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1961 New York Yankees season

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1961 New York Yankees
World Series Champions
American League Champions
LeagueAmerican League
BallparkYankee Stadium
CityNew York City
Record109–53 (.673)
Divisional place1st
OwnersDan Topping and Del Webb
General managersRoy Hamey
ManagersRalph Houk
TelevisionWPIX
(Mel Allen, Red Barber, Phil Rizzuto)
RadioWCBS (AM)
(Mel Allen, Red Barber, Phil Rizzuto)
← 1960 Seasons 1962 →

The 1961 New York Yankees season was the 59th season for the team. The team finished with a record of 109–53, eight games ahead of the Detroit Tigers, and won their 26th American League pennant. New York was managed by Ralph Houk. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they defeated the Cincinnati Reds in 5 games. This season was best known for the home run chase between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, with the former beating Babe Ruth's single season record by hitting 61.

The 1961 Yankees are often mentioned as a candidate for the unofficial title of greatest baseball team in history.

Offseason

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Regular season

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The 1961 season was notable for the race between center fielder Mickey Mantle and right fielder Roger Maris to break Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season (set in 1927). Maris eventually broke the record, hitting his 61st home run on October 1, the season's final day. During the season, Maris had seven multi-home run games; in a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, he hit four home runs.

1961 was an expansion year, with the American League increasing from eight to ten teams, the first expansion in the 61-year history of the league. The old schedule of 154 games (seven opponents multiplied by 22 games apiece) was replaced by 162 games (nine opponents multiplied by 18 games apiece) which led to some controversy due to the eight extra games that Maris had to try to hit 61.

Ultimately, when Maris broke Ruth’s record in game 162, baseball commissioner Ford Frick instigated "The Asterisk", which designated that Maris had only accomplished the feat in a longer season, and disallowed any reference to him as the record-holder. When commissioner Fay Vincent removed "The Asterisk" in 1991, Maris was finally given credit as the single-season home run record-holder. However, Maris had died in 1985, never knowing that the record belonged to him.

In addition to the individual exploits of Maris and Mantle, the '61 Yankees hit a major league record 240 home runs. The record stood until 1996 when the Baltimore Orioles, with the added benefit of the designated hitter, hit 257 home runs as a team.

Roger Maris

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In 1961, the American League expanded from eight to ten teams, generally watering down the pitching, but leaving the Yankees pretty much intact. Yankee home runs began to come at a record pace. One famous photograph lined up six 1961 Yankee players, including Mantle, Maris, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Johnny Blanchard, and Bill Skowron, under the nickname "Murderers Row", because they hit a combined 207 home runs that year. The title "Murderers Row", originally coined in 1918, had most famously been used to refer to the Yankees side of the late 1920s.

The "M&M Boys" together in 1961.

As mid-season approached, it seemed quite possible that either Maris or Mantle, or perhaps both, would break Babe Ruth's 34-year-old home run record. Unlike the home run race of 1998, in which the competition between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa was given extensive positive media coverage, sportswriters in 1961 began to play the "M&M Boys" against each other, inventing a rivalry where none existed, as Yogi Berra has testified in recent interviews.

The 1961 home run race between Maris and Mantle was dramatized in the 2001 film 61*, filmed under the direction of Billy Crystal.

