Roger Maris 1961 - 61st Home Run as Called by Red Barber, WPIX-TV, 10/1/1961

[Dakers11]

What I like about htis call is that, Mr. Barber allows me to hear the crowd and feel the moment as he rounds the bases.

[surferlaments]

when baseball, was truely baseball.

[beaconmike]

For you youth out there, watch the dignity and respect that Roger pays to the pitcher (Tracy Stallard) and the opposing team. As he trots around the bases (having accomplished something in baseball that had never been accomplished prior), he keeps his head down, he does not taunt anyone. He does not wave his hands to the crowd imploring for louder yells. He simply trots around the bases, and does no high-5 silliness, he just goes to the bench and sits down.

[TheRobertMillerShow]

why isnt maris in the hall of fame?

[beaconmike]

@TheRobertMillerShow Baseball sports-writer poltics of that era. Roger just wanted to play baseball and not have to kiss reporters asses, as the Yankees publicity machine wanted him to. He would do very few interviews with sports writers, who were clamoring for his soul in some kind of quotable story. That was how they made their living, but Roger was having nothing to do with it. For that, they crucified him when it came time many years later for admission to the HOF.

[Byrrd51]

This is great. Thank you for posting.

[ThExShizZx92]

Who was pitching?

[deeniemarie7]

@ThExShizZx92 Tracy Stallard.

[beaconmike]

@ThExShizZx92 Tracy Stallard

[YanksAtShea]

Gimike523 is wrong. This clip I've posted is from the actual, restored WPIX-TV broadcast w/Red Barber calling the game and Mel Allen doing color on TV. Phil Rizzuto called the home run over WCBS Radio and the Atlantic Yankee Radio Network hence Rizzuto's call being far more elaborate (and exciting) and Barber's barely minimalist. Barber on the radio later in the game interviewed Sal Durante who caught the home run.This TV clip is the REAL thing, Gimike523.

[jpwjr1199]

@YanksAtShea I want to point something out. Say what you will about Barbers call, but the attendance at Yankee Stadium that day was about 19,000, getting $5,000 was no small potatoes back then, and if you notice the difference in noise from the crowd on this from the apparently doctored, Hollywood call Rizzuto gave. I wonder, if the WCBS radio added in the crowd noise for live broadcast or, if it was added by the Yankees later to make it sound like 60,000 freaking out (we know they weren't).

[jpwjr1199]

@YanksAtShea sorry for the truncated posts here, but I can't get over how docile and relatively unaffected the crowd was. I mean, you can actually hear polite applause. I've heard more emotional reactions from an audience at Lincoln Center (by far). So I love Rizzuto, but the WCBS call is fantasy and the WPIX is reality

[glmike523]

I watched this on TV. Phil Rizzuto called it on television not Red Barber. Red Barber was broadcasting on the radio side.

Speak of disappointing calls. Imagine listening on the radio. When I was a kid in Brooklyn, my friends and I never liked him. he was always dry, humorless and very nondescript. I really think because he was one of the pioneers or the industry, they artificially put him on a pedestal and behind closed doors disliked his radio manorism.

[tstruss912]

Only steroid freaks have "beat" this record! In reality, this record still stands.

[arsturbuther]

@tstruss912

Josh Gibson hit 84 in 1936

[tstruss912]

@arsturbuther Man...I totally forgot about him. What bullshit that he wasn't allowed in the majors. Fuck racists.

[uncjim]

Beautiful upload and yes, I loved Mel and Phil and never understood why Red was allowed on the iar.

[billny33]

that call actually made me laugh. It's almost as if he knew everybody knew how important the homerun was and when he said "that's 5,000 dollars, somebody" it sounded like a tongue in cheek comment to deliberately undermine the moment, like something a cynical observer would say. But its really a shame Mel Allen didn't get a chance to call it.

[57rfx]

I love the calls the old-time announcers used to make. That's why I love listening to Vin Scully, and I'm a Mariners fan. But it sure makes me miss Dave Niehaus even more.

[glentv]

After all of the great Yankee announcers.....Sterling is way down on the list of greats.....terrible call for home runs.....and really annoying. Think of Mel Allen's "How About That" or Red Barber....even Phil Rizzuto the idiot was better.

[RPenta]

@glentv Sterling is an asshole-he once was a the poor man's Bob Grant; Rizzuto was a clown but his coverage of the Maris home run was excellent. Barber sounds like he is announcing someone winning a bunch of Green Stamps-this was '61 right?

