1961 Yankees: M&M Boys, The 50-Year Anniversary

In 1961 most of us Boomers spent our summers on the beach with transistor radio in hand while our heroes dubbed the M&M boys by the press would spur each other on, trading the homer lead frequently.

I was rooting, of course, for Mickey Mantle, while my best friend Joey (still my best friend today) was for Roger Maris.

By mid-season we began to wonder if the Babe's record of 60 might be in jeopardy.

By July 1, Rog was ahead 28-27 and both were on pace to demolish the record. That year was the first time we ever heard the word "juiced." We remember reports that the New York Times had the balls tested at the labs of M.I.T. with inconclusive results.

By Sept. 1, Rog held a 51-48 lead, with both still well ahead of the pace. We remember reports that Mick fell ill with the flu and broadcaster Mel Allen gave him a name of a quack doctor (part of the reason Mel was later fired) – and we all know how that turned out.

Mick played his last game on Sept. 26, finishing with 54 homers, his personal best.

Maris had failed to break Babe's record on the 154th game of the season (thus the asterisk), hitting his 59th that day as the Yanks clinched the pennant.

On Sept. 26, he blasted his 60th homer in Baltimore with Claire Ruth, the Babe's widow in attendance.

On the final day of the season, Oct. 1, the Yankees hosted Boston. In the fourth inning with the score knotted at 0-0, Rog lined a pitch from Tracy Stallard – this could be it! – 15 rows deep into the right-field seats. We all remember lucky Sal Durante made the catch.

With the stadium only half-filled (I blame it on the asterisk pronouncement) the fans gave Roger a standing ovation and we witnessed the birth of the curtain call.

This record stood for 37 years, longer even than the Babe's record had stood. If not for steriods, this record still stands.

Happy birthday, Joey.