Roger Maris 61 home runs

[edit]
Number Game Date Pitcher Team Inning
1 11 04-26-1961 Paul Foytack Detroit Tigers 5th
2 17 05-03-1961 Pedro Ramos Minnesota Twins 7th
3 20 05-06-1961 Eli Grba Los Angeles Angels 5th
4 29 05-17-1961 Pete Burnside Washington Senators 8th
5 30 05-19-1961 Jim Perry Cleveland Indians 1st
6 31 05-20-1961 Gary Bell Cleveland Indians 3rd
7 32 05-21-1961 Chuck Estrada Baltimore Orioles 1st
8 35 05-24-1961 Gene Conley Boston Red Sox 4th
9 38 05-28-1961 Cal McLish Chicago White Sox 2nd
10 40 05-30-1961 Gene Conley Boston Red Sox 3rd
11 40 05-30-1961 Mike Fornieles Boston Red Sox 8th
12 41 05-31-1961 Billy Muffett Boston Red Sox 3rd
13 43 06-02-1961 Cal McLish Chicago White Sox 3rd
14 44 06-03-1961 Bob Shaw Chicago White Sox 8th
15 45 06-04-1961 Russ Kemmerer Chicago White Sox 3rd
16 48 06-06-1961 Ed Palmquist Minnesota Twins 6th
17 49 06-07-1961 Pedro Ramos Minnesota Twins 3rd
18 52 06-09-1961 Ray Herbert Kansas City Athletics 7th
19 55 06-11-1961 Eli Grba Los Angeles Angels 3rd
20 55 06-11-1961 Johnny James Los Angeles Angels 7th
21 57 06-13-1961 Jim Perry Cleveland Indians 6th
22 58 06-14-1961 Gary Bell Cleveland Indians 4th
23 61 06-17-1961 Don Mossi Detroit Tigers 4th
24 62 06-18-1961 Jerry Casale Detroit Tigers 8th
25 63 06-19-1961 Jim Archer Kansas City Athletics 9th
26 64 06-20-1961 Joe Nuxhall Kansas City Athletics 1st
27 66 06-22-1961 Norm Bass Kansas City Athletics 2nd
28 74 07-01-1961 Dave Sisler Washington Senators 9th
29 75 07-02-1961 Pete Burnside Washington Senators 3rd
30 75 07-02-1961 Johnny Klippstein Washington Senators 7th
31 77 07-04-1961 Frank Lary Detroit Tigers 8th
32 78 07-05-1961 Frank Funk Cleveland Indians 7th
33 82 07-09-1961 Bill Monbouquette Boston Red Sox 7th
34 84 07-13-1961 Early Wynn Chicago White Sox 1st
35 86 07-15-1961 Ray Herbert Chicago White Sox 3rd
36 92 07-21-1961 Bill Monbouquette Boston Red Sox 1st
37 95 07-25-1961 Frank Baumann Chicago White Sox 4th
38 95 07-25-1961 Don Larsen Chicago White Sox 8th
39 96 07-25-1961 Russ Kemmerer Chicago White Sox 4th
40 96 07-25-1961 Warren Hacker Chicago White Sox 7th
41 106 08-04-1961 Camilo Pascual Minnesota Twins 1st
42 114 08-11-1961 Pete Burnside Washington Senators 5th
43 115 08-12-1961 Dick Donovan Washington Senators 4th
44 116 08-13-1961 Bennie Daniels Washington Senators 4th
45 117 08-13-1961 Marty Kutyna Washington Senators 1st
46 118 08-15-1961 Juan Pizarro Chicago White Sox 4th
47 119 08-16-1961 Billy Pierce Chicago White Sox 1st
48 119 08-16-1961 Billy Pierce Chicago White Sox 3rd
49 124 08-20-1961 Jim Perry Cleveland Indians 3rd
50 125 08-22-1961 Ken McBride Los Angeles Angels 6th
51 129 08-26-1961 Jerry Walker Kansas City Athletics 6th
52 135 09-02-1961 Frank Lary Detroit Tigers 6th
53 135 09-02-1961 Hank Aguirre Detroit Tigers 8th
54 140 09-06-1961 Tom Cheney Washington Senators 4th
55 141 09-07-1961 Dick Stigman Cleveland Indians 3rd
56 143 09-09-1961 Mudcat Grant Cleveland Indians 7th
57 151 09-16-1961 Frank Lary Detroit Tigers 3rd
58 152 09-17-1961 Terry Fox Detroit Tigers 12th
59 155 09-20-1961 Milt Pappas Baltimore Orioles 3rd
60 159 09-26-1961 Jack Fisher Baltimore Orioles 3rd
61 163 10-01-1961 Tracy Stallard Boston Red Sox 4th

[4]

The Yankees played one tie game which was later made up, and hence took 163 games to achieve 162 decisions.

Season standings

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American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 109 53 .673 — 65‍–‍16 44‍–‍37
Detroit Tigers 101 61 .623 8 50‍–‍31 51‍–‍30
Baltimore Orioles 95 67 .586 14 48‍–‍33 47‍–‍34
Chicago White Sox 86 76 .531 23 53‍–‍28 33‍–‍48
Cleveland Indians 78 83 .484 30½ 40‍–‍41 38‍–‍42
Boston Red Sox 76 86 .469 33 50‍–‍31 26‍–‍55
Minnesota Twins 70 90 .438 38 36‍–‍44 34‍–‍46
Los Angeles Angels 70 91 .435 38½ 46‍–‍36 24‍–‍55
Kansas City Athletics 61 100 .379 47½ 33‍–‍47 28‍–‍53
Washington Senators 61 100 .379 47½ 33‍–‍46 28‍–‍54

Record vs. opponents

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1961 American League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Team BAL BOS CHW CLE DET KCA LAA MIN NYY WSH
Baltimore — 11–7 11–7 9–9 9–9 13–5 8–10 11–7 9–9–1 14–4
Boston 7–11 — 9–9 5–13 8–10 10–8 11–7–1 11–7 5–13 10–8
Chicago 7–11 9–9 — 12–6 6–12 14–4 10–8 9–9–1 6–12 13–5
Cleveland 9–9 13–5 6–12 — 6–12 8–9 10–8 10–8 4–14 12–6
Detroit 9–9 10–8 12–6 12–6 — 12–6–1 14–4 11–7 8–10 13–5
Kansas City 5–13 8–10 4–14 9–8 6–12–1 — 9–9 7–11 4–14 9–9
Los Angeles 10–8 7–11–1 8–10 8–10 4–14 9–9 — 8–9 6–12 10–8
Minnesota 7–11 7–11 9–9–1 8–10 7–11 11–7 9–8 — 4–14 8–9
New York 9–9–1 13–5 12–6 14–4 10–8 14–4 12–6 14–4 — 11–7
Washington 4–14 8–10 5–13 6–12 5–13 9–9 8–10 9–8 7–11 —


