More 1961 Baseball Season Highlights

During the 1961 baseball season, Roger Maris chased Babe Ruth's record and beat him -- but only after playing more games -- while Roberto Clemente earned a Gold Glove. Check out more highlights from the 1961 baseball season below:

  • Bobby Shantz is first to win Gold Gloves in each league when he takes the prize while pitching for the Pirates.
  • Bobby Richardson breaks Nellie Fox's monopoly on American League Gold Glove at second base.
  • Roberto Clemente wins his first Gold Glove as National League outfielder.
  • Dazzy Vance dies.
  • On August 23, five Giants homer in one inning to tie the major league record.
  • Jim Gentile ties the major league season record with five grandslams.
  • Jim Gentile sets an Orioles franchise record with 46 home runs and 141 RBI.
  • By hitting his 50th homer on August 22, Roger Maris becomes the first to have 50 homers by the end of August.
  • Minnesota's Pete Ramos tops American League in losses a record fourth consecutive time (20).
  • Minnie Minoso leads the majors a record ninth time in being hit by the pitch.
  • Dummy Hoy dies at 99.
  • Lee Thomas sets Angels record that still stands for most homers by a rookie (24).
  • Norm Cash sets record for most home runs by a Tigers lefty hitter (41).
  • In the All-Star Game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, pitcher Stu Miller at one point is blown off the mound by the park's infamous wind.
  • Bill Dewitt becomes new owner of the Reds.
  • Milwaukee's Eddie Mathews tops National League in walks (93).
  • Billy Williams's 25 homers set a Cubs rookie record.
  • Lew Burdette tops the National League in innings with 272.
  • Johnny Podres leads National League in win pct. (.783).
  • Red Vada Pinson, playing a 154-game schedule in the National League, has 208 hits -- 15 more than Norm Cash, the American League leader, who plays a 162-game schedule.
  • Wood tops American League and majors with 14 triples.
  • Mickey Mantle leads American League in walks (126) and SA (.687).
  • Norm Cash has top OBP in majors (.488).
  • LA's Wally Moon leads the National League in OBP (.438).
  • Maury Wills and Luis Aparicio once again lead their leagues in steals with 35 and 53, respectively.
  • Detroit's Rocky Colavito tops the American League and the majors with 234 runs produced.
  • Al Kaline leads American League in doubles (41), is second in batting (.324).
  • Chicago's George Altman leads the National League in triples with 12.
  • Whitey Ford tops the major league in win pct. (.862) and innings (283).
  • Dick Donovan, with the expansion Senators, posts the American League's top ERA (2.40).
  • Camilo Pascual leads the American League in Ks with 221.
  • Pascual ties Baltimore's Steve Barber for American League lead in shutouts with eight.
  • Frank Lary wins 23 games for Detroit, tops majors with 22 CGs.
  • Stu Miller and Pittsburgh's Roy Face tie for the National League lead in saves with 17.
  • MVP Frank Robinson tops National League only in SA (.611), but is second in several other departments.
  • Despite the expanded schedule, only two American League hurlers, Whitey Ford and Frank Lary, win more than 18 games.

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