1961 New York Yankees season

The 1961 New York Yankees season was the 59th season for the team. The team finished with a record of 109–53, eight games ahead of the Detroit Tigers, and won their 26th American League pennant. New York was managed by Ralph Houk. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they defeated the Cincinnati Reds in 5 games. This season was best known for the home run chase between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, with the former beating Babe Ruth's single season record by hitting 61.

1961 New York Yankees
World Series champions American League champions
League	American League
Ballpark	Yankee Stadium
City	New York City
Record	109–53–1 (.673)
League place	1st
Owners	Dan Topping and Del Webb
General managers	Roy Hamey
Managers	Ralph Houk
Television	WPIX–TV 11 (Mel Allen, Red Barber, Phil Rizzuto)
Radio	WCBS–AM 880 (Mel Allen, Red Barber, Phil Rizzuto)
← 1960 Seasons 1962 →

Offseason

• December 14, 1960: Bob Cerv was drafted from the Yankees by the Los Angeles Angels in the 1960 MLB expansion draft.^[1]
• January 16, 1961: Mickey Mantle became the highest paid baseball player by signing a $75,000 contract.
• Prior to 1961 season: Art López was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees.^[2]
• Prior to 1961 season: Ole Miss Rebels football quarterback Jake Gibbs was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees.^[3]

Regular season

The 1961 season was notable for the race between center fielder Mickey Mantle and right fielder Roger Maris to break Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season (set in 1927). Maris eventually broke the record, hitting his 61st home run on October 1, the season's final day. During the season, Maris had seven multi-home run games; in a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, he hit four home runs.

1961 was an expansion year, with the American League increasing from eight to ten teams, the first expansion in the 61-year history of the league. The old schedule of 154 games (seven opponents multiplied by 22 games apiece) was replaced by 162 games (nine opponents multiplied by 18 games apiece) which led to some controversy due to the eight extra games that Maris had to try to hit 61.

Ultimately, when Maris broke Ruth’s record in game 162, baseball commissioner Ford Frick instigated "The Asterisk", which designated that Maris had only accomplished the feat in a longer season, and disallowed any reference to him as the record-holder. When commissioner Fay Vincent removed "The Asterisk" in 1991, Maris was finally given credit as the single-season home run record-holder. However, Maris had died in 1985, never knowing that the record belonged to him.

In addition to the individual exploits of Maris and Mantle, the 1961 Yankees hit a major league record 240 home runs. The record stood until 1996 when the Baltimore Orioles, with the added benefit of the designated hitter, hit 257 home runs as a team.

Roger Maris

In 1961, the American League expanded from eight to ten teams, generally watering down the pitching, but leaving the Yankees pretty much intact. Yankee home runs began to come at a record pace. One famous photograph lined up six 1961 Yankee players, including Mantle, Maris, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, Johnny Blanchard, and Bill Skowron, under the nickname "Murderers Row", because they hit a combined 207 home runs that year. The title "Murderers Row", coined in 1918,^{[dubious – discuss]} had most famously been used to refer to the Yankees side of the late 1920s.

The "M&M Boys" together in 1961.

As mid-season approached, it seemed quite possible that either Maris or Mantle, or perhaps both, would break Babe Ruth's 34-year-old home run record. Unlike the home run race of 1998, in which the competition between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa was given extensive positive media coverage, sportswriters in 1961 began to play the "M&M Boys" against each other, inventing a rivalry where none existed, according to Yogi Berra.^{[citation needed]}

The 1961 home run race between Maris and Mantle was dramatized in the 2001 film 61*, filmed under the direction of Billy Crystal.

