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Ralph Branca

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Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca (born January 6, 1926 in Mount Vernon, New York) was a Major League Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, and New York Yankees from 1944 to 1956. Branca was known as a very good starting pitcher with his years in Brooklyn. Unfortunately, he is also remembered for one infamous relief appearance in a 1951 playoff game against the crosstown rival New York Giants. Branca entered the game in the ninth inning and surrendered a walk-off home run known as "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" to Bobby Thomson giving the Giants the National League pennant. Branca is also the father-in-law of former player Bobby Valentine.