Baseball in 1961

4-25-61-Matchup between the Cincinnati Reds(8-3) and the National League-leading Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. We'll pick up the action with the Redlegs leading the Cubbies, 4-0 in the bottom of the 7th. Here's what has happened thus far: 2nd-Reds take lead on home run by Gene Freese(1-0) 4th-Reds get lead-off double from Pinson, run scores on single by Frank Robinson(2-0) 6th-Reds get back-to-back lead off singles by Kasko and Pinson, Kasko scores on Robinson single, Pinson scores on error by Bob Will(4-0)                                                             Bottom of the 7th Vince Lloyd: "While you're stretching, stretch out with a springtime-fresh Salem. Each refreshing puff is air...

Schwall strikes out 8 Red Sox win 8th in 12 games, 4-2 Baseball in 1961 Staff BOSTON-Pete Runnels' 2-run triple in the bottom of 8th gave the surprising Boston Red Sox a 4-2 win over the Washington Senators this afternoon at Fenway Park. The Sawx were also spurred by the pitching of Don Schwall, who struck out 8 and survived an 8th inning jam in which the Nats scored twice, tying the score at 2 before Runnels' heroics in the bottom of the inning. The win was the 8th in 12 games for the Sox. BOS 4-9-1 WSH 2-6-1 WP-Schwall LP-McClain BOS 8-4 WSH 4-8

Foytack adds home run Tigers belt Bombers, 11-3 18-hit attack stuns New Yorkers Baseball in 1961 staff DETROIT-Mickey Mantle hit a mammoth home run. It was majestic. Then again, so were the Tigers. The suddenly roaring Tigers matched their season high in runs and set a new one in hits en route to a 11-3 thrashing of the New York Yankees in front of a crowd that wholeheartedly roared their approval in 2 big innings, the 4th(4 runs) and the 6th(6 runs). The 18-hit attack broke down like this: -Norm Cash, 4 hits(3 singles, double) -Al Kaline, 3 hits(3-run homer in the 6th, single, double)  -Dick Brown, 3 hits(3-run homer in the 4th, 2 singles) -Chico Fernandez, 3 hits(double, 2 singles) -Jake Wood, Bill Bruton each tripled. Every Tiger hitter contributed either an RBI or run scored, including Paul Foytack, who greeted fellow pitcher Bob Turley with a home run in the 8th. The same Foytack who also pitched 8-2/3 innings, setting down the first 10 Yankees...

Angels stun Pale Hose, 3-1 DP's help Twins feed the "Kitty" Baseball in 1961 staff KANSAS CITY-Feed the kitty, they say. Tonight in KC, the Twins did just that, turning 5 double plays en route to a 6-4 win over the A's, making a winner of Jim "Kitty" Kaat, who needed a few of his 9 lives to escape a walk-filled 2nd. The double plays certainly helped, coming in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th and 9th, not to mention the home run ball, with Earl Battey(2) in the 2nd and Bill Tuttle(1) in the 4th fueling the 12-hit Twin attack. Jose Valdevielso made the most of his of his early entry, coming in for an injured Zolio Versalles in the 1st and going 3-4 with a double and 2 runs batted in. But it was the lefty Kaat and the Twin defense that purred on this night, enabling the relocated ex-Senators to go over the .500 mark at 7-6, while the A's dropped to 3-8. Angels 3, White Sox 1 It was a tale of two Kens at Comiskey Park on this night, Hunt hitting his leagu...

Fans thrown out for throwing behind Piersall Baseball in 1961 staff BALTIMORE-A couple of Oriole fans were tossed out of last night's Indians-Orioles game for throwing an empty bottle at the back of Indians center fielder Jimmy Piersall after making a catch in the 8th inning. The fans were arrested. Piersall, who has had a history of mental problems, was unharmed during the incident.

Romano's homer breaks tie in 8th Fish fry, not crab cakes in series opener Tribe takes over 1st place in AL Baseball in 1961 staff BALTIMORE-There was a menu change in Memorial Stadium tonight. Instead of crab cakes, the Indians served up their own specialty, Mudcat, en route to a 3-2 win, giving them sole possession of 1st place in the American League. Mudcat Grant struck out 9 Oriole batters and overcame a pinch-hit 2-run homer by Marv Throneberry in the 7th to go the distance in the pivotal series opener. After Throneberry's game-tying home run, Johnny Romano led off the Indian 8th with a mammoth home run for the final margin of victory. He also singled and doubled, drove in 2 runs and was one of 3 Indians with 3 hits each out of a total of 10; Johnny Temple and Woodie Held also collected 3 hits. Grant allowed 6 hits in going the distance and impressed opposing manager Paul Richards, who called Grant "very underrated, a solid pitcher, one who will def...

