1961: Sep. 23 Maris 59, Mantle 54 after 157 games.

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:

- Thursday, April 14, 1927 Philadelphia Athletics 9, Yankees 9 after ten innings; no home runs

- Saturday April 22, 1961 in Baltimore: Orioles won game one 5-3; game two: 5-5 tie after 7 innings.  Only Bill Skowron (bases loaded) homered for the Yankees that day.

This was 1961 Yankee game 157 (105-51-1). Mantle hit number 54, his final of the season. Maris was still stuck at 59 and Ruth was finished with 60 in 155 1927 games.

Mantle PH in game 153, then missed games 154, 155, 156. He would play in game 158, then bat just once (BB) in game 159 when Maris finally hits number 60.

Saturday, September 23, 1961

Attendance: 28,128

Venue: Fenway Park

Game Duration: 2:30

Day Game, on grass

Yankees 8, Red Sox 3

HR: Mickey Mantle (54, off Don Schwall, 1st inn, 2 on, 1 out to Deep RF)

Whitey Ford went five innings for the win: 25-4.

Tm	W	L	W-L%	GB	RS	RA	pythW-L%
NYY	105	51	.673	--	815	602	.635
DET	95	59	.617	9.0	790	635	.599
BAL	91	65	.583	14.0	667	567	.574
CHW	84	71	.542	20.5	733	689	.528
CLE	75	80	.484	29.5	696	712	.490
BOS	73	82	.471	31.5	706	769	.461
MIN	69	84	.451	34.5	677	731	.465
LAA	66	88	.429	38.0	694	746	.467
KCA	58	96	.377	46.0	656	830	.394
WSA	57	97	.370	47.0	592	745	.396