Notable transactions

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Roster

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1961 New York Yankees
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Game log

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Regular season

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Legend
  Yankees win
  Yankees loss
  Yankees tie
  Postponement
  Clinched pennant
Bold Yankees team member
1961 regular season game log: 109–53–1 (Home: 65–16; Away: 44–37–1)[7]
April: 9–5 (Home: 6–1; Away: 3–4)
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
1 April 11 Twins 6–0 Ramos (1–0) Ford (0–1) 14,607 0–1
2 April 15 Athletics 5–3 Turley (1–0) Daley (0–1) Stafford (1) 11,802 1–1
3 April 17 Athletics 3–0 Ford (1–1) Walker (0–1) 1,947 2–1
4 April 20 Angels 7–5 Ditmar (1–0) Grba (0–1) Stafford (2) 3–1
5 April 20 Angels 4–2 Turley (2–0) Garver (0–1) Arroyo (1) 7,059 4–1
6 April 21 @ Orioles 4–2 Ford (2–1) Barber (1–1) 12,368 5–1
7 April 22 @ Orioles 5–3 Wilhelm (1–0) Duren (0–1) 12,536 5–2
8 April 22 @ Orioles 5 – 5 (7) 14,126 5–2
9 April 23 @ Orioles 4–1 Estrada (1–1) McDevitt (0–1) Hall (1) 18,704 5–3
10 April 24 @ Tigers 4–3 Lary (3–0) Turley (2–1) 5,662 5–4
11 April 26 @ Tigers 13 – 11 (10) Arroyo (1–0) Aguirre (0–1) 4,676 6–4
12 April 27 Indians 4–3 Ditmar (2–0) Antonelli (0–2) 8,897 7–4
13 April 29 Indians 4–2 Terry (1–0) Perry (2–1) Arroyo (2) 14,624 8–4
14 April 30 @ Senators 4–3 Ford (3–1) Donovan (0–4) Arroyo (3) 9–4
15 April 30 @ Senators 2–1 Woodeshick (1–1) Sheldon (0–1) Burnside (1) 21,904 9–5
May: 14–12 (Home: 7–6; Away: 7–6)
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
16 May 2 @ Twins 6 – 4 (10) Coates (1–0) Pascual (2–1) Arroyo (4) 16,669 10–5
17 May 3 @ Twins 7–3 Turley (3–1) Ramos (2–1) 18,158 11–5
18 May 4 @ Twins 5–2 Ford (4–1) Kaat (1–2) Coates (1) 18,179 12–5
19 May 5 @ Angels 5–4 McDevitt (1–1) Clevenger (2–1) Arroyo (5) 17,801 13–5
20 May 6 @ Angels 5–3 Grba (2–2) Ditmar (2–1) 19,865 13–6
21 May 7 @ Angels 5–3 Kline (1–0) Coates (1–1) Clevenger (1) 19,722 13–7
22 May 9 @ Athletics 5–4 Herbert (2–1) Arroyo (1–1) Archer (1) 13,623 13–8
23 May 10 @ Athletics 9–4 Clevenger (3–1) Daley (3–4) 15,986 14–8
24 May 12 Tigers 4–3 Lary (5–1) Coates (1–2) 23,556 14–9
25 May 13 Tigers 8–3 Regan (3–0) Turley (3–2) 18,036 14–10
26 May 14 Tigers 5 – 4 (11) Coates (2–2) Aguirre (1–2) 15–10
27 May 14 Tigers 8–6 Coates (3–2) Bunning (2–3) 40,968 16–10
28 May 16 Senators 3–2 Woodeshick (2–1) Stafford (0–1) Sisler (5) 10,050 16–11
29 May 17 Senators 8–7 Burnside (1–2) Ditmar (2–2) Gabler (1) 6,197 16–12
30 May 19 @ Indians 9–7 Latman (3–0) Clevenger (3–2) Allen (2) 21,240 16–13
31 May 20 @ Indians 4–3 Funk (4–2) Stafford (0–2) 8,431 16–14
32 May 21 Orioles 4–2 Ford (5–1) Estrada (2–3) 17–14
33 May 21 Orioles 3–2 Barber (5–3) Sheldon (0–2) Wilhelm (5) 47,890 17–15
34 May 22 Orioles 8–2 Coates (4–2) Fisher (1–5) Arroyo (6) 16,923 18–15
35 May 24 Red Sox 3–2 Terry (2–0) Nichols (0–1) 7,673 19–15
36 May 25 Red Sox 6–4 Ford (6–1) Muffett (0–4) Arroyo (7) 13,087 20–15
