEAN OF CAMPUS MINISTRIES AT FORDHAM.
AND I SAID, "WHY ME?"
YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS IN SHAPE.
I DIDN'T DRINK OR SMOKE.
AND BASEBALL WAS MY LOVE. WHY ME?
AND HE GAVE A JESUIT ANSWER.
HE SAID, "GOD CHOSE YOU BECAUSE HE KNEW
YOUR FAITH WOULD BE STRONG ENOUGH
TO BEAR THIS CROSS."
Schreiber: LIKE HE HAD DONE COMING TO THE GAME,
BOBBY THOMSON RETURNED HOME ON THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY,
A HUMBLE HERO HIDDEN AMONG THE MASSES.
Thomson: MY BROTHER JIM WAS THE FIRST FAMILY MEMBER
I BUMPED INTO IN STATEN ISLAND.
I REMEMBER SAYING, "JIM, DON'T ASK ME
WHAT WENT ON UP THERE.
THE GOOD LORD HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.
AND HE SAID, "NO, BOB.
DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU DID?"
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF A STUPID QUESTION.
I SAID, "OF COURSE I DO. I WAS UP THERE."
AND HE SAID, "NO, BOBBY."
HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT
MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN."
AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I THOUGHT ANYTHING
OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT WE BEAT THE DODGERS THAT DAY.
NOBODY IN THE BALL FIELD AT THAT TIME
WOULD EVER HAVE THOUGHT THEY'D BE TALKING ABOUT THIS THING
50 YEARS LATER. CERTAINLY I DIDN'T.
♪ BECAUSE OF YOU ♪
♪ I SHOULD'VE NEVER ♪
♪ BEEN BORN... ♪
♪ BECAUSE OF YOU ♪
♪ BROOKLYN FANS ♪
♪ ARE FORLORN ♪
♪ BECAUSE OF YOU ♪
♪ THEY YELL, "DROP DEAD!" ♪
♪ SEVERAL MILLION... ♪
- Schreiber: FOR HALF A CENTURY, RALPH BRANCA... - ♪ WANT MY HEAD... ♪
- HAS CARRIED THE BURDEN OF BROOKLYN'S LOSS... - ♪ TO SEVER FOREVER ♪
YET SOMEHOW HE'S MANAGED TO DO IT WITH DIGNITY.
THE DAY AFTER GIVING UP THE HOME RUN,
BRANCA SHOWED UP AT THE WORLD SERIES,
GRACIOUS IN DEFEAT--
AN ATTITUDE HE'S COMFORTABLE WITH TO THIS DAY.
Branca: I WASN'T GONNA CRAWL UNDER A ROCK
AND STAY THERE. IT'S JUST A BALLGAME.
I HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.
I'M HAPPY WITH MY LIFE. I'M HAPPY WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED.
I'VE GOT A WONDERFUL WIFE. I'VE GOT TWO WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS.
I REALLY HAVE NO REGRETS.
Schreiber: IN THE YEARS SINCE THE HOME RUN,
BRANCA AND THOMSON HAVE EMBRACED THEIR MUTUAL MOMENT
NOT AS BITTER RIVALS,
BUT AS FRIENDS
BOUND TOGETHER IN THE HISTORIC DRAMA
OF THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD.
Branca: WE BOTH WORKED IN NEW YORK.
AND WE'D RUN INTO EACH OTHER ONCE IN A WHILE.
WE'D PLAY SOME GOLF TOURNAMENTS TOGETHER.
AND I'D SEE HIM AT SPORTS DINNERS
OR AT A BALLGAME HERE AND THERE.
AND I GOT TO LIKE HIM. AND WE BECAME FRIENDS.
THANK GOD IT WAS BOBBY,
BECAUSE HE'S A HUMBLE GUY.
Thomson: HE'S HAD TO LIVE WITH IT ALL THESE YEARS.
AND I TRIED TO APPRECIATE WHAT HE'D GONE THROUGH.
AND I FELT FOR HIM.
WE BOTH REALIZED WHO WE WERE,
AND THE FULL TERMS OF LIFE.
WITHOUT THAT MOMENT WE'D BE FORGOTTEN ABOUT,
AS FAR AS BASEBALL HISTORY GOES.
Branca: I STILL THINK
IT'S THE GREATEST MOMENT IN BASEBALL HISTORY.
Hodges: Branca throws. There's a long drive.
It's gonna be, I believe--
the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!
The Giants win the pennant!
Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck
of the left-field stands.
The Giants win the pennant and they're going crazy.
They're going crazy. Hey-oh!
♪ MY FAME IS SURE ♪
♪ THANKS TO YOUR ♪
♪ SUNDAY PITCH ♪
♪ UP HIGH OR LOW ♪
♪ I DON'T KNOW ♪
♪ WHICH IS WHICH ♪
♪ BUT COME NEXT SPRING ♪
♪ KEEP THROWING ME THAT THING ♪
♪ AND I WILL SWING ♪
♪ BECAUSE OF YOU. ♪
Schreiber: THIS HAS BEEN A PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.