Roger Maris 61 home runs

Number	Game	Date	Pitcher	Team	Inning
1	11	04-26-1961	Paul Foytack	Detroit Tigers	5th
2	17	05-03-1961	Pedro Ramos	Minnesota Twins	7th
3	20	05-06-1961	Eli Grba	Los Angeles Angels	5th
4	29	05-17-1961	Pete Burnside	Washington Senators	8th
5	30	05-19-1961	Jim Perry	Cleveland Indians	1st
6	31	05-20-1961	Gary Bell	Cleveland Indians	3rd
7	32	05-21-1961	Chuck Estrada	Baltimore Orioles	1st
8	35	05-24-1961	Gene Conley	Boston Red Sox	4th
9	38	05-28-1961	Cal McLish	Chicago White Sox	2nd
10	40	05-30-1961	Gene Conley	Boston Red Sox	3rd
11	40	05-30-1961	Mike Fornieles	Boston Red Sox	8th
12	41	05-31-1961	Billy Muffett	Boston Red Sox	3rd
13	43	06-02-1961	Cal McLish	Chicago White Sox	3rd
14	44	06-03-1961	Bob Shaw	Chicago White Sox	8th
15	45	06-04-1961	Russ Kemmerer	Chicago White Sox	3rd
16	48	06-06-1961	Ed Palmquist	Minnesota Twins	6th
17	49	06-07-1961	Pedro Ramos	Minnesota Twins	3rd
18	52	06-09-1961	Ray Herbert	Kansas City Athletics	7th
19	55	06-11-1961	Eli Grba	Los Angeles Angels	3rd
20	55	06-11-1961	Johnny James	Los Angeles Angels	7th
21	57	06-13-1961	Jim Perry	Cleveland Indians	6th
22	58	06-14-1961	Gary Bell	Cleveland Indians	4th
23	61	06-17-1961	Don Mossi	Detroit Tigers	4th
24	62	06-18-1961	Jerry Casale	Detroit Tigers	8th
25	63	06-19-1961	Jim Archer	Kansas City Athletics	9th
26	64	06-20-1961	Joe Nuxhall	Kansas City Athletics	1st
27	66	06-22-1961	Norm Bass	Kansas City Athletics	2nd
28	74	07-01-1961	Dave Sisler	Washington Senators	9th
29	75	07-02-1961	Pete Burnside	Washington Senators	3rd
30	75	07-02-1961	Johnny Klippstein	Washington Senators	7th
31	77	07-04-1961	Frank Lary	Detroit Tigers	8th
32	78	07-05-1961	Frank Funk	Cleveland Indians	7th
33	82	07-09-1961	Bill Monbouquette	Boston Red Sox	7th
34	84	07-13-1961	Early Wynn	Chicago White Sox	1st
35	86	07-15-1961	Ray Herbert	Chicago White Sox	3rd
36	92	07-21-1961	Bill Monbouquette	Boston Red Sox	1st
37	95	07-25-1961	Frank Baumann	Chicago White Sox	4th
38	95	07-25-1961	Don Larsen	Chicago White Sox	8th
39	96	07-25-1961	Russ Kemmerer	Chicago White Sox	4th
40	96	07-25-1961	Warren Hacker	Chicago White Sox	7th
41	106	08-04-1961	Camilo Pascual	Minnesota Twins	1st
42	114	08-11-1961	Pete Burnside	Washington Senators	5th
43	115	08-12-1961	Dick Donovan	Washington Senators	4th
44	116	08-13-1961	Bennie Daniels	Washington Senators	4th
45	117	08-13-1961	Marty Kutyna	Washington Senators	1st
46	118	08-15-1961	Juan Pizarro	Chicago White Sox	4th
47	119	08-16-1961	Billy Pierce	Chicago White Sox	1st
48	119	08-16-1961	Billy Pierce	Chicago White Sox	3rd
49	124	08-20-1961	Jim Perry	Cleveland Indians	3rd
50	125	08-22-1961	Ken McBride	Los Angeles Angels	6th
51	129	08-26-1961	Jerry Walker	Kansas City Athletics	6th
52	135	09-02-1961	Frank Lary	Detroit Tigers	6th
53	135	09-02-1961	Hank Aguirre	Detroit Tigers	8th
54	140	09-06-1961	Tom Cheney	Washington Senators	4th
55	141	09-07-1961	Dick Stigman	Cleveland Indians	3rd
56	143	09-09-1961	Mudcat Grant	Cleveland Indians	7th
57	151	09-16-1961	Frank Lary	Detroit Tigers	3rd
58	152	09-17-1961	Terry Fox	Detroit Tigers	12th
59	155	09-20-1961	Milt Pappas	Baltimore Orioles	3rd
60	159	09-26-1961	Jack Fisher	Baltimore Orioles	3rd
61	163	10-01-1961	Tracy Stallard	Boston Red Sox	4th

^[4]

The Yankees played one tie game which was later made up, and hence took 163 games to achieve 162 decisions.

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

American League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Yankees	109	53	.673	—	65‍–‍16	44‍–‍37
Detroit Tigers	101	61	.623	8	50‍–‍31	51‍–‍30
Baltimore Orioles	95	67	.586	14	48‍–‍33	47‍–‍34
Chicago White Sox	86	76	.531	23	53‍–‍28	33‍–‍48
Cleveland Indians	78	83	.484	30½	40‍–‍41	38‍–‍42
Boston Red Sox	76	86	.469	33	50‍–‍31	26‍–‍55
Minnesota Twins	70	90	.438	38	36‍–‍44	34‍–‍46
Los Angeles Angels	70	91	.435	38½	46‍–‍36	24‍–‍55
Kansas City Athletics	61	100	.379	47½	33‍–‍47	28‍–‍53
Washington Senators	61	100	.379	47½	33‍–‍46	28‍–‍54

