Dramatic Radio - "The Giants win the pennant"

Lit Between the Ears honors dramatic radio as well as radio drama. Both are comprised of the same four components - voices, music, sounds and silence. Voices from the world of sports - particularly the announcers - have often added to the legacy of dramatic radio.

In 1951, Major League Baseball began on April 17 for the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. Although the Giants beat the Philadelphia Phillies and the Dodgers lost to the Boston Braves, both teams' fortunes quickly moved in opposite directions.

Nonetheless, five and one-half months and 157 games later, the Giants were National League Champions. And in between was one of the greatest comebacks in sports history and a radio call that thrilled the Giants' faithful and deflated Dodger fans.

After their opening game loss, the Dodgers romped to a huge lead. On the August 11th, their lead over the Giants was a formidable 13 1/2 games. The Dodgers won 26 of their next 48 games and appeared headed for the playoffs.

But the Giants caught fire and streaked after the leaders. Over the next 44 games, the Giants won 37 and ended the season in a tie with the Dodgers. The pennant would be decided by a three-game playoff.

Each team won once and the final game would determine the National League champion. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Dodgers led four to two with the Giants batting. They had two men on the bases. Russ Hodges described the action as follows:

"Branca throws. There's a long drive. It's gonna be, I believe -- The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant! And they're going crazy! They're going crazy! Oh-ho!"

Hodges' chanting, commanding, joyous and disbelieving screams of "The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!" has become one of the best known calls in radio history and nearly overshadowed the Giants' pennant victory.

Long live the power of voices. Long live radio.

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