Giants Win The Pennant!

Max Power · 08-12-2002, 10:00 PM

Show of hands - how many know this story?

There's a reason why we have the audio clip of "The Giants Win The Pennant! The Giants Win The Pennant!"

Here goes - -

- - back in that day, they didn't shoot for tapes of games.

But, one Dodger fan was listening to the game and he had a plan. Looked like the Dodgers were going to win the game (and the flag). And, he really wanted to rub it in the face of his Giant fan friends. So, he set his recorder against the radio for the end of the game.

But, just hearing the Dodger win wasn't enough. He wanted to get the recording of the Giant announcers lamenting the loss (rather than the Dodger announcers trumpting the win). He thought this would torment his friends even more. Therefore, he switched the stations from the Dodgers' broadcast to the Giants' channel.

And, that's why we have "The Giants Win The Pennant!" clip - - because of some sadistic Dodger fan! How cool is that? To me, it's stories like this that make baseball history so much fun.

Most of you have heard this story, no?

TGwynn19 · 08-12-2002, 10:03 PM

I heard this recounted on the old Dick Enberg sports show "Sports Challenge". They had asked every conceiveable question about that game and that info came out on one of those shows.

VNV Nation · 08-13-2002, 03:55 AM

I think the interesting thing about Branca-Thomson is that it could not have happened today. Actually, I think it was an event that might have solidified the idea of having a stopper in the pen. Someone who was a legitimately good pitcher who could come in to get the final outs, not just a tired starter.

Branca gave up A LOT of home runs. The Giants had homered quite frequently off him that season (did they know what was coming? I bet they did), and Thomson had homered off him just two days before.

Or, maybe it could have happened.

The Mitch Williams-Joe Carter homer was somewhat similar. You could say that, in both cases, the pitcher was clearly not the guy to bring in at that time. No one seems to remember this, but following the 15-14 game in which the Jays just hammered Williams, Carter admitted that the Jays' eyes lit up when Mitch came into the game. It stuck with me because I don't think I had ever heard a batter say that about an opposing pitcher, especially in the middle of a postseason series, and I was thinking that when Carter came to the plate.

sweaver · 08-13-2002, 12:01 PM

I disagree, VNV. It could happen today, and you just illustrated how. Branca was a good pitcher, probably the best the Dodgers had available on the bench, and he may well have been the closer that year if teams did that at the time. The fact that Thomson hit well against him would surely have been known, these guys played each other 22 times a year, this was their 25th meeting!

rcartman28 · 08-13-2002, 12:50 PM

I think I heard this mentioned (about the Dodger fan who wanted to rub in to the Giants fan) when HBO had their feature about Thomson and Branca last year.....how ironic for how probably the most famous radio call in history was saved for the ages....

JamesI · 08-13-2002, 02:14 PM

that's cool. I hadn't heard that story.

Max Power · 08-13-2002, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JamesI
that's cool. I hadn't heard that story.

Aaaaaah, then my work here is done!

spitball · 08-13-2002, 06:26 PM

It IS a great story and IT IS why I love baseball.

08-12-2002, 10:00 PM	#1
Max Power NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: May 2002 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 5,548	Giants Win The Pennant! Show of hands - how many know this story? There's a reason why we have the audio clip of "The Giants Win The Pennant! The Giants Win The Pennant!" Here goes - - - - back in that day, they didn't shoot for tapes of games. But, one Dodger fan was listening to the game and he had a plan. Looked like the Dodgers were going to win the game (and the flag). And, he really wanted to rub it in the face of his Giant fan friends. So, he set his recorder against the radio for the end of the game. But, just hearing the Dodger win wasn't enough. He wanted to get the recording of the Giant announcers lamenting the loss (rather than the Dodger announcers trumpting the win). He thought this would torment his friends even more. Therefore, he switched the stations from the Dodgers' broadcast to the Giants' channel. And, that's why we have "The Giants Win The Pennant!" clip - - because of some sadistic Dodger fan! How cool is that? To me, it's stories like this that make baseball history so much fun. Most of you have heard this story, no? __________________ Steve, Forum Administrator "They come and they go, Hobbs. They come and they go." That's why there's NetShrine.com

08-13-2002, 12:50 PM	#5
rcartman28 NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Hudson, WI Posts: 1,408	I think I heard this mentioned (about the Dodger fan who wanted to rub in to the Giants fan) when HBO had their feature about Thomson and Branca last year.....how ironic for how probably the most famous radio call in history was saved for the ages.... __________________ I would have looked out for the water main. But that's just me..... Brett Favre

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Braves, Giants can clinch today	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	3	09-18-2003 10:52 PM
Giants clinch; Redsox set a record	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	4	09-18-2003 05:41 PM
Giants win the pennant	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	0	10-15-2002 06:20 PM
Angels win pennant; Giants a win away	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	0	10-14-2002 01:41 PM
ATM report--Devil Rays clinch last; Giants pass Dodgers; 1500 RBI for McGriff	nyy26wc	Around The Majors Reports	2	09-14-2002 01:29 PM

08-12-2002, 10:03 PM	#2
TGwynn19 Guest Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 2,087	I heard this recounted on the old Dick Enberg sports show "Sports Challenge". They had asked every conceiveable question about that game and that info came out on one of those shows.

08-13-2002, 03:55 AM	#3
VNV Nation Membership Suspended 11/19/02 Join Date: May 2002 Location: VNV Nation Posts: 2,952	I think the interesting thing about Branca-Thomson is that it could not have happened today. Actually, I think it was an event that might have solidified the idea of having a stopper in the pen. Someone who was a legitimately good pitcher who could come in to get the final outs, not just a tired starter. Branca gave up A LOT of home runs. The Giants had homered quite frequently off him that season (did they know what was coming? I bet they did), and Thomson had homered off him just two days before. Or, maybe it could have happened. The Mitch Williams-Joe Carter homer was somewhat similar. You could say that, in both cases, the pitcher was clearly not the guy to bring in at that time. No one seems to remember this, but following the 15-14 game in which the Jays just hammered Williams, Carter admitted that the Jays' eyes lit up when Mitch came into the game. It stuck with me because I don't think I had ever heard a batter say that about an opposing pitcher, especially in the middle of a postseason series, and I was thinking that when Carter came to the plate.

08-13-2002, 12:01 PM	#4
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	I disagree, VNV. It could happen today, and you just illustrated how. Branca was a good pitcher, probably the best the Dodgers had available on the bench, and he may well have been the closer that year if teams did that at the time. The fact that Thomson hit well against him would surely have been known, these guys played each other 22 times a year, this was their 25th meeting!

08-13-2002, 02:14 PM	#6
JamesI Netshrine Vacuum Cleaner Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Potsdam, N.Y. Posts: 3,723	that's cool. I hadn't heard that story.

08-13-2002, 06:26 PM	#8
spitball Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Studio City, Ca. Posts: 1,751	It IS a great story and IT IS why I love baseball.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)