The 1961 Yankees

M + M = 109 Wins, 115 Homers

Regarded as one of the greatest teams of all-time, the 1961 Yankees received constant attention once it appeared possible that not one, but two, of their sluggers might capture the most cherished single-season record in the game.

One did, one didn’t and their story was covered exhaustively at the time and Billy Crystal made sure new generations of baseball fans understood the monument of the moment. His 2001 film 61* delivered the story of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle pursuing Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record of 60 in 1927 with a broad perspective the newspapers of the time wouldn’t touch.

As otherworldly as Maris and Mantle were in ‘61, their teammates hit 125 home runs without them. Three other starters, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and Bill Skowron topped the 20-homer mark. Even Berra’s backup, Johnny Blanchard hit 21. Kind of ridiculously, New York was the only American League team whose pitching staff did not contribute a single home run to their team’s total.

The Yankees breezed to a 4-1 World Series win over the Reds. Maris and Mantle combined for one homer and two RBI in the five games, though Mantle was hobbled and missed three of the games.

Speaking of combined records, the pitching staff was led by Whitey Ford and Ralph Terry, who went 41-7 between them, with Ford picking up 25 of the wins — and the Cy Young award. New York’s closer was Luis Arroyo, who not only saved 29 games, but went 15-5 out of the bullpen as well.

A few vignettes, then, from the season, with Maris, naturally, getting top billing.

61, asterisk long done away with.

Mickey Mantle isn’t pointing to where he plans on hitting the ball out of the ball park, a la the Babe Ruth 1932 legend. Instead he’s jawing at Jim Bunning for coming in too tight on him.

Mantle, from his “power” side

The Mantle / Maris show had an All-Star engagement

Ralph Terry found a fan in Angie Dickinson. He’s a pitcher, so he can’t be discussing launch angles.

Luis Arroyo as the head of Yankees product placement

Bill Stafford had a 2.68 ERA — a half run better than any other starter

Elston Howard tried a mid-air spin to get old friend Billy Martin of the Twins at the plate, but to no avail.

After setting a World Series record with 11 hits against the Pirates the year before, Bobby Richardson got nine in the five games against the Reds. Three years later against the Cardinals, he’d break his own record by posting 13 hits in the seven-game series.

Johnny Blanchard stretches, but Carl Yastrzemski beats the throw to the plate

The Yanks leave the field as World Champs in Cincinnati