1961: Sep. 26 Maris 60, Mantle 54. Game 159.

 Roger Maris 60th homer curtain call: "most unusual". Number 61, too. Saturday, April 4, 2015

"This is most unusual." - Mel Allen on Roger Maris being called from the dugout in Yankee Stadium after tying the season home run record of Babe Ruth. Maris reluctantly took a curtain call.

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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 159 (106-52-1). Maris hit number 60 and Ruth was finished with 60 in 155 1927 games.

Tuesday, September 26, 1961

Start Time: 8:03 p.m. Local

Attendance: 19,401

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 2:13

Night Game, on grass

Yankees 3, Orioles 2

Roger Maris RF-CF

Mickey Mantle CF

    Hector Lopez PR-RF    

Bottom of the 1st, Yankees Batting, Tied 0-0, Orioles' Jack Fisher facing 1-2-3

Two out

Maris Single to CF (Ground Ball)

Mantle Walk; Maris to 2B

Hector Lopez pinch runs for Mickey Mantle (CF) batting 4th

Top of the 2nd, Orioles Batting, Tied 0-0, Yankees' Bud Daley facing 5-6-7

Roger Maris moves from RF to CF

Hector Lopez moves from PR to RF

Bottom of the 3rd, Yankees Batting, Behind 0-2, Orioles' Jack Fisher facing 1-2-3

Two out

Maris Home Run (Deep RF)

Hector Lopez, not Mickey Mantle, was on deck when Maris hit number 60.

Maris batted twice more:

5th against Fisher: Flyball: RF

7th against Fisher: Flyball: RF (Short RF)

Jack Fisher (10-13) pitched an 8 inning complete game loss 3-2. And became the second pitcher to allow home run 60.

Friday, September 30, 1927

Attendance: 8,000

Venue: Yankee Stadium I

Game Duration: 1:38

Day Game, on grass

Yankees 4, Senators 2

1927 Yankee game 154 (109-44-1)

HR: Babe Ruth (60, off Tom Zachary, 8th inn, 1 on, 1 out to Deep RF Line)

Tom Zachary (8-13) pitched an 8 inning complete game loss 4-2. And became the first pitcher to allow home run 60. Ruth's home run broke a 2-2 tie and won the game.

Maris still had 4 more games to break the record but he would have to do it without Mantle batting behind him. In 1961 Mantle batted fourth in every game that he started. Mantle would not play again until the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Roger Maris, Ford Frick and the asterisk (*) for 61 Home Runs in 1961. Tuesday, June 6, 2017