June 17, 1961: Tigers outslug Yankees and take first place

The explosive Tigers-Yankees matchup that took place at Tiger…
Jim Pagliaroni (Trading Card DB)

June 18, 1961: Red Sox sweep Senators in a double walk-off doubleheader

Talk about a spree, in which one player had a huge impact in…

June 18, 1961: Goodman, Fox win it for White Sox in 9th with unlikely homers

Two of the least likely home-run hitters both struck in the ninth…
Gene Baker (THE TOPPS COMPANY)

June 19, 1961: Gene Baker becomes first Black manager in affiliated minor leagues

Gene Baker was not, as is sometimes reported, the first Black…
Clay Dalrymple (Courtesy of Temple University)

June 23, 1961: Phillies stun Pirates, 12-11

The Pirates were fresh off winning the 1960 World Series in one…

June 23, 1961: Stan Musial knocks in seven runs for Cardinals

The turnstiles at Busch Stadium, the renamed Sportsman’s…

June 28, 1961: Ron Santo comes up big with two homers, seven RBIs

“The Cubs had 25 base runners, and (the public-address) announcer…
Willie Mays (SABR-Rucker Archive)

June 29, 1961: Willie Mays hits three homers, including the game-winner in the 10th

Willie Mays became just the fourth major leaguer to hit at…
Roger Maris (Trading Card DB)

July 2, 1961: Yankee bats pummel Senators on way to home run records

Sunday, July 2, 1961, was a muggy day at Yankee Stadium, with…
Rocky Colavito (Trading Card DB)

July 5, 1961: 700 nuns but only 2 runs equal loss for Red Sox

On January 20, 1961, nearly a million people in Washington, D.C.,1…

July 9, 1961: Willie Kirkland hits 3 homers, bunts in the ninth inning

Frank Lane was no longer Cleveland’s general manager. He resigned…

July 11, 1961: Clemente delivers a walk-off win for NL stars in 10th inning

Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente was no stranger to baseball’s…
Warren Spahn (Trading Card DB)

July 22, 1961: Spahn, Adcock, Clemente homer as Braves nip Pirates

Forty-year-old Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves was only…
Pumpsie Green (Trading Card Database)

July 30, 1961: Trailblazer Pumpsie Green helps Red Sox come back with pinch-hit home run

Pumpsie Green holds two places in Boston Red Sox history –…

August 3, 1961: Pirates’ 24-hit attack produces NL record-tying shutout

“We just got slaughtered,” muttered St. Louis Cardinals skipper…

August 11, 1961: Braves’ Warren Spahn wins his 300th career game

Warren Spahn joined the elite group of 300-game winners with…

August 20, 1961: Phillies beat Braves to end 23-game losing streak

When the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves played a…