Ralph Branca Autographs
Ralph Branca was born in 1926 in Mount Vernon, New York. He grew up playing baseball, and by the age of 15, he was scouted by the Brooklyn Dodgers. After serving in World War II, Branca signed with the Dodgers in 1946 and made his debut as a pitcher in 1947. That same year, he became a household name when he faced off against the New York Giants' Bobby Thomson in what would become known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." In the bottom of the ninth inning of a playoff game, Thomson hit a home run off Branca that secured the Giants' victory and a spot in the World Series. Despite this setback, Branca went on to have a successful 12-year career in the majors, pitching for the Dodgers, Tigers, and Yankees.
Throughout his career, Branca was known for his strong pitching arm and fierce competitiveness. He was a three-time All-Star and finished in the top ten for the National League Cy Young Award four times. In addition to his standout performances on the mound, Branca was also a vocal advocate for racial and religious equality in baseball. He spoke out against discrimination and was a supporter of Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in the major leagues in 1947. Branca was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1982 and served as the president of the Baseball Assistance Team, a non-profit organization that assists former players in need of medical, financial, or psychological support.
After retiring from baseball in 1959, Branca worked as a stockbroker and later served as a special assistant to the Dodgers' president. He remained active in the baseball world, attending events and staying in touch with his former teammates and rivals. Branca passed away in 2016 at the age of 90, but his legacy as a talented pitcher and a champion of equality in sports lives on.
Read more about Ralph Branca on Wikipedia
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Current items with a signature of Ralph Branca
These are the most current items with a signature of Ralph Branca that were listed on eBay and on other online stores - click here for more items.
Traded items with a signature of Ralph Branca
The most expensive item with a signature of Ralph Branca (SIGNED GIANTS JERSEY BY BOBBY THOMSON AND RALPH BRANCA) was sold in August 2010 for $799.00 while the cheapest item (Ralph Branca Famous HR 51 Giants Pitch Signed Card C769) found a new owner for $0.75 in April 2011. The month with the most items sold (24) was April 2025 with an average selling price of $27.24 for an autographed item of Ralph Branca. Sold items reached their highest average selling price in April 2014 with $175.00 and the month that saw the lowest prices with $1.25 was August 2024. In average, an autographed item from Ralph Branca is worth $14.99.
Most recently, these items with a signature of Ralph Branca were sold on eBay - click here for more items.
Ralph Branca signed Baseball Trading Cards by Manufacturer
Latest News about Ralph Branca
Jackie Robinson Teammate Ralph Branca Reflects On Anniversary (04/15/2013): It was 66 years ago today when Jackie Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers and broke Major League Baseball's color barrier. Ralph Branca recalls friendship with Jackie Robinson (04/11/2013): The new movie "42" tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the man who broke baseball's color barrier, to whole new generation. Ralph Branca was Robinson's teammate. Ralph Branca is new chairman of Staten Island Chamber of Commerce (01/24/2013): Branca was among the Chamber's executive and Foundation board members due to take the oath of office, along with its board of directors for 2013 
Dodger Ralph Branca Joins Stamford American Party (05/07/2012): STAMFORD, Conn. – Brooklyn Dodger legend Ralph Branca led ballplayers young and old in helping to usher a new season in Stamford American Little League Sunday at Caporizzo Field. Branca, 86, tossed out a ceremonial first pitch to Nico Laveris, a player on Instant Replay in ... Ralph Branca on payback and being Jackie Robinson's friend (04/15/2012): By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff Ralph Branca, who threw out the first pitch today, told a great baseball story when...
Older News Stories about Ralph Branca
Ralph Branca, former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher, steals show from Red Sox at charit (01/2012): By JIMMY GOLEN BOSTON — Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine and former GM Theo Epstein planned to talk a little baseball and raise a little money for charity. Dorfman: Ralph Branca relives 'The Shot' (09/2011): Became friends with Bobby Thomson Rabbi Joshua Hess: Ralph Branca: A Tale of Two Faiths (08/2011): Ralph Branca, who had a successful but short pitching career as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers, is mostly remembered as the pitcher who surrendered Bobby Thompson's famous 1951 homer.
