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.
Satchel Paige went the distance on the mound as the 1948 Cleveland Indians beat the 1961 New York Yankees 8-1 in the opener of a four-game series.
Paige gave up five hits and fanned five without a walk as his team exploded offensively in the sixth inning.
New York’s only run came in the second when Mickey Mantle singled and scored on a double by Bill Skowron.
Cleveland tied it in the fourth on a solo homer by Joe Gordon, which was his sixth against the Yankees in 19 contests this season.
Yankees starter Rollie Sheldon (10-9) would be ousted in the sixth as the Indians scored six times.
Gordon’s RBI double put the Indians on top before Larry Doby added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
After Ken Keltner had a RBI single, Eddie Robinson singled and Sheldon was finished.
Tex Clevenger took over the pitching duties for the Yankees and Jim Hegan drilled a three-run homer that put the Indians up by six.
In the seventh, the Indians added their final tally on a single by Robinson. Jim Coates tossed a scoreless ninth for the Yankees, but Paige wasn’t challenged in the bottom of the frame.
Bud Daley (8-15) will start for the Yankees in the second game of the series with Cleveland countering with Sam Zoldak.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (85-53)
1961 New York Yankees (73-65)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (22-16)
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