"The Giants win the Pennant!" The Giants win the Pennant."
Bobby Thomson became immortalized with that call, as "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" completed the biggest regular season comeback as the Giants rallied from 13 ½ Games back from Mid-August in 1951 to force a three-game playoff. Thomson hit the walk-off Home Run to win Game 3 and the Pennant, and even though New York lost the World Series to the Yankees, it remains among Baseball's most iconic moments.
Of course, Thomson was more than that Home Run, but we had to start there!
Thomson was signed as an Amateur Free Agent before the 1942 Season, but he served three years in the American Military during World War II service. When he returned, he was in the Minors for most of his 1946, before he was called up, and had 154 Hits and 29 Home Runs in his official rookie year of 1947.
Thomson made the following two All-Star Teams, excelling in the latter year with his first 100-RBI (109 RBI, 27 HR) year, with his only .300 season (.309). Thomson remained a solid power hitter, belting at least 24 Home Runs over the next four seasons, the last three seeing him break 100 RBI. The year he hit his most famed Home Run (1951) was his best campaign, with career-highs in Home Runs (31), Triples (14, and league-leading), and he was eighth in MVP voting.
The Giants traded Thomson to the Milwaukee Braves after the 1953 Season, and with the proper respect to Thomson, the timing was good, as he was never an All-Star again. He briefly returned in 1956 but was traded again before the next season began.
As a Giant, Thomson batted .277 with 1,171 Hits and 189 Home Runs.
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