[alonenjersey]

@glentv  How John Sterling has been able to hang on to his job this long is beyond me.

[tomitstube]

a couple of notables. jfk threw out his first first pitch that year in d.c., a little time mark for you.

the thing that hurt roger's accomplishment (and he shouldn't have been treated as he said, "like i did something wrong") was obviously the 163 game season, but also the league expansion with two teams watering down the talent. 13 came off the two expansion teams.

it should also be noted that in 1961 babe ruth wasn't the distant footage he is today.  many alive had seen ruth play.

[ed1cat1]

Commissioner Ford Frick ruined what should have been one of the most exciting and dramatic moments in baseball history. Thanks to Frick and his ruling, the mindset of the people was that it didn't count as evidenced by the only 20some thousand that attended this game. As big a Maris fan as I was as a kid I felt no joy over hearing that he had hit his 61st. I'm glad that people today look back on this as the greatest single season home run record of all time!

[boblackey1]

@ed1cat1 How 'bout that. I was a Maris fan when I was growing up too and remember seeing this on TV. I was just noticing the players in the dugout. Being a huge Yankee fan then I see 6 Boyer, 10 Kubek etc but number 15 (27 later) in 1961 I am rather sure was backup outfielder and pinch runner Jack Reed. For about 3 seasons Reed would replace Mantle in CF or Berra in LF and sometimes Blanchard in late innings but rarely started. He could really go get those fly balls. I miss Maris & Mantle!!

[Scoclamor]

@boblackey1 Tom Tresh, amazingly, played in this game, and he also wore #15. So that's a good question! Who was #15? #11 is Hector Lopez, right next to Maris. You can also see Johnny Blanchard, number 38 @ 1:25 between Boyer and Tresh or Reed. Is that Terry @ 1:29 at the end of the bench?

[boblackey1]

@Scoclamor Good question. I know Tom Tresh did wear # 15 in 62 and 63 and Jack Reed wore # 27. But I remember Reed taking the outfield in late innings for Yogi and Mickey wearing # 15. As a matter of fact when I was watching a game in 1962 and #15 was batting (something Reed didn't get to do but as you probably remember he was as good as any of the Yankess in the outfield) I coudn't understand why Reed was batting left handed. Then the little graphic came up "Tom Tresh- ss". Reed was #27 then.

[boblackey1]

@Scoclamor Ralph Terry was # 23. I knew all the number back in the late 50's and 60's. I think that is Reed. He looks too talk to be Tresh. I'll have to refresh my memory and check what number Tresh wore in 61. It could be 15 and they made Reed, who was a bottom of the rung player, change. Back then they played with between 40 and 60 balls a game. Now it's about 140. Slight scuff and it's out. Or if it's hit to say the third base coaching box, he trows it in the stands. End of 1/2 innings too.

[boblackey1]

They claim they are trying to keep the picture from having an advantage as he could do more with a scuffed ball. I see them tossed if they bounch of the outfield wall. In Maris' day that ball went back to the pitcher. Does that mean players like Maris, Mantle, Mayes etc had to deal with pitches that had more dance and curve on them because a scuff was not a reason to remove the ball. Only when it went into the stands or was fouled out of the way the nobody wanted to get it. 140 balls a game now!

[sinnuh]

Roger Eugene Maris - "AGAINST ALL ODDS"

[robphilll22]

Red sounded more like a game show host than a sports announcer. So matter-of-fact.Shamefull!!!

[DontCancelThisAcctYT]

Yes, Red Barber was a legendary broadcaster. But that was a weak HR call. I've heard more enthusiasm for HR's between two last place teams on the last game of the season. This HR deserved much better. Thanks for posting though. Hopefully the MLB media clowns won't take it down. They're already killing the modern game by removing it's highlights for baseball youth to see. They want you to pay to see this.

[WpgLwr007]

Fifty years on, and Roger Maris is STILL the only true legitimate Home Run King of Major League Baseball -- his record has even lasted longer than Ruth's!

[Ruanhogan]

Roger Maris the true homerun king!! The one and only

[hdg1150]

Wow what a surprise... I was actually at this game and saw this happen.. It was a Sunday, Ladies day game and my aunt took me, I was 10 and the Yankees had wrapped up the pennant long before this final game against the Red Sox.. We sat in the upper deck and this was the only run of that game.. Maris did not want to take a curtain call.. In those days histrionics and showboating were frowned upon... It was also the last game I saw at Yankee stadium.. started following the Mets in 62.

