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.
There’s always hope.
The 1961 New York Yankees may have been down, but they certainly weren’t out as they posted a 8-7 walk-off victory in 10 innings over the 1948 Cleveland Indians.
Down by four runs in the eighth inning, the Yankees scored five times to take a 7-6 lead. However, the Indians tied it in the top of the ninth to set the stage for Johnny Blanchard.
Ed Klieman took over on the mound for the Indians to begin the 10th. After retiring the first two hitters, Klieman walked Bill Skowron and Bobby Richardson.
New York manager Ralph Houk picked Blanchard off the bench with a chance to win the contest. Blanchard smacked a single and Skowron raced home with the game-winning run.
Bud Daley started on the mound for New York. He was sent to the showers in the top of the eighth as the Yankees trailed 3-2, but there was pending trouble.
Daley had an error on a grounder by Ken Keltner and then Larry Doby followed with a double.
Houk called Jim Coates in from the bullpen and he got Eddie Robinson to hit a smash right back to the mound. Coates fired to third and Clete Boyer tagged Keltner for the first out. Jim Hegan hit a fly ball to left field for the second out.
Cleveland player/manager Lou Boudreau pushed the right button as he sent Hank Edwards to the plate to pinch-hit for starting pitcher Don Black.
Edwards hit a three-run blast and the Indians led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Boudreau’s luck pushing buttons ran out in the bottom of the eighth as he sent Steve Gromek to the mound. After Gromek got two outs, the Yankees responded.
Elston Howard hit a solo homer, which was his eighth of the season. Yogi Berra singled and Skowron doubled. Richardson followed with a RBI single and the Yankees were down 6-4.
It was Houk’s turn to find a pinch-hitter and he selected Bob Cerv, who answered the call with a two-run homer that put the Yankees on top 7-6.
Luis Arroyo was prepared to close out the win for the Yankees in the ninth, but the Indians had another idea.
Boudreau walked with one out and Joe Gordon singled. Both runners advanced as Keltner grounded out. Doby tied the contest with a single that scored his manager.
Arroyo (1-3) was up to the task in the top of the 10th as he was perfect to pick up his first win of the season thanks to Blanchard.
The Beginning
There wasn’t much of an indication early in the game that the affair was headed for a wild ending.
Keltner gave the Indians lead in the second with a two-run homer. Boudreau added a solo shot in the third and it was 3-0.
The Yankees scored in the seventh on a two-run bomb by Tony Kubek before things got rolling on inning later.
Whitey Ford (6-2) is scheduled to start the finale of the three-game series for the Yankees with Bob Lemon getting the call for the Indians.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (33-19)
1961 New York Yankees (31-21)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (7-5)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-5)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Roger Maris 21
Babe Ruth 21
Mickey Mantle 19
Lou Gehrig 18