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.
Johnny Blanchard made the hometown crowd very happy with another walk-off hit.
Blanchard’s lead off homer in the ninth inning gave the 1961 New York Yankees a 3-2 win over the 1970 Baltimore Orioles.
New York’s win evened the final series of the season against the Orioles at two games apiece. For the season, it gave the Yankees a 12-10 advantage against Baltimore.
With the score tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, both managers made changes.
Pete Richert was Earl Weaver‘s choice to take over for Baltimore starter Dave McNally.
New York’s Ralph Houk picked Blanchard to pinch-hit for pitcher Ralph Terry.
The fifth homer of the season for Blanchard proved Houk made a good decision.
Earlier this season, Blanchard had a 10th-inning pinch-hit single to give the Yankees an 8-7 win over the 1948 Cleveland Indians.
The Yankees grabbed an early lead when Mickey Mantle had a run-scoring single in the first before Bobby Richardson made it 2-0 with a RBI single in the second.
Terry (9-11) tossed a complete game for the Yankees giving up nine hits with a pair of fans, while fanning two.
The Orioles got to Terry with a run in the fourth on RBI single by Dave Johnson.
Boog Powell smashed a solo homer in the eighth to tie the affair to set the stage for Blanchard one inning later.
A four-game series at home against the 1948 Cleveland Indians is next on the agenda for the Yankees.
The Yankees are slated to start Rollie Sheldon (10-8), while Satchel Paige gets the ball for Cleveland in the opener.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (84-53)
1961 New York Yankees (73-64)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (21-15)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (19-25)
2004 Boston Red Sox (17-27)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (12-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (12-30)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 58
Roger Maris 54
Babe Ruth 52
Lou Gehrig 35