Record vs. opponents

1961 American League record v t e Sources:
Team	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	KCA	LAA	MIN	NYY	WSH
Baltimore	—	11–7	11–7	9–9	9–9	13–5	8–10	11–7	9–9–1	14–4
Boston	7–11	—	9–9	5–13	8–10	10–8	11–7–1	11–7	5–13	10–8
Chicago	7–11	9–9	—	12–6	6–12	14–4	10–8	9–9–1	6–12	13–5
Cleveland	9–9	13–5	6–12	—	6–12	8–9	10–8	10–8	4–14	12–6
Detroit	9–9	10–8	12–6	12–6	—	12–6–1	14–4	11–7	8–10	13–5
Kansas City	5–13	8–10	4–14	9–8	6–12–1	—	9–9	7–11	4–14	9–9
Los Angeles	10–8	7–11–1	8–10	8–10	4–14	9–9	—	8–9	6–12	10–8
Minnesota	7–11	7–11	9–9–1	8–10	7–11	11–7	9–8	—	4–14	8–9
New York	9–9–1	13–5	12–6	14–4	10–8	14–4	12–6	14–4	—	11–7
Washington	4–14	8–10	5–13	6–12	5–13	9–9	8–10	9–8	7–11	—

Notable transactions

• May 8, 1961: Lee Thomas, Ryne Duren, and Johnny James was traded by the Yankees to the Los Angeles Angels for Bob Cerv and Tex Clevenger.^[5]
• July 1, 1961: Roy White was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees.^[6]

Roster

1961 New York Yankees
Roster
Pitchers 47 Luis Arroyo 26 Tex Clevenger 39 Jim Coates 28 Bud Daley 28 Art Ditmar 24 Al Downing 26 Ryne Duren 16 Whitey Ford 53 Johnny James 29 Duke Maas 24 Danny McDevitt 18 Hal Reniff 45 Rollie Sheldon 22 Bill Stafford 23 Ralph Terry 19 Bob Turley		Catchers 38 Johnny Blanchard 32 Elston Howard Infielders 34,6 Clete Boyer 20 Joe DeMaestri 12 Billy Gardner 34 Bob Hale  6 Deron Johnson 10 Tony Kubek  1 Bobby Richardson 14 Bill Skowron 29 Earl Torgeson 15 Tom Tresh		Outfielders  8 Yogi Berra 17 Bob Cerv 11 Héctor López  7 Mickey Mantle  9 Roger Maris 15 Jack Reed Other batters 25 Jesse Gonder 17 Lee Thomas		Manager 35 Ralph Houk Coaches  2 Frankie Crosetti (Third base) 44 Jim Hegan (Bullpen) 36 Wally Moses (First base & hitting) 31 Johnny Sain (Pitching) 29 Earl Torgeson

Game log

Regular season

Legend
	Yankees win
	Yankees loss
	Yankees tie
	Postponement
	Clinched pennant
Bold	Yankees team member