37 May 28 White Sox 14–9 Lown (2–2) Arroyo (1–2) Pierce (2) 20–16
38 May 28 White Sox 5–3 Coates (5–2) McLish (2–5) 44,435 21–16
39 May 29 @ Red Sox 2–1 Delock (3–1) Ford (6–2) 21,804 21–17
40 May 30 @ Red Sox 12–3 Stafford (1–2) Conley (2–4) Coates (2) 19,582 22–17
41 May 31 @ Red Sox 7–6 Sheldon (1–2) Muffett (0–5) McDevitt (1) 17,318 23–17
June: 22–10 (Home: 10–1; Away: 12–9)
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
42 June 1 @ Red Sox 7–5 Monbouquette (4–5) Turley (3–3) Stallard (1) 5,257 23–18
43 June 2 @ White Sox 6–2 Ford (7–2) McLish (2–6) 38,410 24–18
44 June 3 @ White Sox 6 – 5 (13) Hacker (1–0) Ditmar (2–3) 16,480 24–19
45 June 4 @ White Sox 10–1 Stafford (2–2) Pierce (1–5) 28,362 25–19
46 June 5 Twins 6–2 Coates (6–2) Lee (0–2) Arroyo (8) 26–19
47 June 5 Twins 6–1 Sheldon (2–2) Stobbs (0–2) 23,103 27–19
48 June 6 Twins 7–2 Ford (8–2) Kralick (4–4) Arroyo (9) 17,129 28–19
49 June 7 Twins 5–1 Terry (3–0) Ramos (3–7) 9,016 29–19
50 June 8 Athletics 6–1 Stafford (3–2) Bass (4–3) 30–19
51 June 8 Athletics 9–6 Archer (3–1) McDevitt (1–2) 13,157 30–20
52 June 9 Athletics 8–6 Arroyo (2–2) Herbert (3–6) 22,418 31–20
53 June 10 Athletics 5–3 Ford (9–2) Nuxhall (4–2) 17,272 32–20
54 June 11 Angels 2–1 Terry (4–0) McBride (5–4) 33–20
55 June 11 Angels 5–1 Sheldon (3–2) Grba (5–5) Arroyo (10) 37,378 34–20
56 June 12 Angels 3–1 Stafford (4–2) Bowsfield (2–2) 16,363 35–20
57 June 13 @ Indians 7–2 Perry (5–4) Coates (6–3) Funk (5) 21,704 35–21
58 June 14 @ Indians 11–5 Ford (10–2) Bell (4–6) Arroyo (11) 25,095 36–21
59 June 15 @ Indians 3 – 2 (11) Terry (5–0) Funk (7–5) 23,350 37–21
60 June 16 @ Tigers 4–2 Regan (7–2) Stafford (4–3) 51,744 37–22
61 June 17 @ Tigers 12–10 Foytack (4–4) Daley (4–9) Fox (4) 51,509 37–23
62 June 18 @ Tigers 9–0 Ford (11–2) Lary (10–4) Arroyo (12) 44,459 38–23
63 June 19 @ Athletics 4–3 Archer (5–1) Arroyo (2–3) 16,715 38–24
64 June 20 @ Athletics 6–2 Stafford (5–3) Nuxhall (4–3) Coates (3) 19,928 39–24
65 June 21 @ Athletics 5–3 Daley (5–9) Shaw (3–6) Arroyo (13) 19,416 40–24
66 June 22 @ Athletics 8–3 Ford (12–2) Bass (4–6) Arroyo (14) 17,254 41–24
67 June 23 @ Twins 4–0 Pascual (5–9) Turley (3–4) 30,940 41–25
68 June 24 @ Twins 10–7 Sheldon (4–2) Cueto (0–2) Arroyo (15) 35,199 42–25
69 June 25 @ Twins 8–4 Stafford (6–3) Kralick (6–5) Coates (4) 35,152 43–25
70 June 26 @ Angels 8–6 Ford (13–2) Donohue (1–2) Arroyo (16) 18,870 44–25
71 June 27 @ Angels 7–6 Bowsfield (4–2) Daley (5–10) Grba (2) 16,108 44–26
72 June 28 @ Angels 5–3 Duren (3–8) Turley (3–5) Donohue (3) 14,674 44–27
73 June 30 @ Senators 5–1 Ford (14–2) Donovan (3–8) 28,019 45–27
July: 20–9 (Home: 11–5; Away: 9–4)
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
74 July 1 @ Senators 7–6 Arroyo (3–3) Sisler (1–3) 16,015 46–27
75 July 2 @ Senators 13–4 Daley (6–10) Burnside (1–5) Arroyo (17) 19,794 47–27
76 July 4 Tigers 6–2 Ford (15–2) Mossi (9–2) 48–27
77 July 4 Tigers 4 – 3 (10) Lary (12–4) Stafford (6–4) Fox (6) 74,246 48–28
78 July 5 Indians 6–0 Sheldon (5–2) Bell (5–9) 24,377 49–28
79 July 6 Indians 4–0 Stafford (7–4) Stigman (2–2) 37,136 50–28
