Jim Gentile hits his fifth grand slam of the year to tie the major league record established in 1955 by Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Each of the Orioles’ first baseman’s four-run homers has come with Chuck Estrada pitching for Baltimore.

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Jim Gentile hits his fifth grand slam of the year to tie the major league record established in 1955 by Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks. Each of the Orioles’ first baseman’s four-run homers has come with Chuck Estrada pitching for Baltimore.

1961 – At New York, Roger Maris is held hitless in four at bats, as the Orioles win, 5 – 3, behind Jack Fisher’s 3-hitter. All the runs off him are unearned. Maris is the only Yankee regular to play the entire game.

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1961 – At New York, Roger Maris is held hitless in four at bats, as the Orioles win, 5 – 3, behind Jack Fisher’s 3-hitter. All the runs off him are unearned. Maris is the only Yankee regular to play the entire game.

New York Yankees clinch 26th Pennant – Maris clubs 59th homerun

New York Yankees clinch 26th Pennant – Maris clubs 59th homerun

ByThis Day in Baseball

1961 – The 155th Yankees game of the season (including a tie) is Roger Maris’ last chance to beat the 60 home run mark set by Babe Ruth in compliance with Commissioner Ford Frick’s statement, for the record to be broken Maris must do it in the same number of games as Ruth. Maris’ 59th home run of the year, off Jack Fisher, is short of the record, but helps the Yankees beat Baltimore, 4 – 2 to clinch their 26th American League pennant.

Sandy Koufax beats the Cubs, 3-2, in the last regular season game played at the LA Memorial Coliseum
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Sandy Koufax beats the Cubs, 3-2, in the last regular season game played at the LA Memorial Coliseum

ByThis Day in Baseball

In a 13-inning contest, Sandy Koufax goes the distance, beating the Cubs, 3-2, in the last regular season game played at the LA Memorial Coliseum, a venue originally built for the 1932 Olympics. The Dodgers are leaving the only home they have known since moving from Brooklyn four seasons ago to play in a brand new stadium in Chavez Ravine, located a few miles from downtown Los Angeles.

1961 – The Giants clobber Warren Spahn for four home runs, one of them a grand slam by Willie Mays, and then rally in the 8th and 9th to top the Braves, 11 – 10. The two teams combine for eight home runs and 57 total bases, but the short ball wins it – Harvey Kuenn’s tie-breaking single in the 8th, and Ed Bailey’s sacks-full single in the 9th.

ByBaseball

1961 – The Giants clobber Warren Spahn for four home runs, one of them a grand slam by Willie Mays, and then rally in the 8th and 9th to top the Braves, 11 – 10. The two teams combine for eight home runs and 57 total bases, but the short ball wins it – Harvey Kuenn’s tie-breaking single in the 8th, and Ed Bailey’s sacks-full single in the 9th.

1961 – In Detroit, Roger Maris triples off Terry Fox in the 7th to put the Yanks ahead. Detroit ties it and, then in the 12th, Maris faces Fox again with Tony Kubek on second base. Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then steps in a belts the first pitch for his 58th homer of the year.

ByBaseball

1961 – In Detroit, Roger Maris triples off Terry Fox in the 7th to put the Yanks ahead. Detroit ties it and, then in the 12th, Maris faces Fox again with Tony Kubek on second base. Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then steps in a belts the first pitch for his 58th homer of the year.

At Detroit, Roger Maris connects for #57, off Frank Lary, to stay a game ahead of Babe Ruth’s 1927 home run pace. But Lary wins his 21st, 10 – 4, over Ralph Terry, with help from Norm Cash, who belts a homer, his 37th, and a triple. Al Kaline adds four hits and a sac fly.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Detroit, Roger Maris connects for #57, off Frank Lary, to stay a game ahead of Babe Ruth’s 1927 home run pace. But Lary wins his 21st, 10 – 4, over Ralph Terry, with help from Norm Cash, who belts a homer, his 37th, and a triple. Al Kaline adds four hits and a sac fly.

The Yankees set a new American League record for most homers in a season as they split a doubleheader in Detroit

The Yankees set a new American League record for most homers in a season as they split a doubleheader in Detroit

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Yankees set a new American League record for most homers in a season as they split a doubleheader in Detroit, winning 11 – 1 and losing 4 – 2. Circuit blows by Bill Skowron and Yogi Berra in the opener help Whitey Ford win his 24th and increase New York’s homer total to 222. This breaks the old mark set by the 1947 Giants and tied by the 1956 Reds. Norm Cash and Steve Boros homer in the nitecap to back Ron Kline’s 7-hitter.