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By Rick Erickson - It was October 3, 1951, and the New York Ginats hadn't won pennant since 1937. As late as mid-August, they,d trailed the favored Brooklyn Dodgers by 13 games. But the giants, led by former Dodgers skipper Leo Durocher, went on a tear, and the two teams finished the season in a dead heat. Now the best-of three playoff was knotted at a game apiece.
Today's finale, played at the Polo Ground was for all the marbles. Dodgers ace Don Newcombe held a 4-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. Three quick outs and the flag would fly in Brooklyn. But Alvin Dark and Don Mueller quickly singled to open the inning. An out later, Whitey Lockman doubled, scoring Dark. Mueller, injure on his way to third, was pulled for a pinch-runner. Two men on, two run down. Up came Bobby Thomson, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, converted to a third baseman earlier in the season.
His replacements in center field, rookie Willie Mays, watched anxiously from the on-deck circle. With Newcombe out of gas, Brooklyn manager Dressen went to his bullpen. Number 13, Ralph Branca, was a loose and ready. Branca had surrender a pair of homer to Thomson earlier in the season, but he was a the best man available. The big lefty's firs offering was a fast ball over the plate.
Thomson took it for strike one. The 1-0 pitch came slightly high and inside. One swing of the bat and the ball was sailing over the left fence, while Giants announcer Russ Hodges roared the most famous call in baseball broadcasting history over into the microphone, "THE GIANT WIN THE PENNANT" THE GIANT WIN THE PENNANT".
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