1961 regular season game log: 109–53–1 (Home: 65–16; Away: 44–37–1)[7]
April: 9–5 (Home: 6–1; Away: 3–4) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 1 April 11 Twins 6–0 Ramos (1–0) Ford (0–1) 14,607 0–1 2 April 15 Athletics 5–3 Turley (1–0) Daley (0–1) Stafford (1) 11,802 1–1 3 April 17 Athletics 3–0 Ford (1–1) Walker (0–1) 1,947 2–1 4 April 20 Angels 7–5 Ditmar (1–0) Grba (0–1) Stafford (2) 3–1 5 April 20 Angels 4–2 Turley (2–0) Garver (0–1) Arroyo (1) 7,059 4–1 6 April 21 8:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles W 4–2 Ford (2–1) Barber (1–1) — 2:17 12,368 5–1 W5 7 (1) April 22 2:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles L 3–5 Wilhelm (1–0) Duren (0–1) — 2:17 12,536 5–2 L1 8 (2) April 22 8:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles T 5–5 (7) — — — 2:09 14,126 5–2 T1 9 April 23 2:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles L 1–4 Estrada (1–1) McDevitt (0–1) Hall (1) 2:40 18,704 5–3 L1 10 April 24 1:30 p.m. EST @ Tigers L 3–4 Lary (3–0) Turley (2–1) — 2:19 5,662 5–4 L2 — April 25 1:30 p.m. EST @ Tigers Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: September 15) 11 April 26 8:15 p.m. EST @ Tigers W 13–11 (10) Arroyo (1–0) Aguirre (0–1) — 3:20 4,676 6–4 W1 12 April 27 Indians 4–3 Ditmar (2–0) Antonelli (0–2) 8,897 7–4 13 April 29 Indians 4–2 Terry (1–0) Perry (2–1) Arroyo (2) 14,624 8–4 14 April 30 @ Senators 4–3 Ford (3–1) Donovan (0–4) Arroyo (3) 9–4 15 April 30 @ Senators 2–1 Woodeshick (1–1) Sheldon (0–1) Burnside (1) 21,904 9–5
May: 14–12 (Home: 7–6; Away: 7–6) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 16 May 2 @ Twins 6 – 4 (10) Coates (1–0) Pascual (2–1) Arroyo (4) 16,669 10–5 17 May 3 @ Twins 7–3 Turley (3–1) Ramos (2–1) 18,158 11–5 18 May 4 @ Twins 5–2 Ford (4–1) Kaat (1–2) Coates (1) 18,179 12–5 19 May 5 @ Angels 5–4 McDevitt (1–1) Clevenger (2–1) Arroyo (5) 17,801 13–5 20 May 6 @ Angels 5–3 Grba (2–2) Ditmar (2–1) 19,865 13–6 21 May 7 @ Angels 5–3 Kline (1–0) Coates (1–1) Clevenger (1) 19,722 13–7 22 May 9 @ Athletics 5–4 Herbert (2–1) Arroyo (1–1) Archer (1) 13,623 13–8 23 May 10 @ Athletics 9–4 Clevenger (3–1) Daley (3–4) 15,986 14–8 24 May 12 8:00 p.m. EST Tigers L 3–4 Lary (5–1) Coates (1–2) — 3:09 23,556 14–9 L1 25 May 13 2:00 p.m. EST Tigers L 3–8 Regan (3–0) Turley (3–2) — 2:45 18,036 14–10 L2 26 (1) May 14 2:00 p.m. EST Tigers W 5–4 (11) Coates (2–2) Aguirre (1–2) — 3:30 — 15–10 W1 27 (2) May 14 5:55 p.m. EST Tigers W 8–6 Coates (3–2) Bunning (2–3) — 2:39 40,968 16–10 W2 28 May 16 Senators 3–2 Woodeshick (2–1) Stafford (0–1) Sisler (5) 10,050 16–11 29 May 17 Senators 8–7 Burnside (1–2) Ditmar (2–2) Gabler (1) 6,197 16–12 30 May 19 @ Indians 9–7 Latman (3–0) Clevenger (3–2) Allen (2) 21,240 16–13 31 May 20 @ Indians 4–3 Funk (4–2) Stafford (0–2) 8,431 16–14 32 (1) May 21 2:00 p.m. EST Orioles W 4–2 Ford (5–1) Estrada (2–3) — 2:22 — 17–14 W1 33 (2) May 21 4:47 p.m. EST Orioles L 2–3 Barber (5–3) Sheldon (0–2) Wilhelm (5) 2:37 47,890 17–15 L1 34 May 22 8:00 p.m. EST Orioles W 8–2 Coates (4–2) Fisher (1–5) Arroyo (6) 2:43 16,923 18–15 W1 35 May 24 Red Sox 3–2 Terry (2–0) Nichols (0–1) 7,673 19–15 36 May 25 Red Sox 6–4 Ford (6–1) Muffett (0–4) Arroyo (7) 13,087 20–15 37 May 28 White Sox 14–9 Lown (2–2) Arroyo (1–2) Pierce (2) 20–16 38 May 28 White Sox 5–3 Coates (5–2) McLish (2–5) 44,435 21–16 39 May 29 @ Red Sox 2–1 Delock (3–1) Ford (6–2) 21,804 21–17 40 May 30 @ Red Sox 12–3 Stafford (1–2) Conley (2–4) Coates (2) 19,582 22–17 41 May 31 @ Red Sox 7–6 Sheldon (1–2) Muffett (0–5) McDevitt (1) 17,318 23–17
June: 22–10 (Home: 10–1; Away: 12–9) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 42 June 1 @ Red Sox 7–5 Monbouquette (4–5) Turley (3–3) Stallard (1) 5,257 23–18 43 June 2 @ White Sox 6–2 Ford (7–2) McLish (2–6) 38,410 24–18 44 June 3 @ White Sox 6 – 5 (13) Hacker (1–0) Ditmar (2–3) 16,480 24–19 45 June 4 @ White Sox 10–1 Stafford (2–2) Pierce (1–5) 28,362 25–19 46 June 5 Twins 6–2 Coates (6–2) Lee (0–2) Arroyo (8) 26–19 47 June 5 Twins 6–1 Sheldon (2–2) Stobbs (0–2) 23,103 27–19 48 June 6 Twins 7–2 Ford (8–2) Kralick (4–4) Arroyo (9) 17,129 28–19 49 June 7 Twins 5–1 Terry (3–0) Ramos (3–7) 9,016 29–19 50 June 8 Athletics 6–1 Stafford (3–2) Bass (4–3) 30–19 51 June 8 Athletics 9–6 Archer (3–1) McDevitt (1–2) 13,157 30–20 52 June 9 Athletics 8–6 Arroyo (2–2) Herbert (3–6) 22,418 31–20 53 June 10 Athletics 5–3 Ford (9–2) Nuxhall (4–2) 17,272 32–20 54 June 11 Angels 2–1 Terry (4–0) McBride (5–4) 33–20 55 June 11 Angels 5–1 Sheldon (3–2) Grba (5–5) Arroyo (10) 37,378 34–20 56 June 12 Angels 3–1 Stafford (4–2) Bowsfield (2–2) 16,363 35–20 57 June 13 @ Indians 7–2 Perry (5–4) Coates (6–3) Funk (5) 21,704 35–21 58 June 14 @ Indians 11–5 Ford (10–2) Bell (4–6) Arroyo (11) 25,095 36–21 59 June 15 @ Indians 3 – 2 (11) Terry (5–0) Funk (7–5) 23,350 37–21 60 June 16 8:15 p.m. EST @ Tigers L 2–4 Regan (7–2) Stafford (4–3) — 2:12 51,744 37–22 L1 61 June 17 8:15 p.m. EST @ Tigers L 10–12 Foytack (4–4) Daley (4–9) Fox (4) 2:58 51,509 37–23 L2 62 June 18 1:300 p.m. EST @ Tigers W 9–0 Ford (11–2) Lary (10–4) Arroyo (12) 2:27 44,459 38–23 W1 63 June 19 @ Athletics 4–3 Archer (5–1) Arroyo (2–3) 16,715 38–24 64 June 20 @ Athletics 6–2 Stafford (5–3) Nuxhall (4–3) Coates (3) 19,928 39–24 65 June 21 @ Athletics 5–3 Daley (5–9) Shaw (3–6) Arroyo (13) 19,416 40–24 66 June 22 @ Athletics 8–3 Ford (12–2) Bass (4–6) Arroyo (14) 17,254 41–24 67 June 23 @ Twins 4–0 Pascual (5–9) Turley (3–4) 30,940 41–25 68 June 24 @ Twins 10–7 Sheldon (4–2) Cueto (0–2) Arroyo (15) 35,199 42–25 69 June 25 @ Twins 8–4 Stafford (6–3) Kralick (6–5) Coates (4) 35,152 43–25 70 June 26 @ Angels 8–6 Ford (13–2) Donohue (1–2) Arroyo (16) 18,870 44–25 71 June 27 @ Angels 7–6 Bowsfield (4–2) Daley (5–10) Grba (2) 16,108 44–26 72 June 28 @ Angels 5–3 Duren (3–8) Turley (3–5) Donohue (3) 14,674 44–27 73 June 30 @ Senators 5–1 Ford (14–2) Donovan (3–8) 28,019 45–27
July: 20–9 (Home: 11–5; Away: 9–4) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 74 July 1 @ Senators 7–6 Arroyo (3–3) Sisler (1–3) 16,015 46–27 75 July 2 @ Senators 13–4 Daley (6–10) Burnside (1–5) Arroyo (17) 19,794 47–27 76 (1) July 4 1:30 p.m. EST Tigers W 6–2 Ford (15–2) Mossi (9–2) — 2:20 — 48–27 W4 77 (2) July 4 4:15 p.m. EST Tigers L 3–4 (10) Lary (12–4) Stafford (6–4) Fox (6) 3:29 74,246 48–28 L1 78 July 5 Indians 6–0 Sheldon (5–2) Bell (5–9) 24,377 49–28 79 July 6 Indians 4–0 Stafford (7–4) Stigman (2–2) 37,136 50–28 80 July 7 Red Sox 14–3 Daley (7–10) Conley (3–7) 29,199 51–28 81 July 8 Red Sox 8–5 Ford (16–2) Delock (5–5) Arroyo (18) 23,381 52–28 82 July 9 Red Sox 3–0 Sheldon (6–2) Monbouquette (8–7) 53–28 83 July 9 Red Sox 9–6 Schwall (7–2) Terry (5–1) Earley (1) 47,875 53–29 — July 11 30th All-Star Game in San Francisco, CA 84 July 13 @ White Sox 6–2 Stafford (8–4) Wynn (7–2) Arroyo (19) 43,960 54–29 85 July 14 @ White Sox 6–1 Pizarro (5–3) Sheldon (6–3) 43,450 54–30 86 July 15 @ White Sox 9 – 8 (10) Arroyo (4–3) Hacker (2–2) 37,730 55–30 87 July 16 2:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles W 2–1 Daley (8–10) Barber (10–7) — 2:10 38,487 56–30 W2 88 July 17 8:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles W 5–0 Ford (17–2) Pappas (6–5) — 2:18 44,332 57–30 W3 89 July 18 @ Senators 5–3 Arroyo (5–3) McClain (7–9) 17,695 58–30 90 July 19 @ Senators 8–4 Daniels (5–5) Daley (8–11) 58–31 91 July 19 @ Senators 12–2 Donovan (6–8) Downing (0–1) 27,176 58–32 92 July 21 @ Red Sox 11–8 Arroyo (6–3) Earley (1–4) 32,186 59–32 93 July 22 @ Red Sox 11–9 Arroyo (7–3) Conley (4–9) 25,089 60–32 94 July 23 @ Red Sox 5–4 Schwall (10–2) Daley (8–12) 28,575 60–33 95 July 25 White Sox 5–1 Ford (18–2) Baumann (7–8) Arroyo (20) 61–33 96 July 25 White Sox 12–0 Stafford (9–4) Pizarro (6–4) 46,240 62–33 97 July 26 White Sox 5–2 Sheldon (7–3) Herbert (7–9) 22,366 63–33 98 July 27 White Sox 4–3 Terry (6–1) Pierce (5–7) Arroyo (21) 20,529 64–33 99 July 28 8:00 p.m. EST Orioles L 0–4 Brown (8–3) Daley (8–13) — 2:00 39,623 64–34 L1 100 July 29 2:00 p.m. EST Orioles W 5–4 Ford (19–2) Fisher (4–10) — 2:08 42,990 65–34 W1 101 (1) July 30 2:00 p.m. EST Orioles L 0–4 Barber (12–8) Stafford (9–5) — 2:30 — 65–35 L1 102 (2) July 30 4:55 p.m. EST Orioles L 1–2 Pappas (7–6) Daley (8–14) Hall (3) 2:53 57,180 65–36 L2 — July 31 31st All-Star Game in Boston, MA
