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.
When opportunity knocks, one should answer the door.
Dick McAuliffe blew the door wide open with a walk-off homer in the 13th inning to give the 1968 Detroit Tigers a 1-0 victory over the 1961 New York Yankees.
With the win, the Tigers take the series two games to one, while the Yankees have now lost four of their last five contests.
New York pitcher Jim Coates was in his second frame on the mound as he retired Don Wert and pinch-hitter Jim Price to begin the inning.
McAuliffe followed with his game-winner to set of the celebration of the fans at Michigan and Trumbull.
Stranding 14 base runners, the Yankees failed to take advantage of their chances in the sixth and eighth.
Coates (5-6) retired the first five batters he faced before McAuliffe took him deep.
In the sixth, Roger Maris singled with one out. Detroit starter Joe Sparma walked Mickey Mantle and then allowed an infield single to Elston Howard that loaded the bases.
Yogi Berra smashed a line drive that McAuliffe snagged before the Detroit at second baseman caught an easy pop up off the bat of Bill Skowron to end the threat.
Sparma’s day was finished when he walked Maris and Mantle to begin the eighth.
Detroit manager Mayo Smith picked Daryl Patterson out of the bullpen to stop the rally.
Patterson got Howard on the fly ball before he fanned Berra. Skowron lined out to shortstop Mickey Stanley for the last out.
Pat Dobson worked the final three innings for the Tigers to get the win. He gave up three hits and struck out one.
Don McMahon followed Patterson and tossed a scoreless ninth and 10th to extend the Tigers chances. Sparma went seven allowing six hits with six strikeouts.
Yankees starter Rollie Sheldon threw eight innings giving up just four hits with six strikeouts.
Luis Arroyo blanked the Tigers from the ninth through the 11th fanning two and walking one.
New York travels to the 1970 Baltimore Orioles for its next three-game series.
Bud Daley (7-13) starts for the Yankees, while the Orioles counter with Tom Phoebus.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (73-49)
1961 New York Yankees (63-59)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (21-15)
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
Roger Maris 48
Mickey Mantle 46
Babe Ruth 45
Lou Gehrig 32