Ralph Brancas baseball life will always be defined by one pitch.Branca, who gave up a home run to the Giants Bobby Thomson, the Shot Heard Round the World that cost the Brooklyn Dodgers the 1951 National League pennant, has died at the age of 90.?His son-in-law, former major league manager Bobby Valentine, said that Branca died Wednesday at a nursing home in Rye, New York. No cause of death was given. Valentine announced Brancas death on Twitter.Thomsons home run on Oct. 3, 1951, one of the most famous in baseball history, completed the Miracle of Coogans Bluff, the Giants climb from a 12?-game deficit in the NL.Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement that said in part, Ralph was a true gentleman who earned universal respect in the game he loved and served so well. Ralphs participation in the Shot Heard Round the World was eclipsed by the grace and sportsmanship he demonstrated following one of the games signature moments.He is better remembered for his dedication to the members of the baseball community. He was an inspiration to so many of us.Branca was born in 1926, the 15th of 17 children, and was raised in Mount Vernon, New York, just north of New York City. He arrived in the major leagues as an 18-year-old in 1944.On April 15, 1947, Branca was standing next to Jackie Robinson during pregame ceremonies as Robinson prepared to break baseballs color barrier. Mindful of the death threats that had been made against Robinson, Brancas brother John worried that he could have been collateral damage in any attempt on Robinsons life.What if the guys a lousy shot, John Branca asked.Then I wouldve died a hero, Ralph answered.Branca went on to have his best season in 1947, posting a 21-12 record with a 2.67 ERA. He became the second-youngest pitcher to win 20 games and earned the first of his three consecutive All-Star Game selections.Branca to me was a hero. I admired him so much, Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda said in a statement released by the Dodgers. Ralph and I became very close, my family and his family. I always enjoyed being around him. He was a tough one in every way and I really admired him.Branca pitched in the major leagues for 12 seasons, posting an 88-58 record, but hes best remembered for the home run he gave up to Thomson.The Dodgers held a 4-2 lead in the third game of a three-game playoff against the Giants when Branca came on in relief of Don Newcombe with one out and two men on. Thomson hit Brancas second pitch down the left field line for the game-winning home run.Later Branca recalled sitting with a priest and family friend, asking why this had happened to him.Because, he was told, youre strong enough to bear it.Branca and Thomson, wedded in baseball lore, later forged a friendship that carried through appearances and card shows. Thomson died in 2010 at the age of 86.I was closer to Ralph than to any other Dodger. We traveled around the world and became very good friends, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully said in the Dodgers statement. He carried the cross of the Thomson home run with dignity and grace. I was grateful for his friendship and I grieve at his death. He was a great man.When he retired, Branca became a financial executive, selling insurance policies. He appeared as a contestant on the game show Concentration in 1963, winning 17 consecutive times. And he became a driving force behind the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) that helps former ballplayers who fall on hard times.Branca and his wife, Ann, had two daughters, Patricia and Mary. Valentine married Mary Branca in 1977. Wholesale NFL Jerseys Authentic . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Jerseys China . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. http://www.authenticnfljerseys.net/ . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Brian Sears appears on the ballot for harness racings Hall of Fame for the first time later this summer.Sears could burnish his credentials with another victory Saturday night in the $732,050 Meadowlands Pace for 3-year-olds when he drives Control The Moment.Sears won the Meadowlands Racetracks signature event with Rocknroll Hanover in 2005.It was one of the career highlights for Sears, a third-generation horseman, who has won over $172 million to rank fifth all time. Sears, 48, is closing in on 10,000 wins.He was the only candidate approved by the Hall of Fame screening committee earlier this month at Goshen, N.Y.Previous Hall of Fame inductees and members of the United States Harness Writers Association will consider Sears candidacy in August. He needs 75 percent of the votes cast for induction.No doubt, it is a big honor, Sears said.Until then, Sears is focused on more immediate goals -- starting with the Pace.Control The Moment, the 5-2 second choice, captured the Pace elimination last week with a lifetime-best 1:49 2/5 mile. It was a welcome return to form for the colt voted best juvenile pacer in Canada last season.And for the first time, Sears was in the sulky.He had been in a number of tough situations with a lot of pressure put on the horse due to the fact he was such a great colt coming back as a 3-year-old, Sears said. There were a lot of expectations.It was an impressive win, with Control The Moment rocketing past rivals in deep stretch to log hiss 10th victory in 15 starts.ddddddddddddI was really pleased with the effort, Sears said. It was a nice trip. Those horses were coming back to me a little bit. My horse hadnt been used.Control The Moment starts from post 3.Racing Hill, the 9-5 favorite, starts alongside in post 4. The winner of the Hempt Stakes at Pocono Downs received a bye into the Pace final.Speed is Racing Hills best asset, setting up what could be a lively battle for the early lead.With my spot, Im obviously in a position where we have to go forward, Sears said. I have to be aggressive myself and make decisions from there. Im sure there will be a few of them leaving out of there.The biggest supporting event on the Pace night card is the $471,800 William Haughton Memorial for older pacers featuring the big three in the division: Always B Miki, Freaky Feet Pete and Wiggle It Jiggleit, the defending Harness Horse of the Year and the 2015 Meadowlands Pace winner.The full field for the Meadowlands Pace, in post position order with drivers and odds: Another Daily Copy, Trace Tetrick, 30-1; Good Living, Corey Callahan, 30-1; Control The Moment, Sears, 5-2; Racing Hill, Brett Miller, 9-5; Lyons Snyder, David Miller, 9-2; Boston Red Rocks, Tim Tetrick, 6-1; Manhattan Beach, Joe Bongiorno, 20-1; JK Will Power, Yannick Gingras, 8-1; Check Six, Matt Kakaley, 15-1 and Talk Show, Scott Zeron, 25-1. ' ' '
