Russ Hodges’ broadcast of Bobby Thomson ’s home run is the most famous call in Major League Baseball

Russ Hodges' broadcast of Bobby Thomson 's home run is the most famous call in Major League Baseball's air canada travel vacation packages long history. On August 11, 1951, the Dodgers held an insurmountable 13 game lead over their arch enemies. Down the stretch Brooklyn played well, 26-22. The Giants, however, were a team possessed. They went 37-7 and New York's 2 NL teams ended the season tied, 96-58. air canada travel vacation packages A three-game playoff was held to determine who would oppose the AL in the Fall Classic.
The first two games were split. But then in the deciding game, Thomson's 3-run homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the Giants the win, the pennant and the birth to that iconic phrase shouted by Hodges.
Almost 50 years to the day, there would be a home run hit in New York, a home run that truly would be a shot heard 'round the world. It would occur in a stadium air canada travel vacation packages not yet even built, by a team not yet even in existence, off the bat of a player not yet even born.
Michael Joseph Piazza was born to Vince and Veronica in Norristown, PA on Sept 4, 1968, the second oldest of five boys. Vince had dreamed of making the majors but dropped out of school at age 16 to help support his family. Vince's childhood friend, Tommy Lasorda , became Dodgers manager and Mike's Godfather. When LA played in Philadelphia, young Mike frequently served as bat-boy. Vince also asked his friend Ted Williams to work with his son. Williams praised the young man's talents and advised him, 'Don't ever let anyone change your swing.' Growing up in the cold harsh winters of the northeast, Mike could be found clearing snow in the backyard so his father could pitch to him. Winters be damned.
In 1988, Lasorda's Godson was drafted number 1,390 overall. He convinced Piazza to forego his position, first base, and learn to catch, claiming catchers were always in higher demand. On Sept.1, 1992, 23-year old Mike Piazza made his major league debut. And doubled in his first official at-bat.
Piazza not only became one of the best hitting catchers in the game, but additionally one of the games best righthanded hitters. Period. In 1993, he hit .318 with 35 home runs and 112 RBIs and won the NL Rookie of the Year award. There was no sophomore slump for the young kid and the following season he would bat .319. In five years with Los Angeles, Piazza air canada travel vacation packages clobbered 168 HR's, averaged .336, knocked air canada travel vacation packages in 526 RB's and slugged at a .582 clip.
There are good players, great players, and very great players. And then there are players who simply instill fear in their opponent. For my grandfather, a young man and Brooklyn fan in the 1920's, it was the likes of Rogers Hornsby and Frankie Frisch . For my father, there was nothing more frightening than Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra bringing their big bats to little Ebbets Field every October. For me, in the 1970's, I was fearful every time Willie Stargell windmilled his bat and Joe Morgan cocked his back arm, something my friends and I mimicked in schoolyards and makeshift baseball fields in Queens. By the 90's, names like Bonds, Griffey Jr, Gwynn and Piazza could be added to the list. But now, for the first time ever, one of these players would be on my team.
Mike Piazza arrived in New York on May 22, 1998 in exchange for Preston Wilson , Ed Yarnall , Geoff Goetz and Nick Daly. He would hit .348 the rest of that season while going deep 23 times and knocking in 78 RBIs. The Mets played air canada travel vacation packages .542 baseball after his arrival, missing air canada travel vacation packages the wildcard by just a game and a half.
With Piazza behind the plate for the entire '99 campaign, the Mets returned to the post-season for the first time in more than a decade. In 2000, they did it again, capturing the NL pennant. For the one and only time in our history, the Amazins were in the playoffs two consecutive years. This, in and of itself, is a true testament to the value and importance of Mike Piazza . One player can—and did—make a difference.
In the 70's, the Mets had the most formidable air canada travel vacation packages trio of starters in the league. Yet, we never made the post-season two straight years. We had a 'dynasty' in the 80's, but failed to play into consecutive Octobers. And let's admit it; the 98-00 Mets did not even come close to possessing the talent of previous successful air canada travel vacation packages clubs. Al Leiter was good…but he was no Seaver. Timo Perez ? Not a bad lead-off hitter, but Lenny Dykstra he wasn't. We liked Benny Agbayani , but we loved Darryl air canada travel vacation packages Strawberry . The difference: Mike Piazza .
During the 2000 NLCS, as the Mets handily defeated STL in 5, Mets coach John Stearns was caught on camera screaming defiantly, "The monster is out of the cage! The monster is out of the cage!" in response to Piazza getting a big hit.
