1961 Yankees set the season record for Home Runs in their first 154 games.

235 times MLB teams hit at least 200 Home Runs in a season. 307 is the record. Saturday, May 4, 2024

The 1961 Yankees broke the record of 221 in 1961 with 240 HR led by Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle with 61 and 54. They remain the only teammates to hit at least 50 HR in the same season. Maris, of course, broke the season record of Babe Ruth who hit 60 HR in 1927. In 1973 the American League (AL) introduced the Designated Hitter rule. Despite that, the 1961 Yankee record stood 35 years when three AL teams broke it: ...

The schedule increased from 154 games to 162:

AL in 1961

NL in 1962.

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Note added 8/30/2024:

1961 Yankees hit 229 HR in their first 154 games. Yanks tied and broke the record in game 149. They played one tie game for a total of 163 games. Maris hit #61 in game 163.

1956 Reds hit their 221 HR in 155 games. They also played one tie game. No HR in game 155.

1947 New York Giants hit their 221 HR in 155 games. They also played one tie game. No HR in game 155.

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game	date	DH	h/r	opp	total	HR	HR	HR
147	Thu, Sep 14, 1961	1	@	Chi	219
148	Thu, Sep 14, 1961	2	@	Chi	220	Howard
149	Fri, Sep 15, 1961	1	@	Det	222	Berra	Skowron
150	Fri, Sep 15, 1961	2	@	Det	223	Boyer
151	Sat, Sep 16, 1961		@	Det	225	Maris	Howard
152	Sun, Sep 17, 1961		@	Det	228	Maris	Skowron	Boyer
153	Tue, Sep 19, 1961	1	@	Bal	228
154	Tue, Sep 19, 1961	2	@	Bal	229	Skowron
155	Wed, Sep 20, 1961		@	Bal	231	Maris	Berra
156	Thu, Sep 21, 1961		@	Bal	232	Kubek
157	Sat, Sep 23, 1961		@	Bos	235	Mantle	Howard	Cerv
158	Sun, Sep 24, 1961		@	Bos	236	Skowron
159	Tue, Sep 26, 1961			Bal	237	Maris
160	Wed, Sep 27, 1961			Bal	238	Berra
161	Fri, Sep 29, 1961			Bos	239	Blanchard
162	Sat, Sep 30, 1961			Bos	239
163	Sun, Oct 1, 1961			Bos	240	Maris

There was pressure on Roger Maris to break the record of 60 HR in the team's first 154 games. Babe Ruth had set the season record at 60 HR in 1927. The 1927 Yankees played one tie game for a total of 155. For some reason the early season tie by the 1961 Yankees was ignored and Maris got an extra game. Maris hit #59 in Yankee game 155. Ruth hit #60 in Yankee game 154. Ruth did not homer in the team's finale game as Maris did in 1961.

It all seems so quaint now.