1960s Timeline

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Aug 23, 2021

Dodgers Lose 9th Straight to Cardinals, Longest Losing Streak since '44

Aug. 23, 1961 - The Cardinals exploded for 4 runs in the 8th inning today to take an 8-7 decision from the 2nd-place Dodgers. It was the Dodgers' 9th straight loss, their longest losing streak since 1944, when they dropped 15 in a row. Consecutive home runs by Bill White (pictured) and Ken Boyer paced the Cardinals' eighth-inning rally. Don Drysdale, who has never finished a game he started in Busch Stadium, was routed, but the loss went to Ron Perranoski. #MLB #baseball #spo

Aug 23, 2021

Movies: Mantle, Maris, Berra Make Hollywood Debuts in "That Touch of Mink"

Aug. 23, 1961 - Three stars of the New York Yankees made their Hollywood debuts today: Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra, who are in California for a series with the Los Angeles Angels. Normally blasé movie crew members could not wait to cluster around the ballplayers before shooting, after shooting, and during breaks in the filming of "That Touch of Mink." When the players had ended their hour-and-a-half of acting work, Berra grinned and remarked: "This is like stea

Aug 22, 2021

Reds and Their Fans Hungry for First Pennant since 1940

Aug. 22, 1961 - The slogans, placards, and banners that are heard and seen throughout pennant-starved Cincinnati these days may help jam 29,383 frantic fans into Crosley Field, as they did today. However, as the league-leading Reds learned while dropping both ends of a doubleheader to the third-place Giants, 12-2 and 5-3, there never has been a slogan that fanned a batter, a placard that pivoted for a double play, or a banner that came up with a game-winning hit. "Rally 'roun

Aug 21, 2021

After Phillies End Losing Streak, 200 Fans Greet Club at Philadelphia Airport

Aug. 21, 1961 - Two hundred fans turned out in rain at Philadelphia International Airport today to greet the Phillies when they arrived home from Milwaukee, where they ended a 23-game losing streak yesterday. The fans, accompanied by a five-piece band, gave the Phils a hero's welcome. Three burly fans lifted Manager Gene Mauch on their shoulders. Mauch, who appeared stunned, told the crowd: "One day we'll come home after winning 23 out of 24, and they'll have to build a new a

Aug 20, 2021

Maris Hits No. 49, Mantle No. 46, as Yankees Top Tribe, 6-0

Aug. 20, 1961 - The Yankees advanced majestically on all fronts today before a gathering of 56,307, the season's largest paid attendance in Cleveland's picturesque lakefront stadium. Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle finally got around to resuming their assault on the Babe Ruth home run record of 60. Roger hit his 49th and Mickey his 46th. The Yankees won, 6-0. Maris's homer, which put him within 11 of the coveted Ruthian goal, ended a hitless string of 13 official times at bat a

Aug 19, 2021

Giants Beat Dodgers, 5-0, for L.A.'s Sixth Straight Loss

Aug. 19, 1961 - Juan Marichal and Stu Miller combined on a five-hitter and Orlando Cepeda (pictured) supplied the power with his 34th homer today as the Giants beat the Dodgers, 5-0. The loss was the Dodgers' sixth straight, and they are now three games behind the first-place Reds, who have won six in a row. Cepeda had a hand in every run. He scored the first one and knocked in three with his home run. The other run scored as Cepeda hit into a double play. Marichal posted his

Aug 18, 2021

Phillies Set Modern Record for Futility with 21st Consecutive Loss

Aug. 18, 1961 - The Philadelphia Phillies set a modern major league record for futility with their 21st consecutive defeat today, a 4-1 loss to Milwaukee. Stopped on six hits by Lew Burdette, the Phils now are within three defeats of the overall record of 24 straight set by Cleveland, then in the National League, in 1889. The Phils erased the previous modern mark of 20 set by the Boston Red Sox in 1906, the Philadelphia Athletics in 1916, and the Athletics again in 1943. Phil

Aug 18, 2021

Sixteen Percent Increase in Yankee Viewership on WPIX

Aug. 18, 1961 - The Mickey Mantle-Roger Maris home run derby apparently has stimulated viewing of the Yankees' baseball telecasts over station WPIX in New York. A station spokesman said rating surveys indicated "a 16 percent increase in viewing over last year and it's still building." If either one of the M. and M. combination succeeds in breaking Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs, it should be a superlative day - or day of superlatives - for Mel Allen, Yankees' announcer. W

Aug 17, 2021

Reds Regain N.L. Lead after Sweeping 3 in L.A.

Aug. 17, 1961 - The Cincinnati Reds headed home today from Los Angeles with high hearts and a one-game lead in the National League. The Reds swept the three-game series by demolishing the Dodgers in a double-shutout contest, 6-0 and 8-0, last night. Gloom as thick as smog settled over the Coliseum where 71,140 - a National League night-game record - saw the games. The disdain in which the Reds held the Dodgers was best shown in last night's first game after an inside pitch by

Aug 16, 2021

Maris Hits Nos. 47 and 48 as Yankees Beat White Sox, 5-4

Aug. 16, 1961 - Nothing activates Roger Maris's bat like the sight of a White Sox pitcher 60 feet 6 inches away. In precisely those circumstances today, Maris slammed No. 47 and No. 48 off Billy Pierce in a 5-4 Yankee triumph at the Stadium. Roger has hit 13 homers off Chicago pitching this season. His spectacular wallops into the upper deck produced four runs, one less than the day's job required. It was one of the most inglorious plays in baseball that finally subdued Chica