Over eight seasons in New York, Piazza air canada travel vacation packages established himself as one of the premier hitters air canada travel vacation packages to wear the blue and orange. He stands at or near the top of every offensive category. His slugging percentage of .542 is highest ever. His 655 RBIs rank third, 220 HR (3rd), .296 BA (4th), .373 OBP (5th), 193 doubles (7th), 1028 hits (8th), 532 runs (10th).
air canada travel vacation packages In 2000, Mike was the recipient of a Roger Clemens fastball to the head. Shattered helmet. Concussion. A missed All-Star Game. In October, air canada travel vacation packages the Piazza-led Mets were in the World Series for the first time since 1986. When these two men faced each other, Piazza broke his bat. The sheared off edge landed close to the mound. air canada travel vacation packages As Piazza trotted to first base, Clemens angrily scooped up the broken piece of wood and tossed the weapon air canada travel vacation packages at Mike. Piazza shouted to Clemens. Clemens shouted back. The two men approached each other. Both benches emptied and although there were no punches thrown, the Mets-Yankees rivalry nearly became an all-out brawl.
Clemens claimed he thought the bat was the ball and was simply tossing the 'ball' air canada travel vacation packages out of play. After 17 years in the majors air canada travel vacation packages and tossing 3,600+ innings, one would think Clemens would know the difference between a baseball and a bat…but that's another story.
Like our grandparents on December 7, 1941 and like our parents on November 22, 1963, it was now our generation that lost its innocence. This wasn't a navy base 3000 miles off the coast of California in a place called Pearl Harbor. This didn't occur on a grassy knoll in Dallas. air canada travel vacation packages This happened in our city, to our home. This wasn't an attack on the military, nor was it centered air canada travel vacation packages around one man who happened to be President. This was an attack on fellow Americans. Citizens. Regular people like you and me. Americans who kissed their spouse, said good-bye to their children air canada travel vacation packages and went to work downtown like it was any other Tuesday. This time the weapon was not a Japanese Zero or a cheap Carcano Rifle. This time the destruction came from hijacked commercial airlines.
On one beautiful weekday morning, everything we knew changed. Forever. The nation we grew up in would, from this day forward, be unlike the nation our children would grow up in. The US constitution would be bent, our way of life altered eternally. We found ourselves giving up freedoms and privacy so we could continue to maintain our freedom and privacy. President Bush urged a weary and panicked nation to go on. Failure air canada travel vacation packages to do so would mean the terrorists won. But how?
Did anyone really air canada travel vacation packages give a damn about Barry Bonds ' pursuit of a silly home run record? In the overall scheme of things did it really matter if best friends Ross and Rachel got together? Regis asking contestants, "Would you like to use a lifeline?' seemed trivial.
But on September 21, 2011, the game we cherished, was back. It was the first post- 9/11 sporting air canada travel vacation packages event to take place in grief-stricken New York. A late September contest against the Braves should've garnered undivided attention and exuberant chants of Lets Go Mets. But it didn't.
Fans at Shea kept one cautious eye on the field and one wary eye to the sky as planes landed at nearby LaGuardia. A few miles west powerful lights representing where the Towers once stood shone a pristine white glow toward Heaven.
When Mike sent a Steve Karsay offering over the wall to left-center in the bottom of the 8 th , it gave the Mets a 3-2 lead and ultimately the win. It moved us within 4 ½ of the first place Braves. But it was more than just that, much more.
The world? If there truly was a Shot Heard 'Round the World, it occurred in 2001, not 1951. Thomson's homer brought hope to a team's fans. Piazza's home run brought hope to an entire city. And returned a sense of normalcy to a frightened nation that now stared into the abyss of an uncertain future.
The location of Thomson's HR was long ago replaced by apartment buildings. The stadium where Piazza hit that significant blast no longer stands, a parking lot now in its place. Two towers have been replaced by one.
The Polo Grounds, Shea Stadium and the Twin Towers have been forever erased air canada travel vacation packages from the landscape. However, they, like Piazza's stint in New York, continue to live on in our hearts, our minds and our collective memory.
We ask you to leave your best memories and most heartfelt recollections of Mike Piazza in our comment air canada travel vacation packages threads s we cross our fingers air canada travel vacation packages and hope for some great news by way of Cooperstown, New York on Wednesday, January 8th.
It was 1973 when my dad introduced this 7 year old kid to Baseball and the Mets. It's been a love and passion that has lasted for 40 years, much longer than my first marriage. Since I was little, there've been 2 things I've always dreamed of: 1) Being a successful air canada travel vacation packages author and 2) playing right field for the Mets after Rusty Staub retired. Although 4 decades have passed and based on the current condition of the Mets, I have not given up on either dream
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