Sad news in the baseball world tonight as Don Mueller, who played for the New York Giants from 1948 to 1957, has died. He was 84.
Mueller is best remembered for his part in Bobby Thomson’s famous ‘Shot Heard ‘Round The World’ which catapulted the Giants past the Brooklyn Dodgers and into the 1951 World Series.
Ralph Branca, who gave up the legendary pennant-winning home run to Thomson, detailed Mueller’s part in the epic showdown in his book, “A Moment In Time”:
I threw a little harder. Another roar. I turned and saw that Don Mueller had singled to right, off Hodges’ glove, sending Dark to third. Erskine and Labine, who were in the bullpen with me and saw the play, said, “Why was Gil holding Dark at first? Dark wasn’t going anywhere. Not with them three runs down. The whole right side was open. Should have been a double play.” Lockman then doubled, scoring Dark and sending Mueller to third, where he fractured his ankle sliding into the bag. He had to be carried off the field and was replaced with pinch runner Clint Hartung. Suddenly, it was Dodgers 4, Giants 2. Two on, no out. Tying run at the plate.
Mueller died Wednesday at his home in Chesterfield, Mo., according to The New York Times.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com