ONE HOME RUN CLOSER | The biggest story of the summer of 1961 was Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris' pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record of 60. Most fans and reporters favored Mantle, but he ultimately was sidelined by injuries in September and finished with 54. Maris doggedly continued, despite suffocating media coverage that caused some of his hair to fall out. With a full house on hand at Tiger Stadium, the third deck press area overflowing with reporters, and a runner on first base, Maris belted a Terry Fox pitch into the seats for home run number 58 on September 17, 1961.

» MORE BOOKS