Mickey Mantle: The 1961 Home Run Race with Roger Maris

[CharlesMalone1]

This HR race was the greatest baseball thrill of my life. It's significance has not dimmed with the passage of time. And, true, it was an honest display of talent, unlike the horrible hitting records done later by the big, muscled up, steroid filled mercenaries.

[frankpaddyank]

A true gentleman!

[awheck52]

It all Started in 1961 for me. I am from New Orleans and I am a dedicated Saints and Hornets fan. How sad it is we have no Pro Baseball team here. So in 1961 I was 6 years old. The Yankees were my team. Years have gone by and I can still recall the whole starting line-up. Now I also had the pleasure of watching the 1 baseball game shown on NBC once a week with Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese. What a trip. Watching that whole HR race between the M & M boys was something special.

[fukOsamazMama]

Maris belongs in the Hall. There's no excuse for it. It's bullshit. The Rock n Roll HOF is lame too.

[radioactivekaraoke]

The separate single-season home run records remained until Nineteen

Ninety-One, when Fay Vincent, the commissioner of baseball, ordered that

there be only one record. Roger Maris died six years earlier, never

knowing that the record belonged to him.

[MegaObserver1]

Mickey and Roger became friends and continued that friendship even after the both retired after the '68 season. Mickey was instrumental in convincing Roger to come back to Yankee Stadium to be honored by the club in the early 80's. And Mickey went to North Dakota for Roger's funeral in 1985.

[jasoneavey]

This kinda of player is a thing of the past.........its now all about the flash and the cash......being born in the late 70s.....i was robbed of ever witnessing the true heart and game of baseball!!!!!

[amstaffbru]

MLB owes Roger Maris and his family a BIG APOLOGY. Here was a man scrutinized by the Commissioner of baseball back in '61,news papers berated him,and the fans,well if today there was a guy with 75 dingers and he needed 1 more to break steroid Bonds record,there would be a full stadium.Roger had about 20,000 in a stadium that held 80,000....All he did was drink some beer and do pull ups and sit ups..

[1GaryH1]

61 in '61 is still the REAL record! I was 7 years old in '61 and I got a "Roger Maris" bat after that. We played sand lot and everyone wanted to use that bat!!!

[CircaMay85]

@mannyrama But what people are forgetting about are the many seasons that Griffey came close to these records Without the use of steroids ... so i wish people would stop putting his name in that slot....

[Scoclamor]

@CircaMay85 I may have not liked Griffey at one point, being a Jays fan...but I came to like him and am sad to see him go!

[aitraining]

@CircaMay85 I wouldn't be so sure Griffey didn't use. Performing Enhancing Drugs are not just for bulking up. They allow you to play harder, stay healthier and not feel the little injuries. Notice the cliff Griffey fell off after the steroid stuff broke. The guy was constantly hurt and went downhill fast. No proof....just sayin'

[mannyrama]

In light of the steroid revelations, this may have been the greatest home run race ever. Mickey and Roger Maris did it the right way - no chemical assistance. What an awesome performance by two incredible athletes!

[vitorbelfort]

haha i agree that this was the best homerun race ever, but to say there was no chemical assistance is just ignorant son. Ever heard of greenies? clearly you havent.

[pickforfood]

@vitorbelfort Whats a greenie?Stick em' caps?

[6Ott7]

@mannyrama Pitching was different back then from todays pitching. Much harder to hit a ball these days. 

[harajukugirlloveandG]

@6Ott7 Why is it harder to hit a ball these days the pitchers then had alot more different pitches which made for a better game not just curve,fast ball,and this shit about greenies is crap.can you explain how they gave people power or made them stronger HGH has put a good 100lbs on these guys today they all do em??

[jmallton]

@6Ott7 The 1960's were considered the toughest pitching decade in the history of baseball

[MegaObserver1]

@jmallton But not 1961. That was the first expansion year in the American League and the pitching throughout the league was diluted. Many young pitchers who weren't ready for the big leagues were pressed into service for almost every team that season.

[spenser828]

@6Ott7 bull shit. spit balls were still legal back then. they gave the ball alot harder of a curve and fork balls were way harder to hit. these days you dont see spit balls cause there illegal across the nation in all the leagues

[singingindark12]

@mannyrama

without doubt...