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.
Roger Maris smacked a pair of homers and knocked in five runs as the 1961 New York Yankees beat the 1948 Cleveland Indians 7-1.
Maris and Yogi Berra both tagged Cleveland starter Satchel Paige with two-run homers in the top of the first as the Yankees built a 4-0 advantage.
In the second. Paige faced four batters as three scored. After Paige walked his mound counterpart Rollie Sheldon, Tony Kubek singled before Maris ended the day for the Cleveland hurler with a three-run blast.
The long ball was the 46th homer of the season for Maris, who is tied with Mickey Mantle for the team lead.
Joe Black retired Mantle to end the second as the Yankees led 7-0. Paige gave up five hits and walked two before leaving with two outs in the second.
Sheldon (8-8) went the distance to even his season record as he allowed five hits and fanned four.
A RBI single by Jim Hegan in the fifth inning was all of the offense the Indians could muster against Sheldon.
Black, Steve Gromek, Ed Klieman and regular starter Gene Bearden, who pitched the ninth, combined to blank the Yankees after the second inning.
Bud Daley (7-12) is scheduled to start the second contest of the series for the Yankees, while the Indians will send Sam Zoldak to the mound.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (70-47)
1961 New York Yankees (62-55)
1948 Cleveland Indians (19-13)
1968 Detroit Tigers (18-12)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (13-17)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (11-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-27)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 46
Roger Maris 46
Babe Ruth 45
Lou Gehrig 31