1961 – The Yanks rout the Indians, 9 – 1, as Mickey Mantle hits home run #52, off Gary Bell. The Yanks win for their 9th straight while Detroit loses their 8th in a row to drop 10 games back. The Tigers purchase veteran Vic Wertz from the Red Sox to shore up their offense.

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1961 – The Yanks rout the Indians, 9 – 1, as Mickey Mantle hits home run #52, off Gary Bell. The Yanks win for their 9th straight while Detroit loses their 8th in a row to drop 10 games back. The Tigers purchase veteran Vic Wertz from the Red Sox to shore up their offense.

1961 – Roger Maris lays down a bunt and also belts his 55th homer of the year in the 3rd inning as New York beats the Senators, 7 – 3. All of Washington’s scores come in the 6th on an inside-the-park homer by Tito Francona, off Bill Terry. When asked by writers after the game why he bunted, a testy Maris replies, “Trying to win the game, you stupid cocksucker. Why do you think.”

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1961 – Roger Maris lays down a bunt and also belts his 55th homer of the year in the 3rd inning as New York beats the Senators, 7 – 3. All of Washington’s scores come in the 6th on an inside-the-park homer by Tito Francona, off Bill Terry. When asked by writers after the game why he bunted, a testy Maris replies, “Trying to win the game, you stupid cocksucker. Why do you think.”

Roger Maris connects for home run #54‚ off Tom Cheney of the Senators‚ as the Yankees win‚ 8 – 0‚ behind Whitey Ford’s 5-hitter. Ford is now 23-3. Johnny Blanchard hits a pair of homers‚ each time following a walk to Mickey Mantle‚ and Moose Skowron and Bob Hale also homer.

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Roger Maris connects for home run #54‚ off Tom Cheney of the Senators‚ as the Yankees win‚ 8 – 0‚ behind Whitey Ford’s 5-hitter. Ford is now 23-3. Johnny Blanchard hits a pair of homers‚ each time following a walk to Mickey Mantle‚ and Moose Skowron and Bob Hale also homer.

Los Angeles’s Lee Thomas ties the major-league record with nine hits in a doubleheader, five in the first game and 4, including three home runs, in the second. Thomas ties the American League record with 19 total basesin a doubleheader. But Kansas City wins both games from the Angels, 7 – 3 and 13 – 12.

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Los Angeles’s Lee Thomas ties the major-league record with nine hits in a doubleheader, five in the first game and 4, including three home runs, in the second. Thomas ties the American League record with 19 total basesin a doubleheader. But Kansas City wins both games from the Angels, 7 – 3 and 13 – 12.

The Yanks top Washington, 6 – 1, sending the Senators to their 20th defeat in their last 21 games. Mickey Mantle’s homers for his 51st. The Yanks win, coupled with a Detroit doubleheader loss, puts New York ahead by 7 1/2 games.

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The Yanks top Washington, 6 – 1, sending the Senators to their 20th defeat in their last 21 games. Mickey Mantle’s homers for his 51st. The Yanks win, coupled with a Detroit doubleheader loss, puts New York ahead by 7 1/2 games.

Roberto Clemente leads the Pirates to a 9 – 4 win over the Cardinals. After doubling and scoring the first of three 1st-inning Pirate runs, Clemente greets newly-inserted reliever Al Cicotte with a line-drive home run worth three more runs. Les Biederman writes in the Pittsburgh Press: “Clemente’s homer was one of the longest and hardest shots he ever delivered.” Jack Hernon of the Post Gazette adds: “The ball sailed into the second row in the center field bleachers, some 425 feet away. It is a rarity for a ball to be hit into that section of Busch Stadium.”

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Roberto Clemente leads the Pirates to a 9 – 4 win over the Cardinals. After doubling and scoring the first of three 1st-inning Pirate runs, Clemente greets newly-inserted reliever Al Cicotte with a line-drive home run worth three more runs. Les Biederman writes in the Pittsburgh Press: “Clemente’s homer was one of the longest and hardest shots he ever delivered.” Jack Hernon of the Post Gazette adds: “The ball sailed into the second row in the center field bleachers, some 425 feet away. It is a rarity for a ball to be hit into that section of Busch Stadium.”

In Minnesota, the White Sox and Twins split a pair of 9 – 5 decisions in a day-night doubleheader. Harmon Killebrew hits his 39th homer in the opener to back Al Schroll’s six innings of spotty pitching. Al Smith has four hits and four ribbies in the nitecap. Numberless rookie Joe Horlen makes his major league debut in relief and picks up the win. The only road uniform available has no number on it.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In Minnesota, the White Sox and Twins split a pair of 9 – 5 decisions in a day-night doubleheader. Harmon Killebrew hits his 39th homer in the opener to back Al Schroll’s six innings of spotty pitching. Al Smith has four hits and four ribbies in the nitecap. Numberless rookie Joe Horlen makes his major league debut in relief and picks up the win. The only road uniform available has no number on it.

Mickey Mantle misses the Labor Day doubleheader with a painful and swollen forearm, but the Yanks don’t need him as they sweep a pair from the Senators, 5 – 3 and 3 – 2. The sweep moves the Yanks six games up on the slumping Tigers, who lose, 6 – 3, to the Orioles and trail, 4 – 1, in a game that is suspended. Mantle’s replacement, Johnny Blanchard, breaks a 3 – 3 tie in the opener with an 8th-inning homer.

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Mickey Mantle misses the Labor Day doubleheader with a painful and swollen forearm, but the Yanks don’t need him as they sweep a pair from the Senators, 5 – 3 and 3 – 2. The sweep moves the Yanks six games up on the slumping Tigers, who lose, 6 – 3, to the Orioles and trail, 4 – 1, in a game that is suspended. Mantle’s replacement, Johnny Blanchard, breaks a 3 – 3 tie in the opener with an 8th-inning homer.

At Los Angeles, Don Drysdale stops the Giants, 4 – 0, allowing just two hits. The Dodgers are now two games in back of the first-place Reds.

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At Los Angeles, Don Drysdale stops the Giants, 4 – 0, allowing just two hits. The Dodgers are now two games in back of the first-place Reds.