Directly from the family estate collection of Barney Stein comes this powerful large-format 10" by 13" original PSA/DNA Type 1 photograph of Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher, Ralph Branca, dejected on the steps of the Polo Grounds visiting clubhouse shortly after he threw that fateful pitch to Bobby Thomson that became forever known as "The Shot Heard 'Round the World." On October 3, 1951, Thomson's three-run homer in the 9th inning gave the New York Giants a 5-4 walk-off victory in Game Three of the best-of-three playoff series and clinched a remarkable comeback for the Giants to win the National League pennant.
According to Barney Stein's daughter, Bonnie, this famous image of Branca has been the most requested photo of all the thousands of special snapshots taken by her father in his 21-year career shooting 'Dem Bums. Thus, it's arguably the most important photograph Stein ever took, aptly calling it "The Agony" as it captures the true essence of dealing with the lowest of lows in sports.
The crystal-clear black and white image was printed off its original negative within the two year period that Barney Stein took it. It is the only Type I original of this famous shot from the Stein estate. For good measure, Barney has even autographed the bottom right corner with "1951" inscribed. The photo is unframed and remains in NM condition with just one minor crease visible in the upper left corner. It is printed on thicker paper stock for easier preservation. The reverse has a long caption of the moment in pencil with the official Barney Stein stamp below.
GENERATION: First (printed from original negative)
PHOTOGRAPHER: Barney Stein
PHOTO DIMS: 10” x 13"
CONDITION: NM
AUTHENTICATION: PSA/DNA Type 1
PROVENANCE: Family letter from Barney Stein's daughter Bonnie (Stein) Crosby
This same image is featured on page 8 of Through a Blue Lens, a 2007 book by Bonnie Crosby and Dennis D'Agostino (forewords by Peter O'Malley and Carl Erskine) that chronicled Barney Stein's 1937-1957 Brooklyn Dodgers photography.