[DAGUY]

ford frick the prick who was a Ruth ass kisser forced the asterisk to be added in the record book.

Roger went through way too much crap from everyone about this.

I always respected him as a player and as a man.

The Mick was my all time favorote baseball player and, I'm a white sox fan.lol

[UncleMikeNJ]

For once, Phil Rizzuto was a better broadcaster than Red Barber. Partly because Red broke his own rule: Watch the outfielder, not the ball. If you see whether the outfielder thinks he will catch it, you'll have a better idea if it's out or not. Like Phil, and Mel Allen, and John Sterling, Red assumed this time.

"It's Maris onto the terrace!" "Mickey, you're the Man-tle!" "Berra buried one!" Yeah, probably better that Sterling wasn't doing games back then.

[faffaflunkie]

Still better than being told to choke down a "Dodger dog" every 20 seconds.

[dkaempff]

Sterling would have called it thusly, "It is high, it is far, it is....GONE! Maris is safe at home. And you too, can be safe with a New York Life insurance policy. Contact your independent insurance representative to get all the coverage your family deserves. New York Life...the company you keep. Oh, and Maris just set the single-season HR record, too. Suzyn?"

Lay off Red...he did just fine. :-)

[epaddon]

@dkaempff No he didn't. Red managed to demonstrate how so much that gets said about him today to make nasty remarks about Sterling are usually the product of rose-colored memories. Red's call was lethargic and completely managed to miss the point of things with his fixation on the fan winning $5000. I've heard Allen's TV call of the 60th HR and *that* is how the call should have been made. And Rizzuto's call on radio, the more "Sterling" type call if you like, was perfect.

[alonenjersey]

@dkaempff Oh you are so right.

[altfactor]

@dkaempff John Sterling would have said "Fly To Right........It is high.....It is far!...........It is THE RECORD! Sixty-one home runs in a single season, a new Major League record for Roger Maris!"

[biyankee]

Typical 21st century idiocy from "sports fans" who know absolutely nothing about anything. Red Barber was a legend. The closest we have to him today is Vin Scully, who happened to have been hired by Red Barber. Any one who would denigrate Red Barber exposes his lack of knowledge of baseball and broadcasting. Wake up yourself.

[armandx10]

Great coverage of the at bat - I'd love to see the whole game.

[armedSS45]

i go to the same highschool as roger maris

[marquettefootball]

Cut out the $5k moment and it's a brilliant TV call. If he would have just said "there it is....61" it would have been perfect. Sometimes, it's just best to shut up and let the pictures tell you what's going on.

[kisscactus]

That was a terrible call for sure, but THANK YOU for posting this video! :)

[1962Cadillac]

I will thank God EVERY DAY that John Sterling didn't call this moment. Understated play by play is a lost art.

[mhertz25]

Red Barber....the most boring broadcaster in baseball history, lives up to his reputation with the most unenthusiastic reaction imaginable. "There it is....61.....5000 dollarzzzzzzzzzz....hey Red, wake up man!!!!!!!

[BHTurnow]

Great job Paul! Love the video. Roger is still the REAL regular season home run champ!!! Thanks for sharing this historic clip!

Be well - Brad

[kentaappel]

One of the real home run kings, Roger Maris, the other one of course is Henry Aaron. The steorid era records should not count.

[gregnugget]

WOW!!!!! I didn't think the TV broadcast existed. Did I say WOW!!!!! Thank you.

[TheTweeter53]

@gregnugget It's amazing that only 23,000 fans showed up at Yankee Stadium for this game. Today, they'd have a full house without question.

[MattyVfromCT]

Phil Rizzuto"s call was so much better than Barber's

[Raman711]

@MattyVfromCT Amen. Rizzuto was legendary! I could imagine how John Sterling would have announced it. "It is high, it is far, it is gone! Oh ho Roger, over and out !"

[TheRetro64]

@Raman711 Or Suzyn Waldman, "Oh my goodness gracious!!"

[TheTweeter53]

@MattyVfromCT Barber seems more interested in somebody getting 5 Grand then he does in Maris epic accomplishment. Of course, 5 Grand was a lot of money back in 1961.  In my view, the Homerun record still belongs to Mr. Roger Eugene Maris. He did it the old fashioned way: HE EARNED IT!