In the eleventh game of the season, Roger Maris finally hits his first homer in New York’s 13-11 victory over Detroit at Tiger Stadium. The fifth inning blast off Paul Foytack begins the Yankee right fielder’s historic quest for the single-season home run record.
Gene Conley pitches for Red Sox after winning NBA title
Art Mahaffey strikes out at least a batter in each inning, setting a club record with 17, while shutting out the Chicago Cubs, 6 – 0, in the second game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park. The Phillies win the first game behind a 1 – 0 shutout by Frank Sullivan.
At Comiskey Park, Pumpsie Green hits a home run in the 11th-inning as the Boston Red Sox snap a 13-game losing streak by edging the Chicago White Sox, 7 – 6.
The Pittsburgh Pirates win their 10th straight game, edging the New York Mets, 4 – 3, and matching the major-league record to start a season, while the Mets tie a National League record by opening 0-9.
The Twins, formerly known as the Washington Senators before moving to Minnesota, play their first home game, losing to the ‘new’ expansion Washington Senators, 5-3 in front of a crowd of 24,606 at Metropolitan Stadium. The club’s move to the North Star State will attract 1,256,723 fans, third best in the American League, and far better than their last season in the nation’s capital, where the team drew only 743,404 fans, the worst gate in the league.
At Comiskey Park, Bill Veeck employs eight Little People to work in the stands during the White Sox home opener against Washington. The Chicago owner’s hiring decision is a response to complaints that fans sitting in the box seats couldn’t see over the vendors.
Beginning his historic chase of Babe Ruth’s 60 home run season-record, Roger Maris connects for his first homer in the twelfth game of the season for the Yankees. The 5th-inning solo shot is off Detroit Tigers pitcher Paul Foytack.
Frank Lary tosses a one-hitter on Opening Day, beating the White Sox at Tiger Stadium, 7-0. Chicago’s lone hit comes in the fifth inning when Jim Landis singles off the glove of shortstop Chico Fernandez.
On April 14, 1961, the “new” Washington Senators franchise wins its first game, defeating the Cleveland Indians, 3-2. Joe McClain earns the victory for the Senators, one of two new expansion teams in the American League. The “old” Washington Senators had moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season.
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