1961 – In their first appearance in Boston since moving to Milwaukee, the Braves defeat the Red Sox, 4 – 1. Warren Spahn pitches the first inning, striking out rookies Chuck Schilling and Carl Yastrzemski. The exhibition gameis for the benefit of the Jimmy Fund.
With back-to-back homers in the top of the first at Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris continue their assault on Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. The game’s decisive hit, however, is a pinch-hit grand slam by Johnny Blanchard with two-out in the ninth-inning which propels the Bronx Bombers past the Red Sox, 11-8.
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.
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 May 31, 1961, Carroll Hardy of the Boston Red Sox becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski. Subbing for Yaz in the eighth inning, Hardy lays down a bunt single during a 7-6 loss to the New York Yankees.
Gene Conley pitches for Red Sox after winning NBA title
Red Sox rookie Carl Yastrzemski, in his major league debut, singles off Kansas City’s Ray Herbert in the team’s 5-2 Opening Day loss at Fenway Park. The 21 year-old left fielder from Bridgehampton, New York, will amass 3,419 hits during his 23-year Hall of Fame career with Boston..
On March 19, 1961, the Boston Red Sox announce that rookie Carl Yastrzemski will start the season in left field, succeeding the legendary Ted Williams. Yastrzemski will remain a fixture in the Red Sox’ lineup for the next 23 years and will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1989.
1960 – The Yankees beat the Red Sox, 6 – 5, and set a new American League record for homers with 192. Tony Kubek and Jesse Gonder hit the homers today as the Bombers win their 13th straight.
On September 28, 1960, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox smashes a home run in his final major league at-bat. Williams sends the ball 450 feet into the right field bleachers at Fenway Park. Williams’ 521st home run places him third on the all-time list. His at-bat that will be immortalized by John…
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