80 July 7 Red Sox 14–3 Daley (7–10) Conley (3–7) 29,199 51–28
81 July 8 Red Sox 8–5 Ford (16–2) Delock (5–5) Arroyo (18) 23,381 52–28
82 July 9 Red Sox 3–0 Sheldon (6–2) Monbouquette (8–7) 53–28
83 July 9 Red Sox 9–6 Schwall (7–2) Terry (5–1) Earley (1) 47,875 53–29
— July 11 30th All-Star Game in San Francisco, CA
84 July 13 @ White Sox 6–2 Stafford (8–4) Wynn (7–2) Arroyo (19) 43,960 54–29
85 July 14 @ White Sox 6–1 Pizarro (5–3) Sheldon (6–3) 43,450 54–30
86 July 15 @ White Sox 9 – 8 (10) Arroyo (4–3) Hacker (2–2) 37,730 55–30
87 July 16 @ Orioles 2–1 Daley (8–10) Barber (10–7) 38,487 56–30
88 July 17 @ Orioles 5–0 Ford (17–2) Pappas (6–5) 44,332 57–30
89 July 18 @ Senators 5–3 Arroyo (5–3) McClain (7–9) 17,695 58–30
90 July 19 @ Senators 8–4 Daniels (5–5) Daley (8–11) 58–31
91 July 19 @ Senators 12–2 Donovan (6–8) Downing (0–1) 27,176 58–32
92 July 21 @ Red Sox 11–8 Arroyo (6–3) Earley (1–4) 32,186 59–32
93 July 22 @ Red Sox 11–9 Arroyo (7–3) Conley (4–9) 25,089 60–32
94 July 23 @ Red Sox 5–4 Schwall (10–2) Daley (8–12) 28,575 60–33
95 July 25 White Sox 5–1 Ford (18–2) Baumann (7–8) Arroyo (20) 61–33
96 July 25 White Sox 12–0 Stafford (9–4) Pizarro (6–4) 46,240 62–33
97 July 26 White Sox 5–2 Sheldon (7–3) Herbert (7–9) 22,366 63–33
98 July 27 White Sox 4–3 Terry (6–1) Pierce (5–7) Arroyo (21) 20,529 64–33
99 July 28 Orioles 4–0 Brown (8–3) Daley (8–13) 39,623 64–34
100 July 29 Orioles 5–4 Ford (19–2) Fisher (4–10) 42,990 65–34
101 July 30 Orioles 4–0 Barber (12–8) Stafford (9–5) 65–35
102 July 30 Orioles 2–1 Pappas (7–6) Daley (8–14) Hall (3) 57,180 65–36
— July 31 31st All-Star Game in Boston, MA
August: 22–9 (Home: 7–9; Away: 7–5)
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
103 August 2 Athletics 6–5 Arroyo (8–3) Archer (7–6) 66–36
104 August 2 Athletics 12–5 Terry (7–1) Ditmar (2–6) Reniff (1) 23,616 67–36
105 August 3 Athletics 6–1 Shaw (7–9) Daley (8–15) 12,584 67–37
106 August 4 Twins 8 – 5 (10) Arroyo (9–3) Pleis (3–2) 24,109 68–37
107 August 5 Twins 2–1 Coates (7–3) Kralick (10–7) 18,880 69–37
108 August 6 Twins 7 – 6 (15) Reniff (1–0) Moore (4–4) 70–37
109 August 6 Twins 3–2 Sheldon (8–3) Schroll (0–1) 39,408 71–37
110 August 7 Angels 4–1 Daley (9–15) McBride (9–8) 13,944 72–37
111 August 8 Angels 5 – 4 (10) Arroyo (10–3) Fowler (5–5) 24,084 73–37
112 August 9 Angels 2–0 Coates (8–3) Bowsfield (8–4) 17,261 74–37
113 August 10 Angels 3–1 Ford (20–2) Donohue (4–5) Arroyo (22) 15,575 75–37
114 August 11 @ Senators 12–5 Terry (8–1) McClain (7–13) Reniff (2) 22,601 76–37
115 August 12 @ Senators 5–1 Donovan (8–8) Stafford (9–6) 15,870 76–38
116 August 13 @ Senators 12–2 Daniels (7–6) Daley (9–16) 76–39
117 August 13 @ Senators 9–4 Coates (9–3) Kutyna (6–4) 27,368 77–39
118 August 15 White Sox 2–1 Pizarro (8–5) Ford (20–3) 49,059 77–40
119 August 16 White Sox 5–4 Terry (9–1) Lown (6–5) 29,728 78–40
120 August 17 White Sox 5–3 Stafford (10–6) Baumann (9–10) Arroyo (23) 25,532 79–40
121 August 18 @ Indians 5–1 Grant (12–6) Coates (9–4) 37,840 79–41
122 August 19 @ Indians 3 – 2 (10) Ford (21–3) Locke (4–2) Arroyo (24) 23,398 80–41
