The 1961 major league baseball season began on April 10, 1961. The regular season ended on October 1, with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 58th World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 5 on October 9. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup, the Yankees defeated the Reds, four games to one, capturing their 19th championship in franchise history, since their previous in . The season is best known for Yankee teammates Roger Maris' and Mickey Mantle's pursuit of Babe Ruth's prestigious 34-year-old single-season home run record of 60. Maris ultimately broke the record when he hit his 61st home run on the final day of the regular season, while Mantle was forced out of the lineup in late September due to a hip infection and finished with 54 home runs. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Pittsburgh Pirates from the season.
For the third year, there were two separate All-Star Games played. The first, the 30th All-Star Game, was held on July 11 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, home of the San Francisco Giants. The National League won, 5–4. The second, the 31st All-Star Game, was held on July 31 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, home of the Boston Red Sox. The game ended in a 1–1 tie, due to a rainout following the end of the ninth inning.
In response to the proposed Continental League, the American League expanded by two teams in the first MLB expansion since 1901, ushering in the expansion era. The original Washington Senators moved to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area in Minnesota and became the Minnesota Twins, being the sixth team since 1953 to relocate, and the third of American League teams since then. The American League therefore placed a new team in Washington, D.C., also called the Washington Senators. Also, the American League placed a team in Los Angeles called the Los Angeles Angels.
Schedule
The 1961 schedule was the first time that the American and National Leagues did not follow the same scheduling format. Due to expansion of the American League, the AL schedule consisted of 162 games for all 10 teams. Each team was scheduled to play 18 games against the other nine teams. Meanwhile, the National League, still consisting of eight teams, continued the 154-game format in place since the season (except for ). Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams. 1961 would mark the last 154-game season in professional baseball history, as the National League itself would copy the American League 162-game format following their own expansion the following season.
American League Opening Day took place on April 10, featuring the Chicago White Sox and newly enfranchised Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 1, and saw sixteen teams play. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 9.
Rule changes The 1961 season saw the following rule changes: A sacrifice fly is no longer limited to fair balls. A rule preventing leagues of all levels of major and minor league baseball from drafting college players during a school year was implemented.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium49,375Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,357Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park46,550Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganTiger Stadium52,904Kansas City AthleticsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium34,165Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles, CaliforniaWrigley Field (Los Angeles)20,457Minnesota TwinsBloomington, MinnesotaMetropolitan Stadium30,022New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,337Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium27,500Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field (Chicago)36,755College of CoachesCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field30,322Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum94,600Milwaukee BravesMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium43,768Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,608Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field35,500San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park42,553St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriBusch Stadium30,500
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 7 tie games (4 in AL, 3 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.
American League The Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, and New York Yankees had one each. April 22 (game 2), Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees, tied at 5 after a shortened seven innings on account of rain, following a 32 minute rain delay. June 1, Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Athletics, tied at 4 after a shortened eight innings on account of rain. June 8 (game 2), Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels, tied at 4 after 11 innings due to rain following a 51 minute rain delay. Game called at 1:18 a.m. September 5, Minnesota Twins vs. Chicago White Sox, tied at 3 after nine innings due to fog.
National League The Chicago Cubs had two tie games. The Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals had one each. June 6 (game 2), St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs, tied at 3 after 10 innings on account of 12:50 a.m. curfew. June 28, Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants, tied at 7 after 15 innings on account of 12:50 a.m. curfew. August 2 (game 2), Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Braves, tied at 7 after 11 innings on account of darkness. Game rescheduled to September 3.
Postseason The postseason began on October 4 and ended on October 9 with the New York Yankees defeating the Cincinnati Reds in the 1961 World Series in five games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago CubsLou BoudreauCollege of CoachesDetroit TigersJoe GordonBob ScheffingKansas City AthleticsBob ElliottJoe GordonLos Angeles AngelsTeam enfranchisedBill RigneyNew York YankeesCasey StengelRalph HoukSan Francisco GiantsTom SheehanAlvin DarkWashington SenatorsTeam enfranchisedMickey Vernon
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBaltimore Orioles Paul RichardsLum HarrisCleveland Indians Jimmy DykesMel HarderKansas City Athletics Joe GordonHank BauerMilwaukee BravesChuck DressenBirdie TebbettsMinnesota TwinsCookie LavagettoSam MeleSt. Louis CardinalsSolly HemusJohnny Keane
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Norm Cash (DET) .361 OPS Norm Cash (DET) 1.148 HR Roger Maris (NYY) 61 RBI Jim Gentile (BAL)Roger Maris (NYY) 141 R Roger Maris (NYY) 132 H Norm Cash (DET) 193 SB Luis Aparicio (CWS) 53
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Whitey Ford (NYY) 25 L Pedro Ramos (MIN) 20 ERA Dick Donovan (WAS) 2.40 K Camilo Pascual (MIN) 221 IP Whitey Ford (NYY) 283.0 SV Luis Arroyo (NYY) 29 WHIP Dick Donovan (WAS) 1.026
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Roberto Clemente (PIT) .351 OPS Frank Robinson (CIN) 1.015 HR Orlando Cepeda (SF) 46 RBI Orlando Cepeda (SF) 142 R Willie Mays (SF) 129 H Vada Pinson (CIN) 208 SB Maury Wills (LAD) 35
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Joey Jay (CIN)Warren Spahn (MIL) 21 L Bob Friend (PIT)Art Mahaffey (PHI) 19 ERA Warren Spahn (MIL) 3.02 K Sandy Koufax (LAD) 269 IP Lew Burdette (MIL) 272.1 SV Roy Face (PIT)Stu Miller (SF) 17 WHIP Warren Spahn (MIL) 1.142
Milestones Batters Four home runs in one game
Willie Mays (SF): Became the ninth player to hit four home runs in one game in a 14–4 win against the Milwaukee Braves on April 30.
