June 26, 1961: International League All-Stars buzzsaw big-league Indians with two-hitter
Official records will tell you that Tommy John made his first…
June 28, 1961: Ron Santo comes up big with two homers, seven RBIs
“The Cubs had 25 base runners, and (the public-address) announcer…
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…
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…
July 4, 1961: Julio Becquer’s sudden shot on the Fourth of July wins it for Twins
Roman candles and bottle rockets lit up the evening sky on the…
July 4, 1961: Harmon Killebrew hits first inside-the-park home run in Twins history
Sports columnist Charles Johnson wrote of the 1961 Twins team:…
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…
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…
August 22, 1961: From Twilight Zone to strike zone: Rod Serling visits NY-Penn League game
It would have been fitting if Rod Serling had gone to a baseball…
August 27, 1961: Rocky Colavito homers four times in Tigers’ doubleheader sweep of Senators
It was hot and humid in Washington when the Detroit Tigers took…
September 1, 1961: New coach, new catcher, but still no victory for Cubs
When the Chicago Cubs took the field for their first game in…
September 1, 1961: Skowron’s single launches Yankees on 13-game winning streak
The Setting The baseball world has been captivated this summer…
September 14, 1961: Ken Boyer’s 11 total bases and 11th-inning homer drive Cards to defeat Cubs
Ken Boyer collected his first career five-hit game in propelling…
September 20, 1961: Hurricane Sandy strikes the West Coast
As people awoke on Wednesday, September 20, 1961, and settled…
September 20, 1961: Roger Maris hits 59th home run as Yankees clinch pennant
Wednesday, September 20, 1961, offered the last chance for Roger…
September 21, 1961: A farewell with few mourners: Senators lose to Twins in final baseball game at Griffith Stadium
“The Grand Old Dame of 7th and Florida, familiarly known as…
September 26, 1961: Roger Maris clubs 60th home run to tie Babe Ruth
Roger Maris connects for his 60th home run of the season in…
September 26, 1961: Cincinnati Reds clinch first NL pennant in 21 years
The 1961 Cincinnati Reds1 were a pre-season pick to finish sixth…
September 27, 1961: Sandy Koufax surpasses Mathewson for NL strikeout record in breakout season
When Sandy Koufax started his seventh major-league season,…
October 1, 1961: Roger Maris surpasses Babe Ruth with 61st home run
On October 1, 1961, ending a quest that had enthralled both the…