123 August 20 @ Indians 6–0 Terry (10–1) Perry (9–11) 81–41
124 August 20 @ Indians 5–2 Sheldon (9–3) Bell (8–13) 56,307 82–41
125 August 22 @ Angels 4–3 McBride (10–10) Stafford (10–7) 19,930 82–42
126 August 23 @ Angels 8 – 6 (10) Arroyo (11–3) Donohue (4–6) 19,773 83–42
127 August 24 @ Angels 6–4 Morgan (6–2) Coates (9–5) 19,819 83–43
128 August 25 @ Athletics 3–0 Terry (11–1) Archer (8–10) 30,830 84–43
129 August 26 @ Athletics 5–1 Stafford (11–7) Walker (5–11) 32,149 85–43
130 August 27 @ Athletics 8–7 Ford (22–3) Shaw (8–12) Arroyo (25) 34,065 86–43
131 August 29 @ Twins 3–0 Pascual (12–13) Terry (11–2) 40,118 86–44
132 August 30 @ Twins 4–0 Stafford (12–7) Kaat (7–13) 41,357 87–44
133 August 31 @ Twins 5–4 Kralick (12–9) Sheldon (9–4) 33,709 87–45
September: 21–8 (Home: 15–1; Away: 6–7)
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
134 September 1 Tigers 1–0 Arroyo (12–3) Mossi (14–4) 65,566 88–45
135 September 2 Tigers 7–2 Terry (12–2) Lary (19–8) Arroyo (26) 50,261 89–45
136 September 3 Tigers 8–5 Arroyo (13–3) Staley (2–5) 55,676 90–45
137 September 4 Senators 5–3 Reniff (2–0) Daniels (8–10) 91–45
138 September 4 Senators 3–2 Daley (10–16) Burnside (1–7) 34,683 92–45
139 September 5 Senators 6–1 Coates (10–5) McClain (8–16) 16,917 93–45
140 September 6 Senators 8–0 Ford (23–3) Cheney (1–3) 12,295 94–45
141 September 7 Indians 7–3 Terry (13–2) Stigman (2–4) 18,549 95–45
142 September 8 Indians 9–1 Stafford (13–7) Bell (9–15) 41,762 96–45
143 September 9 Indians 8–7 Arroyo (14–3) Funk (11–10) 37,161 97–45
144 September 10 Indians 7–6 Coates (11–5) Locke (4–4) Arroyo (27) 98–45
145 September 10 Indians 9–3 Daley (11–16) Perry (10–14) 57,824 99–45
146 September 12 @ White Sox 4 – 3 (6) Terry (14–2) Pierce (9–9) 36,166 100–45
147 September 14 @ White Sox 8–3 Herbert (10–12) Sheldon (9–5) Hacker (7) 100–46
148 September 14 @ White Sox 4–3 Kemmerer (3–3) Arroyo (14–4) 18,120 100–47
149 September 15 @ Tigers 11–1 Ford (24–3) Mossi (14–7) 101–47
150 September 15 @ Tigers 4–2 Kline (7–8) Daley (11–17) 42,267 101–48
151 September 16 @ Tigers 10–4 Lary (21–9) Terry (14–3) 35,820 101–49
152 September 17 @ Tigers 6 – 4 (12) Arroyo (15–4) Fox (4–2) 44,219 102–49
153 September 19 @ Orioles 1–0 Barber (17–11) Ford (24–4) 102–50
154 September 19 @ Orioles 3–1 Daley (12–17) Brown (10–6) 31,317 103–50
155 September 20 @ Orioles 4–2 Terry (15–3) Pappas (12–9) 21,032 104–50
156 September 21 @ Orioles 5–3 Fisher (10–12) Stafford (13–8) 22,089 104–51
157 September 23 @ Red Sox 8–3 Ford (25–4) Schwall (15–6) Arroyo (28) 28,128 105–51
158 September 24 @ Red Sox 3–1 Monbouquette (14–13) Arroyo (15–5) 30,802 105–52
159 September 26 Orioles 3–2 Sheldon (10–5) Fisher (10–13) 19,401 106–52
160 September 27 Orioles 3–2 Barber (18–12) Stafford (13–9) Hall (4) 7,594 106–53
161 September 29 Red Sox 2–1 Sheldon (11–5) Monbouquette (14–14) 21,485 107–53
162 September 30 Red Sox 3–1 Terry (16–3) Schwall (15–7) Coates (5) 19,061 108–53
October: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Away: 0–0)
163 October 1 Red Sox 1–0 Stafford (14–9) Stallard (2–7) Arroyo (29) 23,154 109–53

