Editor’s note: The 27 * 61 Yankees Replay games are being played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice. The designated hitter will not be used for any games. Injuries will only be used during the game when they occur.
Mickey Mantle sent the small gathering of masked fans in Yankee Stadium home with smiles.
Mantle’s walk-off homer in the 10th inning gave the 1961 New York Yankees a 3-2 victory over the 1968 Detroit Tigers.
It was his second of the game and 43rd of the season as he drove in all of New York’s runs.
Bill Stafford of the Yankees and Earl Wilson of the Tigers fired shutouts on the mound through five innings.
Detroit scored in the top of the sixth off Stafford as Mickey Stanley started the two-out rally with a single. Al Kaline singled and Norm Cash delivered the run with another single.
It didn’t take long for the Yankees to respond in their half of the sixth as Roger Maris led off with a walk from Wilson. Mantle smashed a two-run shot that gave New York a 2-1 advantage.
In a rare start in left field, Gates Brown made the most of his opportunity with a solo homer in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2.
Stafford and Wilson both lasted nine innings before turning the pitching duties over the their respective bullpens.
For New York, Stafford allowed seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Wilson surrendered 10 hits and four walks as he fanned five.
Luis Arroyo (5-4) picked up the win as he threw a scoreless 10th giving up a lead-off pinch-hit single to Willie Horton before retiring the side.
Don McMahon was tagged with the loss as Mantle greeted him to begin the 10th with the game-winning long ball.
Ralph Terry (5-8) gets the ball from New York manager Ralph Houk in the finale of the four-game series, while Mickey Lolich goes to the mound for the Tigers.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (61-43)
1961 New York Yankees (55-49)
1948 Cleveland Indians (18-12)
1968 Detroit Tigers (16-12)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (13-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
2005 Chicago White Sox (8-14)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 43
Roger Maris 40
Babe Ruth 38
Lou Gehrig 27