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 1961 New York Yankees exploded in the third inning against the 1948 Cleveland Indians in the way to a 12-3 victory.
Despite New York taking three contests in the final four-game set against Cleveland, the Indians won the season series between the two teams 12-10.
After the Indians grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the second against New York starter Bill Stafford on a solo homer by Jim Hegan, the Yankees answered in the bottom of the third with six runs.
Heading into the third, Cleveland starter Bob Feller had allowed a single to Mickey Mantle as he shut down the rest of Yankees fanning three.
However, New York’s offense went to work against Feller in the next frame.
Clete Boyer led off with a single before Feller walked New York starting pitcher Bill Stafford.
Bobby Richardson singled and Tony Kubek singled to bring home Boyer to tie it at 1-1.
Roger Maris put the Yankees on top with a two-run single, while Elston Howard smashed a three-run homer to make it 6-1. It was the 20th homer of the season for the New York catcher.
In the fourth, Bill Skowron reached on an error and Boyer hit a two-run homer as the Yankees margin grew to 8-1.
A RBI single in the sixth by Ken Keltner drove in the second run for the Indians.
Don Black and Steve Gromek followed Feller on the mound and blanked New York through the sixth.
The Yankees added four runs in the seventh against Ed Klieman, who worked the final two innings for the Indians.
Stafford walked with the bases loaded to force in the first run before Kubek knocked in a pair with a single.
Maris finished the scoring with a run-scoring double to give him 104 RBI on the season.
Stafford (16-7) tossed a complete game allowing nine hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
New York’s Ralph Terry (9-11) is slated to start the opener of a five-game series in Yankee Stadium against the 2005 Chicago White Sox. Jon Garland gets the ball for Chicago.
27 * 61 Replay Standings
1927 New York Yankees (87-54)
1961 New York Yankees (76-65)
1968 Detroit Tigers (22-14)
1948 Cleveland Indians (23-21)
1970 Baltimore Orioles (19-25)
2004 Boston Red Sox (17-27)
1924 Washington Senators (14-24)
2005 Chicago White Sox (12-22)
1972 Oakland A’s (12-30)
27 * 61 Home Run Totals
Mickey Mantle 61
Babe Ruth 55
Roger Maris 54
Lou Gehrig 35