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WNPR News sports coverage brings you a mix of local and statewide news from our reporters as well as national and global news from around the world from NPR.

Great American Losers

It’s one of the most famous baseball radio broadcasts ever: Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges yelling, “The Giants win the pennant.”

Those words made Brooklyn Dodgers pitcherRalph Branca want to throw his radio out the window...he was the pitcher that gave up the blast. It’s been 60 years since the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” and Branca still lives with this legacy.

He has written a new book about that game and coming back from what could have been a crushing blow.

Today,  we hear from Branca and others about losing and coming back from loss. Author and cultural historian Scott Sandage joins us to discuss his book Born Losers: A History of Failure in America.

We talk with a Vietnam veteran and Medal of Honor recipient about being part of a war many say the U.S. lost. We’ll also hear from a state politician who has run two high profile campaigns and lost tight races both times. Finally, we’ll hear from someone who has lost more than most people ever have. 

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