Mantle’s two September 3, 1961 homers – for the ages.
On this date (September 3) in 1961, Mickey Mantle rapped a pair of home runs as the Yankees topped the Tigers 8-5 at Yankee Stadium. They were Mantle’s 49th and 50th round trippers of the season – and they still carry considerable historic significance.
First, they made Mantle the only switch-hitter to reach 50-homers in a season – a distinction he still holds.
Second, since teammate Roger Maris had already reached 50 home runs (he had 53 at the time), Maris and Mantle became the first two teammates to reach 50 dingers in a seasons – a distinction they also continue to hold.
Third, the two homers were part of Mantle’s 1960 total of 54, which – when added to Maris’ 61 that year – give Maris/Mantle the record for the most home runs by teammates in a single season.
Fourth, they contribute to the Yankees’ record of having the most 50-homer players. Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Alex Rodriguez also reach the mark while in pinstripes.
Looking for more 50-homer trivia fodder?
- To date there have been forty-two 50-homer campaigns, put together by 26 different players. (15 right-handed hitters, 10 left-handers and one switch hitter)
- The first 50-homer season belongs, as you might expect, to Babe Ruth (54 homers in 1920). Ruth topped 50 round trippers three more times 1921, 1927, 1928).
- Hack Wilson, with 56 HRs in 1930, became the second member (and first NL member) of the 50-homer club.
- Only Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire have matched Ruth’s four 50-homer seasons, with both players achieving their four “50s” in consecutive seasons (Sosa 1998-2001/McGwire 1996-99).
- Willie Mays is the only player to hit 50 homers for the same franchise in two different cities – 51 HRs for the New York Giants in 1955 and 52 for the San Francisco Giants in 1965).
- Willie Mays also holds the mark for seasons (11 including each 50-homer year) between 50-homer campaigns (as well, for the length of time between a first and last 50-homer season).
- Mark McGwire is the only player to be traded in the course of a 50-homer season. In 1997, McGwire finished July as an Oakland A, with 34 homers and 81 RBI. On July 31, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played in 51 more games, rapping another 24 homers and driving in 42.
- The 50-homer club boasts only one father/son combination: Cecil Fielder (51 HRs for the Tigers in 1990) and Prince Fielder (50 HRs for the Brewers in 2007).
- The youngest member of the 50-homer club is Prince Fielder (23), the oldest Barry Bonds (37).
- Only three players have hit fifty homers for more than one team: Jimmie Foxx (Philadelphia Athletics 1932, Boston Red Sox 1938); Mark McGwire (Oakland A’s 1996, Oakland A’s/St. Louis Cardinals 1997, St. Louis Cardinals 1998, 1999); Alex Rodriguez (Texas Rangers 2001, 2002 and New York Yankees 2007). Of these, only McGwire has achieved the feat in both leagues.
- In the seventy-six seasons since the first 50-homer season (1920-95), there were a total of nineteen 50-homer seasons. Between 1996-2012 (17 seasons) there were twenty-three 50-homer campaigns. And from 1997-2006 (ten seasons), there were eighteen 50-homer campaigns.
