Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY, October 4, 1961 – Whitey Ford delivers first pitch of 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY, October 4, 1961 – Whitey Ford delivers first pitch of 1961 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds



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Yankees left-hander Whitey Ford throws the first pitch of the 1961 World Series to the Reds’ Don Blasingame. Ford would be brilliant in earning his third career World Series shutout and limiting the Reds to just two hits and striking out six batters in a 2-0 win. And to no ones surprise the Yankees, who hit a major league record 240 home runs in 1961, would score both runs via the long ball, Elston Howard connected in the fourth inning and Moose Skowron in the sixth, both coming off Cincinnati starter Jim O’Toole.

The Reds would come back and take Game Two by a 6-2 score, but that would be their last hurrah as the Yanks would win the next three games to secure their 19th World Championship in the past 39 years. Ford would be the Series MVP by posting a 2-0 record and throwing 14 innings of scoreless baseball for a 0.00 ERA. Héctor López would lead the victors with seven runs batted in and hit .333.

1 Comment

  1. Gary King · May 21, 2021 Reply

    I would like to confirm…what time (of day) did WS games start in ‘60,’61,’62, & ‘63? I was born ‘54 and I remember going to my grandparents house after school and watching games, but I’d like to know what was starting time.I did find out that in ‘62, SF games began noon PST.

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