61 in '61: Roger Maris' Record-Breaking Season

The Rivalry That Never Was
Since it was Maris' second season with the club, the press rooted for Mantle and scorned the newcomer Maris, creating a rivalry that never existed between the two and seemingly forgetting that both were outsiders chasing after the same goal. In this photo, both appear on the cover of a Mantle/Maris magazine issued during the 1961-1962 postseason in New York City. In terms of actual competition, Mantle had hit 54 home runs by the time he was sidelined with a hip injury in September 1961, giving the pair a total of 115 home for the regular season.

• Last Out at Yankee Stadium