August: 22–9 (Home: 7–9; Away: 7–5) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 103 August 2 Athletics 6–5 Arroyo (8–3) Archer (7–6) 66–36 104 August 2 Athletics 12–5 Terry (7–1) Ditmar (2–6) Reniff (1) 23,616 67–36 105 August 3 Athletics 6–1 Shaw (7–9) Daley (8–15) 12,584 67–37 106 August 4 Twins 8 – 5 (10) Arroyo (9–3) Pleis (3–2) 24,109 68–37 107 August 5 Twins 2–1 Coates (7–3) Kralick (10–7) 18,880 69–37 108 August 6 Twins 7 – 6 (15) Reniff (1–0) Moore (4–4) 70–37 109 August 6 Twins 3–2 Sheldon (8–3) Schroll (0–1) 39,408 71–37 110 August 7 Angels 4–1 Daley (9–15) McBride (9–8) 13,944 72–37 111 August 8 Angels 5 – 4 (10) Arroyo (10–3) Fowler (5–5) 24,084 73–37 112 August 9 Angels 2–0 Coates (8–3) Bowsfield (8–4) 17,261 74–37 113 August 10 Angels 3–1 Ford (20–2) Donohue (4–5) Arroyo (22) 15,575 75–37 114 August 11 @ Senators 12–5 Terry (8–1) McClain (7–13) Reniff (2) 22,601 76–37 115 August 12 @ Senators 5–1 Donovan (8–8) Stafford (9–6) 15,870 76–38 116 August 13 @ Senators 12–2 Daniels (7–6) Daley (9–16) 76–39 117 August 13 @ Senators 9–4 Coates (9–3) Kutyna (6–4) 27,368 77–39 118 August 15 White Sox 2–1 Pizarro (8–5) Ford (20–3) 49,059 77–40 119 August 16 White Sox 5–4 Terry (9–1) Lown (6–5) 29,728 78–40 120 August 17 White Sox 5–3 Stafford (10–6) Baumann (9–10) Arroyo (23) 25,532 79–40 121 August 18 @ Indians 5–1 Grant (12–6) Coates (9–4) 37,840 79–41 122 August 19 @ Indians 3 – 2 (10) Ford (21–3) Locke (4–2) Arroyo (24) 23,398 80–41 123 August 20 @ Indians 6–0 Terry (10–1) Perry (9–11) 81–41 124 August 20 @ Indians 5–2 Sheldon (9–3) Bell (8–13) 56,307 82–41 125 August 22 @ Angels 4–3 McBride (10–10) Stafford (10–7) 19,930 82–42 126 August 23 @ Angels 8 – 6 (10) Arroyo (11–3) Donohue (4–6) 19,773 83–42 127 August 24 @ Angels 6–4 Morgan (6–2) Coates (9–5) 19,819 83–43 128 August 25 @ Athletics 3–0 Terry (11–1) Archer (8–10) 30,830 84–43 129 August 26 @ Athletics 5–1 Stafford (11–7) Walker (5–11) 32,149 85–43 130 August 27 @ Athletics 8–7 Ford (22–3) Shaw (8–12) Arroyo (25) 34,065 86–43 131 August 29 @ Twins 3–0 Pascual (12–13) Terry (11–2) 40,118 86–44 132 August 30 @ Twins 4–0 Stafford (12–7) Kaat (7–13) 41,357 87–44 133 August 31 @ Twins 5–4 Kralick (12–9) Sheldon (9–4) 33,709 87–45
September: 21–8 (Home: 15–1; Away: 6–7) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 134 September 1 8:00 p.m. EST Tigers W 1–0 Arroyo (12–3) Mossi (14–4) — 2:44 65,566 88–45 W1 135 September 2 2:00 p.m. EST Tigers W 7–2 Terry (12–2) Lary (19–8) Arroyo (26) 2:02 50,261 89–45 W2 136 September 3 2:00 p.m. EST Tigers W 8–5 Arroyo (13–3) Staley (2–5) — 2:42 55,676 90–45 W3 137 September 4 Senators 5–3 Reniff (2–0) Daniels (8–10) 91–45 138 September 4 Senators 3–2 Daley (10–16) Burnside (1–7) 34,683 92–45 139 September 5 Senators 6–1 Coates (10–5) McClain (8–16) 16,917 93–45 140 September 6 Senators 8–0 Ford (23–3) Cheney (1–3) 12,295 94–45 141 September 7 Indians 7–3 Terry (13–2) Stigman (2–4) 18,549 95–45 142 September 8 Indians 9–1 Stafford (13–7) Bell (9–15) 41,762 96–45 143 September 9 Indians 8–7 Arroyo (14–3) Funk (11–10) 37,161 97–45 144 September 10 Indians 7–6 Coates (11–5) Locke (4–4) Arroyo (27) 98–45 145 September 10 Indians 9–3 Daley (11–16) Perry (10–14) 57,824 99–45 146 September 12 @ White Sox 4 – 3 (6) Terry (14–2) Pierce (9–9) 36,166 100–45 147 September 14 @ White Sox 8–3 Herbert (10–12) Sheldon (9–5) Hacker (7) 100–46 148 September 14 @ White Sox 4–3 Kemmerer (3–3) Arroyo (14–4) 18,120 100–47 149 (1) September 15 6:00 p.m. EST @ Tigers W 11–1 Ford (24–3) Mossi (14–7) — 2:47 — 101–47 W1 150 (2) September 15 9:12 p.m. EST @ Tigers L 2–4 Kline (7–8) Daley (11–17) — 2:32 42,267 101–48 L1 151 September 16 1:30 p.m. EST @ Tigers L 4–10 Lary (21–9) Terry (14–3) — 2:32 35,820 101–49 L2 152 September 17 1:30 p.m. EST @ Tigers W 6–4 (12) Arroyo (15–4) Fox (4–2) — 3:46 44,219 102–49 W1 153 (1) September 19 6:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles L 0–1 Barber (17–11) Ford (24–4) — 2:27 — 102–50 L1 154 (2) September 19 8:52 p.m. EST @ Orioles W 3–1 Daley (12–17) Brown (10–6) — 2:08 31,317 103–50 W1 155 September 20 8:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles W 4–2 Terry (15–3) Pappas (12–9) — 2:00 21,032 104–50 W2 156 September 21 8:00 p.m. EST @ Orioles L 3–5 Fisher (10–12) Stafford (13–8) — 2:04 22,089 104–51 L1 157 September 23 @ Red Sox 8–3 Ford (25–4) Schwall (15–6) Arroyo (28) 28,128 105–51 158 September 24 @ Red Sox 3–1 Monbouquette (14–13) Arroyo (15–5) 30,802 105–52 159 September 26 8:00 p.m. EST Orioles W 3–2 Sheldon (10–5) Fisher (10–13) — 2:13 19,401 106–52 W1 160 September 27 2:00 p.m. EST Orioles L 2–3 Barber (18–12) Stafford (13–9) Hall (4) 2:07 7,594 106–53 L1 161 September 29 Red Sox 2–1 Sheldon (11–5) Monbouquette (14–14) 21,485 107–53 162 September 30 Red Sox 3–1 Terry (16–3) Schwall (15–7) Coates (5) 19,061 108–53
October: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Away: 0–0) # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/ Streak 163 October 1 Red Sox 1–0 Stafford (14–9) Stallard (2–7) Arroyo (29) 23,154 109–53