Now batting .146 Snapping Out of It? Mantle's lead-off triple, Kubek's 3 hits pace Yankees to streak-ending win in 15 Baseball in 1961 Staff DETROIT-How's that beer, Mick? "Beer always tastes best, even after a long game like this one today." It tastes even better, 1. when you snap an 0-18 slump, 2. when you get 2 hits to move your average from .115 to .146 and 3. when your lead-off triple in the 15th helps snap your 4-game losing streak. "It really wasn't that bad a slump to start with. You've got to find your groove and I think we might have done that today," Mantle said with a grin. What's more fascinating about this marathon Yankee 3-2 win, isn't how Mantle may have finally snapped out of it, but for the managerial strategy that accompanied it. "If you have a runner on 3rd with nobody out in a tie game, there's no easy strategy, there never is," said Yankee manager Ralph Houk. Tiger counterpart Bob Scheffing, m...

.119 in 42 at-bats WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH MANTLE? While Kubek sizzles, Mantle's season-opening slump has historic overtones Baseball in 1961 Staff DETROIT-The Mick has little stick. After being swept in 4 at Baltimore, the Yankees begin a crucial series with one huge question looming over the Bombers' broad shoulders: WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH MANTLE? "If I knew, I would tell you," replied manager Ralph Houk. "What it is I think, is all those ball 4's Mick's been taking(14 walks). But you tell me, what slugger hasn't started his season so badly to the point where he asks himself, am I still the best hitter I can be? Mickey is that hitter, even though the numbers say otherwise." And they speak volumes: 5 hits, 42 at-bats, .119 average, 1 home run, 5 runs batted in. And one more stat: Hitless in his last 17 at-bats. Mantle isn't speaking, but at BP prior to the series opener at Tiger Stadium, he is at least lofting moon shots i...

Chicago Cubs  9-3  -- Cincinnati         8-3 . 5 Milwaukee        7-4 1.5 San Francisco  7-5   2 LA Dodgers      6-7  3.5 Pittsburgh         4-8   5 St. Louis           4-8   5 Philadelphia     3-10 6.5 Even with their "College," Cubs rah-rah-rah start bears watching with lethal Redlegs paying a visit to the "Confines." Braves take 5-game winning streak to St. Louis, which is imploding early while Giants-Dodgers renew rivalry at the cavernous Coliseum. Pirates try to snap 8-game losing streak against lowly Phils.

Baltimore    9-3 -- Cleveland   7-3  1 Boston        7-4 1.5 New York    7-5  2 Minnesota   6-5 2.5 Chicago WS 6-6 3 Detroit          4-6  4 Washington  4-7 4.5 Kansas City  3-7  5 LA Angels     2-9 6.5 Orioles swept 4 from the Yankees, Cleveland took 3 of 4 from the Tigers, plus feasting on cellar-dwelling Washington and KC. Indians-Orioles, Yankees-Tigers pivotal early-season series.

" Harry Caray with Jack Buck, here we go to the bottom of the 9th. Bob Gibson has been walking a tightrope here, he comes on with a steep mountain to climb in a 3-2 game. The peaks are Mays, McCovey and Cepeda. Mays is 2-for-3 with a walk, single, double and run scored... 2 losses in the final at-bat out West, a 3rd one was bailed out with a 7-run 10th, Gibby's last start in LA... The hitting's been there, but the bullpen has been Swiss cheese, not ideal for Solly's(Hemus) job security... The payoff to Mays, ball four. That's the 8th walk this afternoon off Gibson: How do you think Hemus is reacting in that dugout, Jack? About to get his last cigarette, Harry. He's certainly sweating out there, even with McDermott in the pen. (Caray)All right, here's McCovey, single in 4 trips with an RBI, could be Gibby's last guy here... With a long home stand coming up, how many starts should Gibson deserve to get, Jack? (Buck)I would say his skip his next scheduled ...