Aug 15, 2021

Red Sox Rout Indians, 8-0, Wallop Five Homers

Aug. 15, 1961 - Frank Malzone (pictured) walloped two of Boston's five homers today as the Red Sox routed the Indians, 8-0. Gene Conley pitched a six-hitter and also belted his second homer of the season. The 6-foot-8-inch hurler struck out three and walked two. All the homers were hit with the bases empty. Malzone, who started the barrage in the first inning with a mammoth shot off Gary Bell, also had three singles. #MLB #baseball #sports

Aug 14, 2021

Phillies Beaten by Cubs, 9-2, for 17th Consecutive Loss; Approach Record for Futility

Aug. 14, 1961 - Ernie Banks and Jerry Kindall drove in 7 runs today and led the Cubs to a 9-2 victory over Philadelphia. The decision sent the Phils to their 17th consecutive loss, 2 short of the modern National League record set by Boston in 1906 and tied by Cincinnati in 1914. The overall National League Mark of 24 was set by Cleveland when it played in the league in 1899. The American League mark is 20. It was set by Boston in 1906 and tied by Philadelphia in both 1916 and

Aug 13, 2021

Maris Hits 2 Homers, Mantle 1, as Yankees Split Doubleheader with Senators

Aug. 13, 1961 - It was with mixed emotions that the Yankees bade farewell to Griffith Stadium today after they had split a doubleheader with the Washington Senators. Washington took the first game, 12-2, but the second game went to the visitors, 9-4. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris continued their push toward Babe Ruth's 1927 record of 60 homers. Maris belted one in each game. Mantle exploded only once, in the opener. The two are now tied. Each has 45 homers in 116 games. After

Aug 12, 2021

Podres Throws 5-Hitter as Red-Hot Dodgers Beat Cardinals, 5-1

Aug. 12, 1961 - Johnny Podres (pictured talking with a fan) registered his 15th victory of the season with a five-hitter today as the Dodgers defeated the Cardinals, 5-1. The Dodgers posted their 18th victory in the last 21 games and lifted their league lead to two and a half games. Wally Moon and Frank Howard drove in two runs apiece and also figured in a three-run surge in the seventh. Podres, who never before had won more than 14 games in a season, struck out 4, walked onl

Aug 11, 2021

Braves Beat Cubs, 2-1, as Spahn Gains 300th Victory

Aug. 11, 1961 - Warren Spahn, the Braves' 40-year-old left-handed pitching star, gained his 300th victory today by defeating the Cubs, 2-1, with a masterly six-hitter. Spahn became the third left-hander to make the exclusive "300 Club." He is the first to make it since Lefty Grove struggled to his 300th victory while with the Red Sox in 1941. The Milwaukee crowd gave Spahn a rousing ovation as he was mobbed by teammates after the final out. The "300 Club" is headed by the lat

Aug 11, 2021

Yankees Destroy Senators, 12-5, as Mantle Hits 44th, Maris 42nd

Aug. 11, 1961 - Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris slugged homers as the Yankees won their ninth straight and the Senators lost their seventh straight today at Griffith Stadium. The score was 12-5. In the face of an very poor performance by the home side, and with the help of the long-range blasts by M. and M., the sore-shouldered Ralph Terry had little difficulty pitching seven innings and winning. Mantle exploded his 44th home run in the seventh inning, two innings after Maris h

Aug 10, 2021

Stallard Gets First Big-League Win as Red Sox beat Twins, 3-2

Aug. 10, 1961 - Tracy Stallard registered his first major-league victory in his 39th mound appearance today as the Red Sox defeated the Twins, 3-2, in Fenway Park. Stallard pitched eight and two-third innings and also recorded his first RBI. The winning run was scored on a single by rookie left fielder Carl Yastrzemski. #MLB #baseball #sports #redsox #bostonredsox #twins

Aug 10, 2021

Most Yankee Fans Hope Maris or Mantle Break Ruth's Home Run Record

Aug. 10, 1961 - Of 50 people interviewed at Yankee Stadium today, 39 said they were unsentimental about Babe Ruth's 1927 record of 60 home runs. They were rooting for Mickey Mantle, with 43 homers, or Roger Maris, with 41, to break the record. Ralph Houk, the Yankee manager, said he has had no time to worry about such matters, but Coach Frank Crosetti, who played with the Babe, said he hoped that both Mantle and Maris break the record. "If they can break it, more power to 'em

Aug 9, 2021

League-Leading Dodgers Beat Braves, 8-3, as Drysdale Hits Grand Slam

Aug. 9, 1961 - Don Drysdale hit a grand-slam home run, pitched a 4-hitter and struck out 11 batters today as the league-leading Dodgers defeated Milwaukee, 8-3. The victory was the 17th for the Dodgers in their last 20 games, and it kept them one game ahead of the second-place Reds. Duke Snider hit a homer and two singles for the Dodgers, driving in two runs. The grand slam was Drysdale's 4th homer this season, the 18th of his major league career, and the first grand slam hit

Aug 8, 2021

Duke Snider torches Burdette as Dodgers beat Braves, 7-3

Aug. 8, 1961 - Duke Snider drove in two runs and scored three today as the league-leading Dodgers dealt Lew Burdette his first Coliseum loss in more than 3 years by beating Milwaukee, 7-3. Burdette (13-8) had won 9 straight at the Coliseum and hadn't lost there since his first appearance in June of 1958. Snider produced the first Dodger run with a homer in the fourth inning, and later touched Burdette for a run-scoring single. Dick Farrell, who relieved Sandy Koufax in the si