Postseason Game log

[edit]
Legend
  Yankees win
  Yankees loss
Bold Yankees team member
1961 Postseason game log: 4–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 3–0)
World Series vs Cincinnati Reds (Home: 1–1; Away: 3–0)[8]
# Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/
Streak
1 October 4 1:00 p.m. EDT Reds W 2–0 Ford (1–0) O'Toole (0–1) — 2:11 62,397 NYA 1–0 W1
2 October 5 1:00 p.m. EDT Reds L 2–6 Jay (1–0) Terry (0–1) — 2:43 63,083 Tied 1–1 L1
3 October 7 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Reds W 3–2 Arroyo (1–0) Purkey (0–1) — 2:15 32,589 NYA 2–1 W1
4 October 8 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Reds W 7–0 Ford (2–0) O'Toole (0–2) Coates (1) 2:27 32,589 NYA 3–1 W2
5 October 9 2:00 p.m. EDT @ Reds W 13–5 Daley (1–0) Jay (1–1) — 3:05 32,589 NYA 4–1 W3

Detailed records

[edit]

Opponents

[edit]
American League
Opponent Total Pct. Home Pct. Away Pct. RS RA Ref.
Baltimore Orioles 9–9 (.500)
Boston Red Sox 13–5 (.722)
Chicago White Sox 12–6 (.667)
Cleveland Indians 14–4 (.778)
Detroit Tigers 10–8 (.556) 6–3 (.667) 4–5 (.444) 104 85 [9]
Kansas City Athletics 14–4 (.778)
Los Angeles Angels 12–6 (.667)
Minnesota Twins 14–4 (.778)
New York Yankees – – – – – – – –
Washington Senators 11–7 (.778)
Season Total 109–53 (.673) 65–16 (.802) 44–37 (.543) 827 612

Day-by-Day

[edit]
Day-by-Day
Date Game No. Opponent Record Pct. Position GB Ref.

Month-by-Month

[edit]
Month-by-Month
Month Total Pct. RS RA Home Pct. RS RA Away Pct. RS RA Position GB Ref.
April 9–5 (.643)
May 14–12 (.538)
June 22–10 (.688)
July 20–9 (.690)
August 22–9 (.710)
September 21–8 (.724)
October 1–0 (1.000)
Total 109–53 (.673) 827 612 65–16 (.802) 411 251 44–37 (.543) 416 361

Composite Box

[edit]
1961 New York Yankees Inning–by–Inning Boxscore
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 R H E
Opponents
Yankees

Sources:[11] [12]

Starting lineups

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
Regular season
Hitting
Batting order
# Date Opponent 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Regular season
Fielding
Defensive lineup
# Date Opponent C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF P

World Series

[edit]
World Series
Hitting
Batting order
# Date Opponent 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1 October 4, 1961 CIN
2 October 5, 1961 CIN
3 October 7, 1961 @ CIN
4 October 8, 1961 @ CIN
5 October 9, 1961 @ CIN
World Series
Fielding
Defensive lineup
# Date Opponent C 1B 2B 3B SS LF CF RF P
1 October 4, 1961 CIN
2 October 5, 1961 CIN
3 October 7, 1961 @ CIN
4 October 8, 1961 @ CIN
5 October 9, 1961 @ CIN

Game Umpires

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
Regular season
# Date Opponent HP 1B 2B 3B

World Series

[edit]
World Series
# Date Opponent HP 1B 2B 3B LF RF
1 October 4, 1961 CIN Ed Runge (AL)
(crew chief)		 Jocko Conlan (NL) Frank Umont (AL) Augie Donatelli (NL) Shag Crawford (NL) Bob Stewart (AL)
2 October 5, 1961 CIN Jocko Conlan (NL) Frank Umont (AL) Augie Donatelli (NL) Ed Runge (AL)
(crew chief)		 [[Shag Crawford (NL) Bob Stewart (AL)
3 October 7, 1961 @ CIN Frank Umont (AL) Augie Donatelli (NL) Ed Runge (AL)
(crew chief)		 Jocko Conlan (NL) [[Shag Crawford (NL) Bob Stewart (AL)
4 October 8, 1961 @ CIN Augie Donatelli (NL) Ed Runge (AL)
(crew chief)		 Jocko Conlan (NL) Frank Umont (AL) [[Shag Crawford (NL) Bob Stewart (AL)
5 October 9, 1961 @ CIN Ed Runge (AL)
(crew chief)		 Jocko Conlan (NL) Frank Umont (AL) Augie Donatelli (NL) [[Shag Crawford (NL) Bob Stewart (AL)

Player stats

[edit]
= Indicates team leader
= Indicates league leader

Batting

[edit]

Starters by position

[edit]

