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.
Whitey Ford continues to ride a wave of success for the 1961 New York Yankees with five wins in a row.
Ford (11-6) didn’t need a lot of help as the Yankees beat the 1948 Cleveland Indians 7-0. The New York lefty went the distance for the fifth straight time as he allowed just two hits and fanned nine.
Cleveland’s hits were both singles by Dale Mitchell, who the first batter of the affair, and Allie Clark in the fourth. Ford retired 17 of the last 18 hitters he faced with only Lou Boudreau walking in the seventh.
Elston Howard produced the only run the Yankees would need as hit into a fielder’s choice in the first inning against Cleveland starter Bob Lemon.
Although it wasn’t known at the time, the Yankees put the game away in the second with five runs.
Roger Maris walked with the bases loaded before a frustrated Lemon paid for a mistake pitch to Mickey Mantle.
Mantle’s grand slam was his 40th homer of the season, which raised his RBI total to 97.
The Yankees picked up their final tally in the fifth on a RBI double by Yogi Berra.
Lemon lasted five innings as he surrendered seven runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Bob Muncrief tossed two frames and Ed Klieman one to mop up for the Indians.
In the second contest of the four-game series, New York is set to start Bill Stafford (13-4), while the Indians will have Bob Feller on the mound.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (57-41)
1961 New York Yankees (53-45)
1968 Detroit Tigers (14-8)
1948 Cleveland Indians (14-10)
2004 Boston Red Sox (15-17)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (13-17)
1924 Washington Senators (11-19)
2005 Chicago White Sox (8-14)
1972 Oakland A’s (11-25)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 40
Roger Maris 37
Babe Ruth 35
Lou Gehrig 27