1961: Aug. 16 Maris 48, Mantle 45.

Part of a series that started with August 1, 1961.

Roger Maris and Yankee teammate Mickey Mantle engaged in a home race during a pennant race, both trying to pass the season record of 60 home runs hit in 1927 by Yankee Babe Ruth.

In 1961 the American League expanded from 8 to 10 teams and increased its schedule from 154 to 162 games. Both the 1927 and 1961 Yankees played one tie game.

Maris homers his first two times up.

Wednesday, August 16, 1961

Start Time: 2:02 p.m. Local

Attendance: 29,728

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 2:24

Day Game, on grass

Yankees 5, White Sox 4

HR: Roger Maris 2 (48, 2 off Billy Pierce, 1st inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep CF-RF; 3rd inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep RF)

Pierce was lefty. Maris had now hit three consecutive home runs off lefties.

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYY	78	40	.661	--	627	479	.621
DET	75	43	.636	3.0	626	504	.598
BAL	68	53	.562	11.5	531	465	.560
CLE	61	57	.517	17.0	559	542	.514
CHW	60	58	.508	18.0	551	536	.513
BOS	57	65	.467	23.0	556	621	.450
LAA	51	67	.432	27.0	522	537	.487
MIN	51	68	.429	27.5	541	603	.451
WSA	49	67	.422	28.0	489	552	.445
KCA	43	75	.364	35.0	496	659	.373