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
C Elston Howard 129 446 155 .348 21 77
1B Bill Skowron 150 561 150 .267 28 89
2B Bobby Richardson 162 662 173 .261 4 49
3B Clete Boyer 148 504 113 .224 11 55
SS Tony Kubek 153 617 170 .276 8 46
LF Yogi Berra 119 395 107 .271 22 61
CF Mickey Mantle 153 514 163 .317 54 128
RF Roger Maris 161 590 159 .269 61 141*

[10]

Other batters

[edit]

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Johnny Blanchard 93 243 74 .305 21 54
Héctor López 93 243 54 .222 3 22
Bob Cerv 57 118 32 .271 6 20
Billy Gardner 41 99 21 .212 1 2
Joe DeMaestri 30 41 6 .146 0 2
Deron Johnson 13 19 2 .105 0 2
Earl Torgeson 22 18 2 .111 0 0
Jack Reed 28 13 2 .154 0 1
Bob Hale 11 13 2 .154 1 1
Jesse Gonder 15 12 4 .333 0 3
Tom Tresh 9 8 2 .250 0 0
Lee Thomas 2 2 1 .500 0 0

[10]

Pitching

[edit]

Starting pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Whitey Ford 39 283.0 25 4 3.21 209
Bill Stafford 36 195.0 14 9 2.68 101
Ralph Terry 31 188.1 16 3 3.15 86
Bud Daley 23 129.2 8 9 3.96 83
Bob Turley 15 72.0 3 5 5.75 48

Other pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Rollie Sheldon 35 162.2 11 5 3.60 84
Jim Coates 43 141.1 11 5 3.44 80
Art Ditmar 12 54.1 2 3 4.64 24
Danny McDevitt 8 13.0 1 2 7.62 8
Al Downing 5 9.0 1 0 8.00 12

Relief pitchers

[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Luis Arroyo 65 119.0 15 5 29 2.19 87
Hal Reniff 25 45.1 2 0 2 2.58 21
Tex Clevenger 21 31.2 1 1 0 4.83 14
Ryne Duren 4 5.0 0 1 0 5.40 7
Johnny James 1 1.1 0 0 0 0.00 2
Duke Maas 1 0.1 0 0 0 54.00 0

1961 World Series

[edit]
Main article: 1961 World Series
1961 World Series
New York Yankees def. Cincinnati Reds, 4–1
MVP Award: Whitey Ford, P, New York
Game Date Score Series
(NYY-CIN)		 Location Attendance Time
1 October 4 Yankees 2, Reds 0 1–0 Yankee Stadium 62,397 2:11
2 October 5 Reds 6, Yankees 2 1–1 Yankee Stadium 63,083 2:43
3 October 7 Yankees 3, Reds 2 2–1 Crosley Field 32,589 2:15
4 October 8 Yankees 7, Reds 0 3–1 Crosley Field 32.589 2:27
5 October 9 Yankees 13, Reds 5 4–1 Crosley Field 32,589 3:05

Awards and honors

[edit]

1961 All-Star Game

League leaders

[edit]
  • Whitey Ford, led league in innings: (283)
  • Whitey Ford, led league in games started: (39)
  • Whitey Ford, led league in batters faced: (1,159)
  • Luis Arroyo, led league in games pitched: (65) and saves: (29)
  • Roger Maris, Major League Baseball home run champion, (61)

Franchise records

[edit]
  • Roger Maris, Yankees single season record, home runs in a season: (61)
  • Mickey Mantle, Yankees single season record, home runs by a center fielder: (54)

Team leaders

[edit]
  • Home runs – Roger Maris (61)
  • RBI – Roger Maris (142)
  • Batting average – Mickey Mantle (.317)
  • Hits – Bobby Richardson (173)
  • Stolen bases – Mickey Mantle (12)
  • Walks – Mickey Mantle (126)
  • Wins – Whitey Ford (25)
  • Earned run average – Bill Stafford (2.68)
  • Strikeouts – Whitey Ford (209)

Farm system

[edit]
See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Richmond Virginians International League Cal Ermer
AA Amarillo Gold Sox Texas League Sheriff Robinson
A Binghamton Triplets Eastern League Jim Gleeson
B Greensboro Yankees Carolina League Wayne Terwilliger
C Modesto Reds California League Vern Rapp
D Harlan Smokies Appalachian League Frank Parenti and Eddie Lyons
D St. Petersburg Saints Florida State League Bob Bauer
D Auburn Yankees New York–Penn League Loren Babe

Harlan affiliation shared with Chicago White Sox[12]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Bob Cerv at Baseball Reference
  2. ^ Art López at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ Jake Gibbs at Baseball Reference
  4. ^ "Roger Maris 1961 Home Run Season by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
  5. ^ "Rome News-Tribune - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.
  6. ^ Roy White at Baseball Reference
  7. ^ "1961 New York Yankees Schedule & Results". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  8. ^ "1961 World Series". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  9. ^ "New York Yankees vs Detroit Tigers History".
  10. ^ a b "1961 New York Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "1961 All-Star Game". www.baseball-almanac.com.
  12. ^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

References

[edit]
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