1961: Aug. 6 Mantle 43, Maris 41. Mickey hits 3 in doubleheader.

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.

Mantle's last dominant position in the home run race. Two homers in game one, a third in game two. Mantle showed all his skills that day. I attended.

Sunday, August 6, 1961

Start Time: 2:04 p.m. Local

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 4:16

Day Game, on grass

First game of doubleheader

Yankees 7, Twins 6 in 15 innings

HR: Mickey Mantle 2 (42, 2 off Pedro Ramos, 1st inn, 1 on, 2 outs to Deep RF; 3rd inn, 0 on, 2 outs to Deep RF)

Start Time: 6:55 p.m. Local

Attendance: 39,408

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 2:26

Day Game, on grass

Second game of doubleheader

Yankees 3, Twins 2

HR: Mickey Mantle (43, off Al Schroll, 2nd inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep CF-RF)

Mantle scored the winning run bottom 9.

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYY	71	37	.657	--	583	441	.625
DET	69	40	.633	2.5	582	472	.595
BAL	61	49	.555	11.0	475	435	.540
CLE	57	54	.514	15.5	534	511	.520
CHW	56	54	.509	16.0	529	512	.515
BOS	52	60	.464	21.0	510	575	.445
LAA	47	61	.435	24.0	488	502	.487
WSA	46	61	.430	24.5	446	504	.444
MIN	46	62	.426	25.0	481	539	.448
KCA	40	67	.374	30.5	462	599	.383