he was tenth in the NL in ERA (3.26). In the final game of the best-of-three 1951 National League tie-breaker series at the Polo Grounds against the crosstown rival New York Giants, Branca entered the game in relief of Don Newcombe in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and Whitey Lockman on second base and pinch runner Clint Hartung on third base and surrendered a walk-off home run, which became known as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" to Bobby Thomson, giving the Giants the pennant. Prior to facing Thomson, Branca had been warming up in the bullpen with Carl Erskine. Dodgers coach Clyde Sukeforth noticed that Erskine was bouncing several curveballs in the dirt and instructed manager Charlie Dressen to call on Branca—this despite Thomson having homered off Branca in Game 1. While it has been confirmed that the Giants executed a sign-stealing system, the lone dissenter is Sal Yvars. The rest of the team, including Brooklyn centerfielder Duke Snider, say there was "no playoff larceny" during the 3-game playoff, as the Commissioners Office was present, along with other dignitaries. Al Corwin, another member of the pennant winning Giants, also reminded others that "not many guys relied on it, because that pitcher isn't standing still, he's in the middle of his windup." As the sign stealing was only possible at the Polo Grounds, it would seem improbable. Thomson hit a game winning home run in the first game at Ebbets Field off Branca. In the second game at the Polo Grounds, rookie Clem Labine pitched a shutout and the Dodgers won 10–0. As the Giants were losing in the top of the 9th, it would seem improbable that any kind of sign stealing was involved. This was all detailed in the HBO documentary 'Shot Heard Round the World'. Many surviving members of the 1951 Giants and Dodgers are interviewed, and Branca was the only one, other than Yvars, who believes Thomson took the sign. The pursuit of the homerun ball in the stands and afterward is a major thematic element of Don DeLillo's novel "Underworld." A back injury suffered during spring training in 1952 limited Branca's effectiveness thereafter. Branca appeared in only 12 games for the Dodgers during the 1952 season. In the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 1952 World Series against the New York Yankees, Branca was ejected from the dugout by home