Roger Maris earned the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
(Original Caption) 10/1/1961-New York, NY: Roger Maris swings and hits his 61st homer of the season to surpass the all-time high of Babe Ruth and place a new record in the books for the sluggers of the future to shoot at. Maris connected for #61 off righthander Tracy Stallard in the fourth inning of the game against the Red Sox. The ball sailed some 360 feet into the lower right field stands at Yankee Stadium where Ruth himself hit his 60th homer 34 years ago yesterday.