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 problems for the 1961 New York Yankees continue.
After dropping four contests in a six-game series on the road against the 1968 Detroit Tigers, the Yankees suffered a 9-1 loss at the 1948 Cleveland Indians.
Five runs in the fourth inning proved to be the decisive moment of the opener of the four-game series. The Indians led 2-1 before the rally that sent New York starter Tex Clevenger to the showers.
Jim Hegan got things underway with a leadoff homer. After Cleveland starting pitcher Satchel Paige picked up a single, Dale Mitchell walked.
However, Clevenger got Allie Clark to hit into a double play. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Cleveland player-manager Lou Boudreau added a RBI single and it was 4-1.
Before New York manager Ralph Houk could rescue Clevenger as the Yankees were playing their seventh game in five days, Joe Gordon drilled a two-run homer and Ken Keltner delivered a solo shot and it was 7-1. Rollie Sheldon went to the mound and got the final out of the fourth and then tossed two more innings giving up a hit.
Bud Daley went the last two innings for the Yankees as he allowed three hits and a two-run homer by Eddie Robinson in the seventh.
Clevenger (4-2) struggled during his appearance giving up seven runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Paige went the distance for the Indians giving up 10 hits with four strikeouts. He gave up a run in the third when Bobby Richardson tripled and Tony Kubek got him home on a ground out.
Keltner gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead in the first with a RBI single, while the Indians picked up another tally in the third on an error when Kubek misplayed a ground ball by Doby.
Whitey Ford (7-6) starts the the second game of the series for the Yankees, Bob Lemon gets the ball for the Indians.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (50-32)
1961 New York Yankees (44-38)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (10-6)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (5-9)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
2005 Chicago White Sox (4-10)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 34
Roger Maris 31
Babe Ruth 31
Lou Gehrig 23