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.
Pitching may have dominated the day at Yankee Stadium, but it was a hitter who decided the outcome.
Roger Maris blasted his 22nd long ball of the season in the bottom of the 10th inning as the 1961 New York Yankees beat the 1970 Baltimore Orioles 2-1 on the walk-off shot in the opener of a three-game series.
Maris connected off Baltimore reliever Pete Richert after Clete Boyer fanned to begin the frame. Maris leads the Yankees in homers with Mickey Mantle having the second highest total with 19. Mantle tops New York with 45 RBI, while Maris comes in second with 37.
New York starter Bill Stafford was on his way to a complete game shutout in the top of ninth when the Orioles struck quickly to tie it at 1-1.
Paul Blair led off with a single and then he swiped second to move into scoring position. It didn’t take long for Blair to race home as Brooks Robinson drilled a single that ended the day for Stafford.
Luis Arroyo (2-1) came on for the Yankees and ended the threat before he survived a pair of New York errors in the 10th to set up Maris for the game-winner.
Stafford gave up five hits with five strikeouts, while walking four in eight innings.
Orioles starter Mike Cuellar also tossed eight innings surrendering three hits with four strikeouts. Richert worked a perfect ninth before Maris tagged him with the loss.
The contest was scoreless until the Yankees produced a run in the fifth. Mantle and Elston Howard both singled to set of Yogi Berra for a big moment. Mantle had moved to third on Howard’s hit, which proved to be important as he scored when Berra hit into a double play.
In game two of the series, Ralph Terry (3-4) gets the start for the Yankees as Dave McNally takes the ball for the Orioles.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (35-19)
1961 New York Yankees (32-22)
1968 Detroit Tigers (7-3)
1948 Cleveland Indians (8-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (7-15)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (3-7)
1972 Oakland A’s (7-17)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Babe Ruth 22
Roger Maris 22
Mickey Mantle 19
Lou Gehrig 18