61* : The Story of Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and One Magical Summer by the sporting news

4 reviews All reviews

IDKMike

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

Oh my god, this was amazing!

My two favorite baseball players were on the field at the same time. It was like a dream come true for me.

I have been following their careers for years and have always admired their skills and dedication.

Watching them play together was truly a sight to behold.

They moved with such grace and precision, hitting the ball with power and accuracy.

Their teamwork was also outstanding, communicating with each other and making split-second decisions.

I couldn't help but cheer and clap for them throughout the game.

This is an experience that I will never forget and will cherish for a long time.

I can't wait to see them play again in the future.

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pinkhearted

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

A magical, yet strained year in baseball, when one of the most cherished records was challenged.

In 1998, Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa both broke the major league record for home runs in a season. McGuire finished with an astonishing 70 home runs, while Sosa had an impressive 66. Their joint pursuit of the record is often credited by some with saving baseball after years of labor difficulties, which included a lengthy player’s strike.

To the older fans, it brought back vivid memories of the 1961 season. Back then, the same phenomenon was unfolding, only the names were the highly revered Mickey Mantle and the so-called upstart, Roger Maris. Maris ended the season with 61 home runs, one more than the previous record held by the incomparable Babe Ruth. However, major controversy was introduced into the chase when baseball commissioner Ford Frick intervened. He decreed that since Ruth hit 60 in a season of 154 games and Maris hit his 61 in 162 games, the Maris record would appear in the record book with an asterisk beside it. Like Mantle, Maris was from a small town and he had a tough time dealing with the intense pressures of pursuing a record while playing in the big city of New York.

This book provides a week-by-week chronicle of that magical year for baseball, when two great players had an outstanding season. It is also very heartwarming to read that Maris and Mantle were actually close friends both on and off the field. They even shared an apartment in New York City. Smith is also very clear about the difficulties that Maris had with the New York press and fans during his time as a Yankee. He points out that during the first years of his career as a Yankee, Mantle was often unjustly maligned, even though he played with constant pain.

1961 was a year when baseball was still the dominant national sport in the United States. Reading this book will help you understand at least some of the excitement and drama of that dynamic year in baseball history.

This review also appears on Amazon.

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Plastic_Blood

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

**Title: A Look at the 1962 Home Run Chase and Its Impact**

Books play a significant role in our lives, and this particular coffee table book by Ron Smith (2001) of The Sporting News is a fascinating read.

Set in 1927, it chronicles the week-by-week home run chase to beat Babe Ruth's record of sixty. Ruth's record is indeed one of the most famous in history, and he was arguably the most well-known person before Trump.

The book is filled with fantastic stats, presented almost pitch by pitch, along with real-time quotes from the media, coaches, and ballplayers like Maris, Mantle, Joe DiMaggio, and more.

Rogar Maris faced a lot of hatred for breaking Ruth's record, especially from the press. He was portrayed as an ungrateful villain, and the media's self-serving nature was evident then as it is now.

In contrast, Mantle was a more accommodating figure, becoming a familiar face in the New York social crowd.

Both Maris and Mantle had vastly different personalities from Aaron Judge. Judge is the media's darling, a "proper" hero who embodies the current cultural standards of humility and gratitude.

However, it's tragic to note that both Maris and Mantle died young. Maris from cancer at age 51 and Mantle from alcoholism at age 63. Looking back, the "magical" season doesn't seem so magical anymore. It was a season that thrust these two country boys into the intense spotlight of New York city celebrity, and they were ill-equipped to handle the pressure.

This book is not just about baseball; it's also about America, men and culture, and personality. It's a five-star read that offers a unique perspective on a significant moment in baseball history.

Tagged: Aaron Judge, Babe Ruth, baseball, drinking, Heroes, Mickey Mantle, the media

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thefanbastard

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I particularly relished the newspaper pictures.

Most of them were evidently arranged by the photographer for some diverting purpose.

Today's players would never strike such poses, yet the world was distinct back then.

Newspapers were the principal source of information at that time, which may seem rather odd nowadays.

Surprisingly, I actually loathed the Yankees during those days. However, as time has passed, I have come to value and appreciate their remarkable legacy.

The evolution of the game and the way we perceive sports teams have changed significantly over the years.

These old newspaper pictures serve as a fascinating reminder of a bygone era and the unique charm it held.

They allow us to look back and gain a better understanding of how sports and society have developed.

Although the world has changed, the importance of preserving these memories cannot be underestimated.

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61* : The Story of Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and One Magical Summer

the sporting news billy crystal

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