Sept. 20, 1961 - The Yankees today clinched their 26th American League pennant by beating the Orioles, 4-2. But for Roger Maris (pictured with Johnny Blanchard), it was a day of frustration. After hitting his 59th home run of the season, Maris went to bat in the ninth with a chance to tie Babe Ruth's record of 60 homers in a 154-game season. Maris tapped Hoyt Wilhelm's third pitch to first base and was tagged for the final out of the inning. Ruth's record, on the books since 1927, remains unequalled. Maris still has 8 games remaining on the Yanks' 162-game schedule, but any homers hit hereafter will, according to the commissioner's ruling, be marked with an asterisk in the record book. Said Maris after the game: "I tried hard all night, but I only got one. Now that it's all over, I'm happy with what I got. If all I'm entitled to will be an asterisk, it will be all right with me."