WJW ID: What happens when a judge can't get away from his problems? Don't miss "My Darling Judge," the GE Theater presentation tonight at 9 on Channel 8. WJW, Cleveland. Ken Coleman: Joe Nuxhall back on the mound as we start the 10th, we're still a little shell-shocked after that Klimchock Klout tied the score at 5. Held to lead off, followed by Funk or a pinch-hitter, then Bubba. Held is 1-for-4 with a RBI... The 3-1 pitch is wide, Held takes 1st on the walk, waiting to see who pinch-hits for Funk(Harry Jones: Looks like Nieman, Ken) Bob Nieman will be the batter here for Funk, Held at 1st, nobody out in the 10th, tied at 5-all... The pitch is swung on and hit deep to right, back goes Stephens, he looks up, this one is GONE! Bob Nieman off a very cheap fastball from Nuxhall sent it clear to Kansas for the go-ahead home run making it 7-5 here in the 10th! Must be a pretty thrilling movie going with that flight right now! Here's Bubba Phillips, he has a home ru...

After Bubba Phillips led off with a lineout to 3rd, Johnny Romano walked. With the Indians trailing 4-3, Vic Power comes to the plate. Coleman: The pitch is swung on and hit deep to center. Del Greco plays on a hop, Romano rounds 2nd, then 3rd, he scores the tying run as Power stops at 3rd with an RBI triple! The Tribe comes through in the clutch and there's still only 1 out!(Temple grounds to pitcher, Power holds, A's walk Francona intentionally to pitch to Piersall with 2 outs) Piersall is 0-4... The pitch is hit to right, Stephens plays on a hop, Power scores, Tito will stop at 3rd with Piersall stopping at 2nd, giving the Tribe a 5-4 lead! Now the Tribe finds themselves 3 outs away from a early-season showdown with Baltimore tomorrow night!(Willie Kirkland grounded to pitcher to end the top of the 9th. The bottom of the 9th started with Sullivan popping out to Romano and Stephens striking out. Lou Klimchok batting with 2 outs) Coleman: The pitch is swung on and hit to rig...

SOHIO Commercial: New SOHIO science discovery! Carburetors get dirty when dirt particles form at the wall, leaving your car with sluggish starts and poor gas mileage! A new SOHIO discovery cleans your carburetor and keeps it clean each time you drive! This new discovery can be found in our BORON gasoline. Try some in you car soon and see if your carburetor runs cleaner and gives your car better mileage! Look for BORON's new discovery only at the SOHIO sign! "THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF OHIO" Ken Coleman: We move on to the top of the 8th here in Kansas City. 2 runs on 7 hits for the Tribe, 3 runs on 6 hits for the Athletics. Tito Francona leads off, he'll be followed by Piersall and Kirkland. Tito has singled, walked and doubled... The pitch is hit to right field, Stephens has room, he... drops it and that's gonna send Tito to 2nd on what should be an error...(Piersall strikes out, then Kirkland grounds to pitcher, Francona holding at 2nd) With 2 down, here's ...

This is probably what the ID's heading into the station break sounded like during a Yanks-Orioles CBS telecast... After 3rd inning, CBS: "That noted man of many words, Harpo Marx, is one of Ed Sullivan's guests tonight here on The CBS Television Network." After 6th inning: "See this woman?(Dorothy Collins) Watch what "Candid" mischief she'll get into tonight here on The CBS Television Network." After 9th inning: "Here's a judge with a rather unique problem. Find out what it is on "GE Theater" tonight here on The CBS Television Network." 

Phil Rizzuto: "Yankee trading cards are available now at your Atlantic retailer. Pick up a set of 10 wallet-size cards free with a 5 or 10-gallon fill-up of Atlantic Imperial gas. Pick up Mantle, Maris, Berra, even a team card with each fill. While at Atlantic, fill-up with Imperial, the gas that guarantees clean carburetors. Cards are available for a limited time, while supplies last, only from Atlantic." Red Barber: "Well, Scooter, it's like this, get a bunch of runs here in the 9th, or we fly to Detroit wearing rain barrels. Berra. Mantle, Maris and a bunch of rosary beads down 5. Here's Berra to face Chuck Estrada, Berra's 0-for-2 with a free pass... The 2-2... Never had a chance, 1 down. 8 strikeouts for Estrada, here's Mantle, whose weekend has been just like Ray Milland's: Lost. Mantle, 0-for-3, 2 strikeouts... The 1-2... That's number 9 for Estrada, Mantle leaves to a lusty chorus of "Better luck in Detroit, you'll need it."...

