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.
Jim Palmer was dominating the 1927 New York Yankees, but a mistake by Pete Richert cost the 1970 Baltimore Orioles everything.
A three-run homer by Babe Ruth off Richert gave the Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Orioles in Memorial Stadium.
Entering the top of the ninth, Palmer had limted the Yankees to a single by Mark Koenig in the first inning.
After retiring Pat Collins, Palmer surrendered a pinch-hit double to Ben Paschal. Earle Combs grounded out before Koenig’s infield single moved Paschal to third.
Baltimore manager Earl Weaver went to the mound to chat with Palmer and decided to make the call to the bullpen for Richert to face Ruth.
Although Ruth was born in Baltimore, the New York slugger wasn’t nice to his hometown by blasting the ball out of the stadium for his 11th homer of the season as the Yankees took the lead. Richert ended the inning by fanning Lou Gehrig, but the damage was done.
Dutch Ruether gave up a double to Davey Johnson in the ninth, but he was able to get out of the situation to earn his third save of the season.
Waite Hoyt (3-2) picked up the win with eight innings of work. He gave up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
The contest was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when Paul Blair smacked a homer off Hoyt to put the Orioles on top 1-0.
One inning later, it was Frank Robinson‘s turn to take Hoyt deep with a solo shot that made it 2-0 Orioles.
The Yankees travel to the 1968 Detroit Tigers for a two-game series with Herb Pennock (1-1) getting the start in the opener. The Tigers will counter with Earl Wilson.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (19-7)
1961 New York Yankees (13-12)
2005 Chicago White Sox (3-3)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-4)
1972 Oakland A’s (6-8)
2004 Boston Red Sox (4-8)
1924 Washington Senators (3-9)
1948 Cleveland Indians (0-0)
1968 Detroit Tigers (0-0)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 12
Babe Ruth 11
Lou Gehrig 10
Mickey Mantle 7