Due to heavy rain, the second 1961 All-Star Game ends in a 1-1 tie at Fenway Park with Rocky Colavito’s home run accounting for the American League’s only run. Jim Bunning, the American League starter, pitches three perfect innings again (he also did it in 1957), making him the only All-Star hurler to accomplish the feat twice.

Due to heavy rain, the second 1961 All-Star Game ends in a 1-1 tie at Fenway Park with Rocky Colavito’s home run accounting for the American League’s only run. Jim Bunning, the American League starter, pitches three perfect innings again (he also did it in 1957), making him the only All-Star hurler to accomplish the feat twice.

The Giants’ Orlando Cepeda hits a 1st-inning grand slam to give the Giants a 4 – 3 win over the Phils. The Phillies will lose 23 straight before another victory.

The Giants’ Orlando Cepeda hits a 1st-inning grand slam to give the Giants a 4 – 3 win over the Phils. The Phillies will lose 23 straight before another victory.

Duke Snider’s pinch-hit home run and Ron Fairly’s RBI hit give Los Angeles a 5 – 4 win at Pittsburgh. The Dodgers take over first place from the Reds.

Duke Snider’s pinch-hit home run and Ron Fairly’s RBI hit give Los Angeles a 5 – 4 win at Pittsburgh. The Dodgers take over first place from the Reds.

1961 – The Yanks buy 1B Bob Hale from Cleveland. This will make veteran Earl Torgeson, signed on June 17th, expendable. They’ll release Torgy as a player in early September and sign him as a coach.

1961 – The Yanks buy 1B Bob Hale from Cleveland. This will make veteran Earl Torgeson, signed on June 17th, expendable. They’ll release Torgy as a player in early September and sign him as a coach.

The Giants’ Juan Marichal fires his first shutout of the year, stopping the Pirates, 2 – 0, on five hits. Manager Alvin Dark says before the game that “Marichal will go all the way” and keeps his relief pitchers in the dugout to emphasis the point. Bob Stevens of the San Francisco Chronicle writes: “Later, Dark explained to questioning reporters: ‘I’m sick and tired of watching pitchers bow their necks for four-five innings and then look around for Stu Miller to bail them out.’ As far as press box historians could guess, last night was the first time in modern baseball history that a major league bullpen was left unattended.” Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays trade circus catches in the game. As reported by Stevens: “Only twice did Dark, enforcing an almost sadistic philosophy, go to the mound – when Marichal scraped an arm falling hard to the ground fielding a Smoky Burgess bounder in the 5th, and in the 7th when Don Hoak singled immediately behind a miraculous catch by Willie Mays of a deep, soaring, twisting drive by Burgess. Mays reached high in the sky after a 25-yard race to haul down Burgess’ boomer… The first break-through [against the Pirates’ Vinegar Bend Mizell] came in the 5th immediately after Roberto Clemente had crashed against the right-field wall to pocket a roaring shot by Orlando Cepeda.”

The Giants’ Juan Marichal fires his first shutout of the year, stopping the Pirates, 2 – 0, on five hits. Manager Alvin Dark says before the game that “Marichal will go all the way” and keeps his relief pitchers in the dugout to emphasis the point. Bob Stevens of the San Francisco Chronicle writes: “Later, Dark explained to questioning reporters: ‘I’m sick and tired of watching pitchers bow their necks for four-five innings and then look around for Stu Miller to bail them out.’ As far as press box historians could guess, last night was the first time in modern baseball history that a major league bullpen was left unattended.” Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays trade circus catches in the game. As reported by Stevens: “Only twice did Dark, enforcing an almost sadistic philosophy, go to the mound – when Marichal scraped an arm falling hard to the ground fielding a Smoky Burgess bounder in the 5th, and in the 7th when Don Hoak singled immediately behind a miraculous catch by Willie Mays of a deep, soaring, twisting drive by Burgess. Mays reached high in the sky after a 25-yard race to haul down Burgess’ boomer… The first break-through [against the Pirates’ Vinegar Bend Mizell] came in the 5th immediately after Roberto Clemente had crashed against the right-field wall to pocket a roaring shot by Orlando Cepeda.”

Vada Pinson gives the Reds a 2 – 1 win over the Braves when he swipes home in the 9th inning. Pitcher Carl Willey’s throw beats Pinson but he kicks the ball out of the glove of C Sammy White.

Vada Pinson gives the Reds a 2 – 1 win over the Braves when he swipes home in the 9th inning. Pitcher Carl Willey’s throw beats Pinson but he kicks the ball out of the glove of C Sammy White.

Johnny Blanchard hits his fourth consecutive home run over three games, setting a major league mark. The backup catcher’s pair of homers helps to pace the Bronx Bombers to a 5-2 victory over Chicago at Yankee Stadium. https://amzn.to/2uTR0CM

Johnny Blanchard hits his fourth consecutive home run over three games, setting a major league mark. The backup catcher’s pair of homers helps to pace the Bronx Bombers to a 5-2 victory over Chicago at Yankee Stadium. https://amzn.to/2uTR0CM

Johnny Blanchard ties a major-league record by hitting his 3rd and 4th home runs in four at bats over three games. He drives in four of the Yankee runs in a 5 – 2 victory over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium. New York manages just six hits but four are homers, including one by Mickey Mantle following Blanchard’s 1st-inning clout. Blanchard will end the year with 21 homers in 243 at bats, the first player in history to hit 20 or more in fewer than 250 at bats.

Johnny Blanchard ties a major-league record by hitting his 3rd and 4th home runs in four at bats over three games. He drives in four of the Yankee runs in a 5 – 2 victory over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium. New York manages just six hits but four are homers, including one by Mickey Mantle following Blanchard’s 1st-inning clout. Blanchard will end the year with 21 homers in 243 at bats, the first player in history to hit 20 or more in fewer than 250 at bats.

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At Milwaukee, the Reds muscle three runs in the 8th inning to beat the Braves, 3 – 2. Gus Bell rings a pinch homer and Frank Robinson clubs a two-run homer for the Reds.

At Milwaukee, the Reds muscle three runs in the 8th inning to beat the Braves, 3 – 2. Gus Bell rings a pinch homer and Frank Robinson clubs a two-run homer for the Reds.