It's easy to make the argument that the 1951 National League pennant was the most exciting in baseball history. Trailing Brooklyn by 13.5 games in the standing on August 1, the Giants mounted an incredible comeback. They won 16 straight games from Aug. 12-27 to cut the deficit to six. The Dodgers still held a seemingly comfortable 4.5 game lead on Sept. 20, but New York won its final seven games of the regular season to even things up. Both teams finished with identical 96-58 records, setting the stage for a memorable three-game playoff.
After splitting the first two games, the Dodgers took a 4-1 lead going into the last of the ninth inning of the third and deciding game at the Polo Grounds. It seemed that the Giants' valiant effort to climb out of the hole created by their early season failures was destined to fall just a few runs short. But with two men on, Whitey Lockman doubled to drive in a run, bringing the score to 4-2 and putting runners on second and third. A glimmer of hope, and the stage was set for one of the most dramatic moments in baseball history. With Giants' slugger Bobby Thomson coming to the plate, Dodgers' manager Charlie Dressen went to the bullpen. His choice was Ralph Branca despite the fact that Branca had already lost to the Giants five times that season, and had just given up a home run to Thomson two games earlier. With the Giant fans roaring, Branca got one strike on Thomson. On his next pitch, he tried another fastball, and Thomson was all over it, hitting a wicked line drive that cleared the left field wall. Pandemonium ensued. Bobby Thomson had hit a three-run home run to give the Giants a 5-4 victory and the NL pennant. Forever after known as "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" the famous homer was captured brilliantly by Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges. "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" he shouted to the four corners of the Earth. "They're going crazy! I don't believe it! I do not believe it."
This full proof ticket to the deciding '51 playoff game is the finest example we've ever come across, graded EX-MT 6 by PSA. Proof tickets do not list a section number. Actual full tickets are virtually extinct; in fact, none are registered in PSA's pop report. Only three stubs exist in their records. PSA has handled just seven full proof tickets and six have received grades. This is one of two graded EX-MT 6. The highest is NM 7, so you're looking at one of the best in the hobby. Calling it rare does not do it justice. Super clean front and back with vibrant orange color, it has one very sharp corner and the other three are rounded ever so slightly. EX-MT seems harsh when viewed closely. Iconic piece of baseball history that any sports fan or American history buff can appreciate.