Dizzy Dean: "Bottom of the 7th, score is tied at 1-all, Stafford to face the shortstop Hansen. Hansen is 0-for-2... The pitch, lined to Skowron at 1st, 1 away. Here's the left-fielder Herzog, he doubled last time up... 3-1 to Herzog, ball four. That will bring up Adair, who is 0-for-2, flied to Mantle in shallow center last time up... the pitch to Adair, grounded to Richardson, Herzog running, Richardson throws to 1st, Herzog to 2nd, 2 down. Estrada will bat with runner at 2nd, 2 out, tie game... the pitch to Estrada, base hit! Herzog rounds 3rd, he scores! Estrada breaks the tie, Orioles lead it 2-1. Still 2 outs, here's the centerfielder Brandt, who has walked twice... the payoff to Brandt... Ball four! 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, pardner, the rightfielder Snyder to bat(Reese: Reniff in the Yankee bullpen, Diz)... The pitch to Snyder, base hit to right! They're gonna hold Estrada at 3rd, everyone else moves a base, still 2 outs, here's Robinson, he's 0-for-3... ...

Announcer: "WFBG, Channel 10, Altoona." CBS: "CBS Television presents "Baseball Warm-Up," a preview of today's game plus a interview with a top baseball personality. Now let's go to the ballpark!" Pee Wee Reese: "Welcome to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, everybody. Pee Wee Reese here. On today's program we'll interview the star left-hander of the Baltimore Orioles, Steve Barber, who pitched a strong ballgame last night as the Orioles completed a day-night doubleheader sweep of the Yankees, 6-1. We'll talk to Steve after word of an upcoming CBS program." GE Theater promo: "This is Ronald Reagan, ever have one of those days when you're faced with so many obstacles, you just want to get away? That's the problem facing Judge Cyrus Dunn on this week's GE Theater presentation, "My Darling Judge." (scene from episode) How does he manage to push aside all those obstacles, yet make his fishing trip? Fred C...

WSH 2-7-2 MIN 3-8-0(13) Killebrew walk-off home run comes day after Twins lose home opener to Senators in 14th. Ray Scott: "The pitch to Killebrew. He swings, he hits a drive to right field. Hinton looks up at the wall, it's all over. Killebrew has hit one to right field with one out in the 13th! Final score, Twins 3, Senators 2 in 13 innings. They're mobbing Killebrew at home plate, quite a scene here at the Met!" WP-McDevitt LP-Sturdivant

Monbouquette-9 innings, 1 earned run, 6 hits, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, he retired the last 12 CWS batters(he also struck out 4 times as a batter!) BOS 5-11-1 CWS 1-6-0

Bob Murphy: "After last night's 4-2 win over the Yankees, the Orioles will send Milt Pappas to the mound against Yankee ace Whitey Ford in the first of 2, a day-night affair here in beautiful Baltimore." 0-0, bottom of 1st, Jackie Brandt leading off. Murphy: "The pitch to Brandt. Swung on and hit deep to left, back goes Blanchard, he looks up, Goodbye! Brandt leads off with a blast to left and the Orioles strike 1st against the Bombers! 1-0, Birdies!" 1-0, bottom of 4th, Orioles load bases, one out, Ron Hansen batting. Herb Carneal: "Ford checks the runners, the pitch to Hansen. Ground ball to Skowron, not hard enough for a double play, Brooks will score, everyone else moves up a base on the RBI groundout by Hansen, it's 2-0, Birds." 2-0, top of 5th, Yankees have runners at 1st and 3rd, Johnny Blanchard batting. Carneal: "The 2-2 to Blanchard, he swings, lines up the middle for a base hit. Ford scores, Richardson moves from 1st to 3rd, R...

While trying to come up with a perfect "broadcast" to do here, I am gathering information through Wikipedia and a 1961 listing of who broadcast what games and who sponsored them. Baltimore Oriole games were sponsored by Hamm's beer and called by Bob Murphy and Herb Carneal, who both went their separate ways after 1961. Here are some "highlights" from a typical 1961 broadcast: Hamm's Beer Commercial "From the land of sky blue waters(waters)  From the land of pines, lofty balsams  Comes the beer refreshing,  Hamm's the beer refreshing,  Hamm's" Murphy: Anytime you want the perfect refreshment, reach for an ice-cold Hamm's beer. Brewed from the finest water in the world comes a refreshment like no other. So next time you're thirsting for refreshment, reach for an ice-cold Hamm's! "Hamm's the beer refreshing,  Hamm's the beer refreshing,  Hamm's." Bottom of 1st, no score, Brooks Robinson...