The Shot Heard Around The World - Bobby Thomson

MeteoriteGuy

Hello all,

Growing up I always considered the hit over rated. It is however a piece of history.




Dear Kelly,

To try to answer your question...
First of all, losing 4 to 1, last half of the ninth inning, Newcombe looking very strong in the eighth, I didn't think I would get a chance to bat.

When my time came to bat I told myself to get up there and "give yourself a chance to hit." This means not getting over anxious. Keep my weight back, wait for the ball. I was talking to myself to "wait and watch - wait and watch" - - watch the ball of course. I also became very determined along with my deep concentration.

When the pitch came I had the luck and good fortune & hit the ball out of the park.

With my Best Wishes,
Bobby Thomson

"Brooklyn leads it, 4-2. Hartung down the line at third, not taking any chances. Lockman without too big of a lead at second, but he'll be running like the wind if Thomson hits one. Branca throws. There's a long drive. It's gonna be, I believe -- The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant! And they're going crazy! They're going crazy! Oh-ho!" - Giants announcer Russ Hodges




Clear Skies,
Mark

(Edit to correct spacing in letter.)

jimq112

That's great, thanks for sharing it!

If Thomson hadn't hit the home run the next batter was a young kid named Mays. I wonder how he would have handled the pressure, and how it would have affected his career?


jim

Estil

Wanna know an even more startling concidence? Check out this sound-a-like player who also played for the Giants for 11 years:
Robby Thompson; Giants (1986-1996)

perkdog

That is cool,Thank You. I find it hard to believe you think the hit was overated though!

TNTonPMS

I don't think it is over rated .
I also had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Bobby Thompson at his home in N.J.

I work building and repairing and relining chimney's and one of the customers names that day was Thompson .

So I got to the house and a woman answered the door and let me in and one of the first things she says is , " Are you a baseball fan "?

I said yes I am , she says " Have you ever heard the saying " The Shot heard around the World "?

I said yes I have heard that saying , she says , " Well that's who's house you're in Bobby Thompson is my father , He'll be right down .
Obviously very proud of her father as any daughter would be .

That was probably one of the coolest jobs I ever did .
I hate to ask for autographs because I feel like I might be bothering people and I don't want to seem like a pain in the behind , so the only autograph I got that day was the one on the invoice for the job .

I couldn't wait to come back to NY and stop at my grandfather's house and tell him the story and show him the invoice .

perkdog

Great story TNT! Good for you

TNTonPMS

Thanks Mr. Perkdog .
Yea, I don't think I could ever forget that day .
You know when I was driving away that day talking to the guy I was working with that day we talked about all the baseball bats downstairs in the basement and stuff , wishing I had the guts to ask him if I could have one of them, but that is just not in my nature to ask for anything , but I wish it was .

In a way I had wished I had forgot to do something so I could return and finally get up the nerve to ask

MeteoriteGuy

Neat story TNT.

The only reason I have thought the hit overrated Perkdog is that while growing up, it was always considered one of the top three baseball moments of all time.

Your Mays question is interesting Jim. The hit was Thomson's biggest moment it is fair to say, and perhaps even annoucer Russ Hodges most famous moment. It always seemed to me growing up, Mays was better known for his glove then his bat. This might be perhaps my childhood take on the man, but I imagine if he had made that hit, he would be known equally as a hitter?

Clear Skies,
Mark

TNTonPMS

I would like to post a scan of the invoice from the job , the only thing I want to know is , it has some personal information on the invoice , address, telephone number .

Would I be breaking any kind of laws or rules by posting the invoice , or should I just black it out ?

fiveniner

Overated?? Not!!However there have been several other instances,Mazeroski 1960 WS Homer,Joe Carter early 90s Homer both game winners.

TNTonPMS

I would never want to risk anyones safety or personal privacy , so I just blacked out the addy and his numer just to be safe .

TNTonPMS

I know this for certain though . . .
His daughter don't think it is over-rated, that is for sure .
She made sure I knew it in the first 15-20 seconds I was in the house .

I couldn't imagine being the son or daughter of the person that did something historical like that , especially in something as popular as baseball .

I just love the fact of her being and feeling so proud, that was very evident indeed.

But there have been some incredible shots hit . . .
I'm not sure where I would place that on a scale but .

TNTonPMS

Interesting . . . I never noticed until today that it was signed Robert Thompson . . . .