Baseball in 1961

As documented earlier, the 1961 Tigers pulled off a late win on a 9th inning home run by Chico Fernandez to beat the Red Sox. Late-inning heroics occurred in these other AL games: Orioles-Senators: Orioles carried a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the 9th against the Sens, only to have Bob Johnson hit a lead-off home run to force extra innings. A one-out Triple by Russ Snyder scored Hank Foiles with what proved to be the winning run in the 11th. Final score, Orioles 4, Senators 3. Twins-Angels: Halos carried a 2-0 lead into the 9th, when with 2 outs Bill Tuttle Tripled, then pinch-hitter Julio Becquer hit a dramatic home run off Ken McBride to tie the score. The game would have a "heavenly" finish in extra innings, when George Thomas's 2nd home run in as many games gave the Angels a 3-2 win in 10 innings, sending the hometown fans home happy. The other 2 AL games didn't need dramatics. The White Sox belted out 11 hits as they downed Kansas City, 5-3, while the Indians ...

Red Sox 2, Tigers 1, bottom of the 9th... Ernie Harwell: "Here we go, bottom of the 9th, Tigers trail 2-1, they'll send Maxwell, Brown and Fernandez against Fornieles. Ol' Paw Paw pinch-hitting for Gerry Staley, who pitched 2 perfect innings in relief of Frank Lary. The pitch to Maxwell, here it comes... Swing and a miss, strike 3! No Sunday punch on Friday Night as Maxwell goes down swinging to open the Tiger ninth. Now here's Brown, the catcher walked his last time up in the 7th, he also grounded into a double play in the 2nd and struck out in the 5th... 3-1 the count, the pitch to Brown... he walked him! Fornieles just missed with that last pitch to put the tying run on and bring Chico Fernandez up to try to move the runner around with 1 out. No indication of a bunt by Boston, they'll set up for a double play. Fernandez 0 for 3, but reached on a Fielder's Choice last time in the 7th. The pitch to Chico, he swings... Fly ball, right field, Jensen giving ch...

Thanks to the "Red Bank Register(NJ)," I was able to get a WPIX program listing and a ad for a soft drink that "refreshes in a Wink." Thus, here are highlights from a 4/27/61 Indians-Yankees thriller: WPIX: "It's the new grapefruit soft drink that refreshes in a "Wink." Pick up this great new thirst-quencher from Canada Dry today!" "It's bold, it's sensational and "You Asked For It!" Don't miss another fascinating edition, tonight at 7:30 on Channel 11" "The Daily News Station, WPIX-TV, Channel 11, New York."                                                           Game Summary Cleveland jumped off to a 3-0 lead on a first inning sac fly to right by Jimmy Piersall and a pair of RBI sing...

Drysdale fires 1-hitter at Giants Bailey breaks up no-hit bid in 8th Baseball in 1961 Staff LOS ANGELES-5 outs away. That's how Don Drysdale came close to baseball immortality at the Coliseum tonight, losing a no-hit bid on a double by Ed Bailey with one out in the 8th. Drysdale would finish with a one-hitter, striking out 8 as the Dodgers finished a two-game series sweep of the Giants, 2-0. The Dodgers supplemented Drysdale's gem with a Charlie Neal solo homer in the 3rd off Jack Sanford and a sacrifice fly by Norm Larker in the 6th off Jim Duffalo. This was the second 1-hit effort in the early season, the other came on opening day when Dick Donovan of the Senators carried a no-hitter into the 8th against the White Sox.

Bottom of the 9th, Braves leads Cards by a 3-2 score(4-26-61) Jack Buck: "Cardinals entertain Philly for a 3-game set starting Friday Night. Busch ticket office will be open tomorrow, plenty of good seats available for Friday Night, Saturday Night and Sunday Afternoon, all single games. Do plan to join us, won't you?" Harry Caray: "We go to the bottom of the 9th, Warren Spahn back on the mound to face the 2-3-4 hitters in a very tight 3-2 game. Ernie Broglio struck out 10 in his 9-inning stint, while Spahn has battled his control as Curt Flood steps up to the plate. Flood has a single and a walk in 3 trips." Joe Garagiola: "Spahn has walked a delicate tightrope and is about to fall off with Flood." Caray: "The 3-1 to Flood, he walked him! That's number 7 for Spahn and Don McMahon is throwing like crazy in that Milwaukee pen." Garagiola: "Having watched Milwaukee for NBC last weekend, this pitching staff has to be held together w...

Thinking of a Phillies-Pirates recreate, so here are some commercials as they would've aired on Pittsburgh TV-Radio the night of 4/26/61: "Louis Armstrong and his All-Stars play Syria Mosque tomorrow night at 8:30. Get your $2, $3 or $4 tickets at Gimbel's, Kaufman's or Horne's" "It's Thorofare Star-Time right now, this week's special is Armour Star Ham, just 47 cents a pound, 29 cents for the shank portion. Plus, get even more value with S&H Green Stamps, look for the coupon in tonight's paper. Shop your friendly neighborhood Throrofare today!"  "What car got 26.13 miles per gallon in the recent Mobil Economy Run, can go from Chicago to Detroit on one battery and is priced $100 less than last year? See your local Plymouth-Valiant dealer and find out tomorrow!" "Remember the fallout simulation test last year at Pitt? Relive what happened when total strangers of all ages spend 2 weeks in simulated shelter on the Circ...