o/t bobby thomson dies

[M's_Fan]

I recommend "The Echoing Green" by Joshua Prager. It tells the untold story about the shot heard around the world, and how the Giants were stealing their opponents signals and signaling them to the batter. Bobby actually admitted this to Branca and apologized just a few years ago. I admire Bobby for many reasons. May he rest in peace.



http://www.amazon.com/Echoing-Green-...p/0375421548#_

[tbob]

I doubt if any baseball player had to endure the numbing pain and tragedy that Ralph Branca had to endure. In that era, baseball was king and no sport came close. I haven't read the book but I wonder how Branca felt all these years later when it was revealed that Thomson knew what was coming thanks to the signs having been stolen all day long.

Father Pat Rowley, was a priest. When Branca asked: "Why me?" Father Pat told him, "Because God knew your faith would be strong enough to bear this cross."

[Peter_Spaeth]

If the signs were stolen all day why did they scratch out one run through 8 innings?

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

RIP Bobby. We all could take a lesson on classiness from his example.

Funny, I just happened upon the tape of the 1993 interview I conducted with him.

[cubsguy1969]

Anyone ever read Don DeLillo's "Underworld"? The prologue, "Pafko at the Wall," is a fictionalized account of a bunch of people (Sinatra, Hoover, Gleason, Toots Shor, Russ Hodges, along with a black kid from Harlem who somehow snags the ball) at the scene of Thomson's shot. Brilliant piece of writing.

Also, here's a delightful clip from Ernie Harwell about "The shot." What a charming man he was.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiZuVXYa43E

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by cubsguy1969

Anyone ever read Don DeLillo's "Underworld"? The prologue, "Pafko at the Wall," is a fictionalized account of a bunch of people (Sinatra, Hoover, Gleason, Toots Shor, Russ Hodges, along with a black kid from Harlem who somehow snags the ball) at the scene of Thomson's shot. Brilliant piece of writing.

Also, here's a delightful clip from Ernie Harwell about "The shot." What a charming man he was.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiZuVXYa43E

It is a superb piece, truly brilliant.

[danc]

I first met him in regards to an article I was writing about the whereabouts of the ball for a horrible weekly publication.

A year later, DeLillo would dedicate the first 10% of his book to the event and throughout as a collector who was enthralled by the event.

A few weeks after the publication of Underworld, I get a phone call and it's Bobby, asking what this "Underworld" was? I explained to him, and he noted that he would very much like to meet the author, who is quite private.

I contacted DeLillo, who I knew a little at the time, and the two had lunch a few weeks later. A few months later I met up with Thomson for lunch.

His health had been bad the last few years and he will be missed. He was one of my favorite athletes as he treated everyone with kindess.

DanC

[tbob]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

If the signs were stolen all day why did they scratch out one run through 8 innings?

Well, Peter, you might know a fastball is coming but you still have to hit it!