Detailed records

American League Opponent W L WP RS RA Baltimore Orioles 9 9 0.500 55 52 Detroit Tigers 10 8 0.556 104 85 New York Yankees Season Total 19 17 0.528 159 137

Month Games Won Lost Win % RS RA April 15 9 5 0.643 61 57 May 26 14 12 0.538 137 119 June 32 22 10 0.688 184 120 July 29 20 9 0.690 162 115 August 31 22 9 0.710 142 112 September 29 21 8 0.724 140 89 October 1 1 0 1.000 1 0 Total 163 109 53 0.673 827 612 Games Won Lost Win % RS RA Home 81 65 16 0.802 411 251 Away 82 44 37 0.543 416 361 Total 163 109 53 0.673 827 612

Postseason Game log

Legend
	Yankees win
	Yankees loss
Bold	Yankees team member

1961 Postseason game log: 4–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 3–0)

World Series vs Cincinnati Reds (Home: 1–1; Away: 3–0)[8] # Date Time (ET) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/ Streak 1 October 4 1:00 p.m. EST Reds W 2–0 Ford (1–0) O'Toole (0–1) — 2:11 62,397 NYA 1–0 W1 2 October 5 1:00 p.m. EST Reds L 2–6 Jay (1–0) Terry (0–1) — 2:43 63,083 Tied 1–1 L1 3 October 7 2:00 p.m. EST @ Reds W 3–2 Arroyo (1–0) Purkey (0–1) — 2:15 32,589 NYA 2–1 W1 4 October 8 2:00 p.m. EST @ Reds W 7–0 Ford (2–0) O'Toole (0–2) Coates (1) 2:27 32,589 NYA 3–1 W2 5 October 9 2:00 p.m. EST @ Reds W 13–5 Daley (1–0) Jay (1–1) — 3:05 32,589 NYA 4–1 W3

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

= Indicates league leader

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; R = Runs; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Elston Howard	129	446	64	155	.348	21	77
1B	Bill Skowron	150	561	77	150	.267	28	89
2B	Bobby Richardson	162	662	80	173	.261	4	49
3B	Clete Boyer	148	504	61	113	.224	11	55
SS	Tony Kubek	153	617	84	170	.276	8	46
LF	Yogi Berra	119	395	62	107	.271	22	61
CF	Mickey Mantle	153	514	131	163	.317	54	128
RF	Roger Maris	161	590	132	159	.269	61	141*

^[9]

• Tied with Jim Gentile for league lead in RBI.

