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.
The 1961 world champion New York Yankees are considered one of the greatest teams of all time with 109 victories.
Although Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford are the only Hall of Fame players on the roster, several players had great seasons as the Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds four games to one in the World Series.
In breaking Babe Ruth‘s season record for homers, Roger Maris earned the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award for the second year in a row as he blasted 61 long balls with 141 RBI.
Mantle’s part of the home run chase ended due to an injury, but he hit 54 to fall short.
Ford led the AL in wins with a 25-4 mark as he was named the Cy Young Award winner.
In addition to Maris and Mantle, there were four other players who hit over 20 homers. The catcher’s spot boasted two of those players as Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard both hit 21 homers.
Primary Batting Order
Bobby Richardson 2b (3 HR, 49 RBI)
Tony Kubek ss (8 HR, 46 RBI)
Roger Maris rf (61 HR, 141 RBI)
Mickey Mantle cf (54 HR, 128 RBI, .317, 12 SB)
Yogi Berra lf (22 HR, 61 RBI)
Bill Skowron 1b (28 HR, 89 RBI)
Elston Howard c (21 HR, 77 RBI, .348)
Clete Boyer 3b (11 HR, 55 RBI)
Primary Starting Pitchers
Whitey Ford (25-4, 3.21 ERA)
Bill Stafford (14-9, 2.68 ERA)
Ralph Terry (16-3, 3.15 ERA)
Rollie Sheldon (11-5, 3.60 ERA)
Bud Daley (8-9, 3.96 ERA)