FullCountPitch - 61 Yankees Were More Than The M&M Boys

FullCountPitch.com

When you ask any baseball fan what they remember/know about the 1961 baseball season and the New York Yankees in particular, the first thing 99% of those queried would say would be “Roger Maris” and/or “Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle”. But looking back 50 years later, it is very obvious that the 1961 Yankees were about so much more than those two slugging teammates who chased the ghost of Babe Ruth.

The 1961 team was one of the greatest collection of ball players of all time. They could hit for average, for power, run, play defense, and pitch lights-out baseball. They were the most impressive slugging team of any era for more than thirty years, shattering the previous record for home runs in a season by belting 240. Their 109-53 won-loss record captured the AL pennant by eight games.

In addition to Maris’ record-breaking 61 home runs and Mantle’s 54 round-trippers, 1st baseman Bill “Moose” Skowron hit 28 home runs, Yogi Berra smacked 22, and his fellow catchers, Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard each hit 21.

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RIP Ralph Houk

Unbelievable. Seriously. Unbelievable. They say it happens in threes. That's all you ever hear. And damn it even though I don't know who they are, they're right.

Long time Yankees manager, general manager, and player Ralph Houk has passed away at the age of 90.

"The Major" was the first Yankees manager that I can remember. He initially had managed the team from 1961 thru 1963, winning two World Series and one pennant. He took over as skipper again 20 games into the 1966 season and would remain the Yankees main man through 1973, the first year of George Steinbrenner's ownership. It only took him one year, but Houk could see how things would play out under Steinbrenner and resigned on September 20, 1973.

Houk wasn't out of the game long, taking over the Detroit Tigers the following spring. He would manage in the Motor City for five years. After a couple of years off, Houk had his final managing stint with the Boston Red Sox from 1981 to 1984. He won 1,619 games (.514 winning pct.) over parts of 20 seasons.

Houk earned his nickname from his days in the service where he rose from private to the rank of major. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Bronze Star for his action in World War II.

Houk's playing career as a backup catcher was limited to just 91 games, but he was part of championship teams in 1947 and 1949-1953. He retired following the 1954 season and became a bullpen coach and manager in training for Casey Stengel. Between his manging stints with NY he served as the team's general manager.

He was fiery competitor that was infamous for his knockdown, drag out arguments with umpires. A good debate usually included kicking dirt on home plate/base and/or the umpire and flinging his cap. He never got cheated when discussing a call.

Houk's final stop in his baseball career was in the front office of the Minnesota Twins from 1986-1989. He earned his third World Series ring when the Twins captured the title in 1987.

Ralph Houk was one of the true characters of the game and he will be missed. Our condolences to his family.