Cycles
Ken Boyer (STL): Boyer hit for his first cycle and 12th in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on September 14 against the Chicago Cubs.
Other batting accomplishments Jim Gentile (BAL): Became the fourth player to hit two grand slams in a single game, in a 13–5 win over the Minnesota Twins on May 9. Eddie Mathews / Hank Aaron / Joe Adcock / Frank Thomas (MIL): Became the first group of players to hit four consecutive home runs in the seventh inning on June 8 against the Cincinnati Reds. Roger Maris (NYY): Tied an American League record by becoming the fourth player to hit home runs in six consecutive games between August 11 and 16. Set a Major League record for single-season home runs at 61 on the last day of the season on October 1, breaking Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league single-season record of 60, set in 1927. Maris' record would stand for 37 years until it was broken by Mark McGwire's 70 in 1998. Maris' American League record would stand for a total of 61 years until it was eclipsed by Aaron Judge's 62 in 2022. Orlando Cepeda / Felipe Alou / Jim Davenport / Willie Mays / John Orsino (SF): Become the third group of players in Major League history to hit five home runs in one inning in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on August 23.
Pitchers No-hitters
Warren Spahn (MIL): Spahn threw his second career no-hitter and 11th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the San Francisco Giants 1–0 on April 28. Wilson walked two and struck out five.
Other pitching accomplishments Warren Spahn (MIL): Became the 13th member of the 300-win club, defeating the Chicago Cubs on August 11, winning 2–1.
Miscellaneous Philadelphia Phillies: Lost their 23rd consecutive game in game one of a doubleheader on August 20 to the Milwaukee Braves, breaking the modern (1901–present) major league record for most consecutive losses that was set by the Boston Americans in and Philadelphia Athletics in both and . Lost their 20th consecutive game on August 17 to the Milwaukee Braves, breaking the modern National League record for most consecutive losses that was set by the Boston Beaneaters in .
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Billy Williams (CHC) Don Schwall (BOS)Cy Young Award — Whitey Ford (NYY)Most Valuable Player Frank Robinson (CIN) Roger Maris (NYY)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Whitey Ford (NYY)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcher Bobby Shantz (PIT) Frank Lary (DET)Catcher John Roseboro (LAD) Earl Battey (MIN)1st Base Bill White (STL) Vic Power (CLE)2nd Base Bill Mazeroski (PIT) Bobby Richardson (NYY)3rd Base Ken Boyer (STL) Brooks Robinson (BAL)Shortstop Maury Wills (LAD) Luis Aparicio (CWS)Outfield Vada Pinson (CIN) Jim Landis (CWS) Roberto Clemente (PIT) Al Kaline (DET) Willie Mays (SF) Jimmy Piersall (CLE)
Other awards Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Whitey Ford (NYY)
The Sporting News AwardsAwardNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePlayer of the Year — Roger Maris (NYY)Pitcher of the Year Warren Spahn (MIL) Whitey Ford (NYY)Fireman of the Year(Relief pitcher) Stu Miller (SF) Luis Arroyo (NYY)Rookie of the Year(Player) Billy Williams (CHC) Dick Howser (KCA)Rookie of the Year(Pitcher) Ken Hunt (CIN) Don Schwall (BOS)Manager of the Year — Ralph Houk (NYY)Executive of the Year — Dan Topping (NYY)
Monthly awards Player of the Month
Month National League May Joey Jay (CIN) June George Altman (CHC) July Frank Robinson (CIN) August Warren Spahn (MIL) September Jim O'Toole (CIN)
Baseball Hall of Fame
Max Carey Billy Hamilton
Home field attendance