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Johnny Blanchard	93	243	74	.305	21	54
Héctor López	93	243	54	.222	3	22
Bob Cerv	57	118	32	.271	6	20
Billy Gardner	41	99	21	.212	1	2
Joe DeMaestri	30	41	6	.146	0	2
Deron Johnson	13	19	2	.105	0	2
Earl Torgeson	22	18	2	.111	0	0
Jack Reed	28	13	2	.154	0	1
Bob Hale	11	13	2	.154	1	1
Jesse Gonder	15	12	4	.333	0	3
Tom Tresh	9	8	2	.250	0	0
Lee Thomas	2	2	1	.500	0	0

^[9]

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Whitey Ford	39	283.0	25	4	3.21	209
Bill Stafford	36	195.0	14	9	2.68	101
Ralph Terry	31	188.1	16	3	3.15	86
Bud Daley	23	129.2	8	9	3.96	83
Bob Turley	15	72.0	3	5	5.75	48

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Rollie Sheldon	35	162.2	11	5	3.60	84
Jim Coates	43	141.1	11	5	3.44	80
Art Ditmar	12	54.1	2	3	4.64	24
Danny McDevitt	8	13.0	1	2	7.62	8
Al Downing	5	9.0	1	0	8.00	12

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Luis Arroyo	65	119.0	15	5	29	2.19	87
Hal Reniff	25	45.1	2	0	2	2.58	21
Tex Clevenger	21	31.2	1	1	0	4.83	14
Ryne Duren	4	5.0	0	1	0	5.40	7
Johnny James	1	1.1	0	0	0	0.00	2
Duke Maas	1	0.1	0	0	0	54.00	0

1961 World Series

Main article: 1961 World Series

1961 World Series New York Yankees def. Cincinnati Reds, 4–1 MVP Award: Whitey Ford, P, New York Game Date Score Series (NYY-CIN) Location Attendance Time 1 October 4 Yankees 2, Reds 0 1–0 Yankee Stadium 62,397 2:11 2 October 5 Reds 6, Yankees 2 1–1 Yankee Stadium 63,083 2:43 3 October 7 Yankees 3, Reds 2 2–1 Crosley Field 32,589 2:15 4 October 8 Yankees 7, Reds 0 3–1 Crosley Field 32.589 2:27 5 October 9 Yankees 13, Reds 5 4–1 Crosley Field 32,589 3:05

Awards and honors

• Roger Maris, American League MVP
• Roger Maris, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
• Whitey Ford, Cy Young Award
• Whitey Ford, Babe Ruth Award

1961 All-Star Game

• Whitey Ford, starter, pitcher
• Tony Kubek, starter, shortstop
• Mickey Mantle, starter, center field
• Roger Maris, starter, right field
• Luis Arroyo, reserve
• Yogi Berra, reserve
• Elston Howard, reserve
• Bill Skowron, reserve ^[10]

League leaders

• Whitey Ford, led league in innings: (283)
• Whitey Ford, led league in games started: (39)
• Whitey Ford, led league in batters faced: (1,159)
• Luis Arroyo, led league in games pitched: (65) and saves: (29)
• Roger Maris, Major League Baseball home run champion, (61)

Franchise records

• Roger Maris, Yankees single season record, home runs in a season: (61)
• Mickey Mantle, Yankees single season record, home runs by a center fielder: (54)

Team leaders

• Home runs – Roger Maris (61)
• RBI – Roger Maris (142)
• Batting average – Mickey Mantle (.317)
• Hits – Bobby Richardson (173)
• Stolen bases – Mickey Mantle (12)
• Walks – Mickey Mantle (126)
• Wins – Whitey Ford (25)
• Earned run average – Bill Stafford (2.68)
• Strikeouts – Whitey Ford (209)

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Richmond Virginians	International League	Cal Ermer
AA	Amarillo Gold Sox	Texas League	Sheriff Robinson
A	Binghamton Triplets	Eastern League	Jim Gleeson
B	Greensboro Yankees	Carolina League	Wayne Terwilliger
C	Modesto Reds	California League	Vern Rapp
D	Harlan Smokies	Appalachian League	Frank Parenti and Eddie Lyons
D	St. Petersburg Saints	Florida State League	Bob Bauer
D	Auburn Yankees	New York–Penn League	Loren Babe

Harlan affiliation shared with Chicago White Sox^[11]