1961 – The expansion Washington Senators are 30-30 after winning today. It is the latest date an expansion team will be at .500. Washington will lose its next 10 games.
On June 12, 1961, Hall of Fame owner Bill Veeck sells his interest in the Chicago White Sox to partner Arthur Allyn. The 48-year-old owner decides to leave the game, in part because of health reasons.
On June 11, 1961 The Yankees sweep two from the Angels‚ winning the opener‚ 2 – 1 behind Ralph Terry’s 5-hitter. Yogi Berra clouts a pair of solo homers. In the nitecap‚ Mickey Mantle’s 1st inning homer‚ #19‚ gives him the American League lead‚ but Roger Maris adds a pair of home runs‚ his 19th and 20th‚ as New York wins, 5 – 1. The Yanks…
In Game 1 of a twin bill at Tiger Stadium, Norm Cash becomes the first Detroit player to hit a fair ball over the right field roof. The first baseman’s prodigious poke off Joe McClain is to no avail as the Tigers lose to the Senators, 7-4.
On June 10, 1961 The Braves tie the National League record with 14 homers in 3 straight games (at least one in each game) as they outscore the Cubs at Wrigley Field, 9 – 5.
On June 10, 1961 At New York‚ ex-Yank Hank Bauer hits a inside-the-park homer over Mickey Mantle’s head to the centerfield monuments‚ but Mantle’s homer in the bottom of the 8th off rookie Bill Kunkel cements New York’s 5 – 3 win over Kansas City.
On June 10, 1961 Pitchers Ray Herbert and Don Larsen‚ 3B Andy Carey‚ and OF Al Pilarcik of the A’s go to the White Sox for pitchers Bob Shaw and Gerry Staley and outfielders Wes Covington and Stan Johnson.
6/9/1961 – The Los Angeles Angels were playing a doubleheader at Fenway Park. The Angels lineup for game two had Ken Hamlin batting first and Gene Leek eighth. However, Leek started the game by grounding out and the Red Sox did not comment. The next batter should have been the ninth-place hitter, pitcher Ryne Duren. However, Lee Thomas came to the plate and singled to left. At this point the Sox again did not comment. Leon Wagner, properly following Thomas, singled to right driving advancing Thomas to third. At this point, Boston could not protest the batter since Wagner was the correct one. Thomas scored on a ground out by the next batter, Ken Hunt. In the second inning, sixth place hitter Ken Aspromonte led off with a single and the seventh batter, Steve Bilko, was called out on strikes. Leek should have hit now but Hamlin strode to the plate and beat out an infield hit. The Red Sox now point the improper batter to the umpires and Leek, the proper batter, is called out. The Angels follow the correct lineup for the rest of the game and go on to beat the Red Sox, 5-1.
On June 9, 1961, Ryne Duren of the Los Angeles Angels sets an American League record by striking out seven consecutive Boston Red Sox batters during a 5-1 win. Duren will finish the game with 11 Ks.
1961 – The Milwaukee Braves set a major-league record with four consecutive home runs in the 7th inning against Cincinnati. Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron hit back-to-back home runs off starter Jim Maloney; Joe Adcock greets reliever Marshall Bridges with another home run, and Frank Thomas sets the record. When these four teammates end their major-league careers, they will have hit a combined total of 1,889 homers. For all the bombardment, the Braves lose, 10 – 8.
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