1961: Aug. 22 Maris 50, Mantle 46. Yankee game 125.

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.

Through 1960 these players hit at least 56 home runs; none hit his 50th home run before September; season totals to the right:

Player	HR	Year	Date	G50	Age	Tm	G	PA	AB
Babe Ruth	60	1927	1927-09-11	138	32	NYY	151	691	540
Babe Ruth	59	1921	1921-09-03	125	26	NYY	152	693	540
Jimmie Foxx	58	1932	1932-09-03	135	24	PHA	154	702	585
Hank Greenberg	58	1938	1938-09-12	135	27	DET	155	681	556
Hack Wilson	56	1930	1930-09-15 (2)	145	30	CHC	155	709	585

Foxx also hit number 51 in that game.

In 1961 Roger Maris became the soonest to 50 home runs to that point in baseball history. In terms of the number of team games, which may include ties, Maris tied Ruth in 1921 at Yankee game 125.

Tuesday, August 22, 1961

Attendance: 19,930

Venue: Wrigley Field

Game Duration: 2:29

Night Game, on grass

Angels 4, Yankees 3

HR: Roger Maris (50, off Ken McBride, 6th inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep CF)

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYY	82	42	.661	--	650	495	.622
DET	80	44	.645	2.0	656	517	.607
BAL	72	54	.571	11.0	553	474	.570
CHW	64	60	.516	18.0	576	553	.519
CLE	63	61	.508	19.0	573	568	.504
BOS	58	70	.453	26.0	571	648	.442
LAA	53	70	.431	28.5	544	560	.487
MIN	53	70	.431	28.5	560	622	.452
WSA	50	71	.413	30.5	500	575	.436
KCA	45	78	.366	36.5	508	679	.370