RIP Ralph Branca

[mrmopar]

It's all relative, but there are plenty of Branca autographs to choose from at reasonable prices. If you needed something specific, maybe that was a bit harder. I don't know, never tried and this signing was something that just fell into my lap, so I took advantage. I do prefer the better cards signed and had a 52T already, so figured the RC was the choice.

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Branca easy to get? He was spotty TTM since 2004, and hasnt answered through the mail in 6 years! I guess it depends on what medium you'd want, but his signed 52 topps are not very plentiful.

He was at a show in White plains with Erskine, and I gladly spent the 25$ thrice, for 3 signed 52 topps

[irv]

Great story about the man.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidsei.../#7322f050c2f7

[Peter_Spaeth]

Interestingly, despite his mild and gracious personality, he was ejected from a 1952 World Series game for bench jockeying.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Interestingly, despite his mild and gracious personality, he was ejected from a 1952 World Series game for bench jockeying.

Maybe he thought they were stealing signs and he was p*ssed about that?

Sounds like Erskine wasn't up to the task so in went Branca. Not the best choice, but maybe the only one, as Thomson had hit Branca pretty good prior.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Branca

[Peter_Spaeth]

It wasn't generally known until years later that the Giants were stealing the signs. Afterwards, Thomson claimed he didn't get the signs on that last at bat, but Branca didn't believe him.

Don DeLillo's semi-fictional but pretty true to the action account of the game is stunning. He weaves together several story lines in addition to the game action including a kid from Harlem who comes up with the ball, Sinatra and Gleason, J. Edgar Hoover and the first Soviet H-bomb test, a Breughel painting, and Russ Hodges.