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THERE WERE SIX IN " 61 "

1961, the year of the great Yankees. Coming off that horrific World
Series loss to the supposedly inferior Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, the
Yankees were bound to rebound...They HAD to rebound !

Bill Mazeroski's 1960, ninth inning, seventh game blast buried the
legendary Casey Stengel as the Yankee manager but it not bury the proud
Yankee tradition. That was still a few seasons away and the gravediggers
names were Koufax, Drysdale and Gibson. Nevertheless as the Yankees entered
the 1961 season they were still the " Team ". Still no one expected the
power barrage that came from the Yankee bats that season. It powered them to
another American League flag and a fairly easy World Series triumph over the
Cincinnati Reds.

The fans of today clearly remember the entertaining home run race a few
years back between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Well there was even a better
race in 1961 btween the M+M boys, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. Team mates
on that slugging Yankee squad.

Mantle and Maris dominated the headlines in a home run race that kept the
fans on the edge of their seats. As they pursued the great Babe Ruth, there
were other American League players that were having monster years that
pretty much went without notice. They had been largely overlooked due to the
press coverage of Mantle, Maris and the Yankees themselves. An injury
stopped Mickey's home run production at 54 while Roger slipped past the Babe
and clobbered 61.

Looking back at that great 1961 season I was extremely impressed by the
outstanding performance of four other A.L.hitters that fell by the wayside
in light of the titanic output of Maris and Mantle. I feel that these four
individuals be recognized for there far above average seasons.

Let's start with my main man, Rocky Colavito. He was so popular in
Cleveland he could probably run for Mayor right now and win. In 1961 he was
a member of the Detroit Tigers due to a trade that is still a thorn in the
side of most die hard Indians fans. As a member of a very respectable
Detroit squad all " The Rock " did was launch 45 home runs. He drove in 140
and bat a neat .290.

Jim Gentile of the Baltimore Orioles is far from being a household name.
Yet in 1961 he put together a season that any player would dream of having.
He belted out 46 round trippers while sending 141 runs across home plate.
Throw in a .302 batting average and he actually bested Colavito's impressive
stats.

Harmon Killebrew is in the Hall Of Fame and deservedly so. The year 1961
showed just why he is. " The Killer " as he blasted 46 balls over the fence
while driving in 122 runs. He even hit at a .288 clip.

Last but far from least is Norm Cash who like Colavito and Roger Maris
was at one time the property of the Cleveland Indians. Norm had a season
that under any other circumstances would have netted him the MVP award. Cash
hit 41 four baggers while driving in 132 runs. His high water mark was a
league leading .361 average. With a season like that in today's free agent
market, Norm could have changed his name to " Rolls Royce ".

The Twins, Orioles and Tigers would eventually find their way past the
great Yankees and capture their own AL championship. The Twins took it in
1965 behind Killebrew, Tony Oliva and the AL's MVP, Zoilo Versalles.

The Oriloes took the flag in 1966 behind Frank and Brooks Robinson and an
awesome pitching staff. The Tigers would snare the crown in 1968 behind the
bat and leadership of the great Al Kaline and the arms of Denny McLain and
Mickey Lolich.

Although the Twins lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1965 World
Series, the Orioles avenged thear defeat by beating the Dodgers for the
World Championship in 1966. The Tigers would beat the St.Louis Cardinals in
1968 to become the best in baseball.

By this time Roger Maris was a member of a fine St. Louis Cardinal club.
Mickey Mantle would be retiring his painful body as the Yankees were
stripped of their aura. Now they were just a team being beat up by several
more capable clubs.

Rocky Colavito finally went back to Cleveland in 1965 but by 1968 he was
finished. Killebrew was slowing down and Jim Gentile was long gone when the
Orioles became a mid-60's powerhouse.

Although he was a very solid player throughout his career, Norm Cash
never again put together a season like he did 1961.

Oh yes indeed, 1961 was a very fine year !