A Brief History of the New York Yankees of the Early 60s (1960-1964)

In a span of ten years, from 1949 to 1958, the New York Yankees won the American League pennant nine times and the World Series seven times. The only year during that span the team failed to win the pennant was in 1954. Despite having an exceptional 103- 51 record, they finished eight games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians. Cleveland finished the season with 111 wins and only 43 losses.

Their .721 winning percentage remains the all-time highest winning percentage in the American League. But their storybook season did not have a happy ending as they were swept four games to zero in the World Series by the New York Giants. But now, back to the Yankees.

In 1959 the Yankees not only didn’t win the pennant but finished in third place, 15 games behind the Chicago White Sox. Their 79–75 record was the teams’ worst record since 1925. Could it be their dynasty was finally over?

SUBSCRIBE AND FOLLOW THIS PODCAST FOR FREE

1960 New York Yankees

Yankee haters sure hoped so, but it proved to be nothing more than wishful thinking. The Bronx Bombers finished the 1960 season with a 97–57 record and were back in the World Series. Right fielder Roger Maris won the American League MVP award. Their opponent would be the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates, who had not appeared in the World Series since 1927. The Pirates finished the 1960 season at 95–59.

It turned out to be a rather unusual World Series, as the Yankees outscored the Pirates 55–27, yet still lost the Series four games to three. The 55 runs were the most ever scored in World Series history by one team.

Yankees’ second baseman Bobby Richardson became the first player from the losing team to win the Series MVP award. Pirates’ second baseman Bill Mazeroski became the first player to hit a World Series ending home run.

1961 New York Yankees

But the Yankees came back strong the following season with a new Manager in Ralph Houk, who replaced the legendary Casey Stengel. The 1961 New York Yankees are arguably one of the best teams in MLB history.

They stormed through the regular season with an impressive 109–53 record, the teams’ second-best record in their 61-year history. The team had no less than six players who hit 20 or more home runs.

Mickey Mantle hit 54 while Roger Maris hit 61, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 60. Maris also won the AL MVP award for the second year in a row. New York easily defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series four games to one. Pitcher Whitey Ford was named Series MVP and also won the Cy Young award.

1962 New York Yankees

The 1962 Yankees were not as dominant as the 61′ team but still went 96–66 in the regular season before defeating the San Francisco Giants in a hard-fought Series four games to three. The Series took 13 days to complete due to rainy weather in both New York and San Francisco.

The victory would bring the teams’ 9th World Series title in 14 years. Pitcher Ralph Terry was named Series MVP and Mickey Mantle won the American League MVP award.

1963 New York Yankees

Their success continued in 1963 as they finished the season with 104 wins and 57 losses. Catcher Elston Howard won the AL MVP. It would be the 11th time the Yankees finished the season with over 100 wins.

They would face the Dodgers in the World Series for the eighth time, but this would be the first time the two teams met since the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. It was no contest! LA swept the Series four games to zero. The Dodgers pitching staff held New York to a .171 team batting average and only four runs total.

1964 New York Yankees

But once again, the team bounced back, finishing the 1964 season with a 99–63 record under new manager Yogi Berra. They won the American League pennant for the 14th time in 16 years.

Their opponent would be the St. Louis Cardinals. The two teams had met four other times in World Series play. In a hard-fought series, the Cardinals prevailed four games to three. So evenly matched were the two teams that only one run separated them, with the Yankees scoring 33 total runs and the Cardinals scoring 32.

Shortly after the Series ended, the Yankees fired manager Yogi Berra and replaced him with Cardinals Manager Johnny Keane.

1965 and Beyond

The changing of Managers proved to be a mistake as New York finished the 1965 season with a 77–85 record, the teams’ first losing record since 1925.

From 1965 to 1969, the team had only one winning season and never came close to winning another pennant. It wouldn’t be until 1976 that the Bronx Bombers won another pennant. But that’s a story for another time.

Here are a few other articles I have covering New York Yankee history for you to check out:

Mark Morthier is the host of Yesterday’s Sports, a podcast dedicated to reliving memorable sports moments from his childhood days and beyond. He grew up in New Jersey just across from New York City, so many of his episodes revolve around the great sport’s teams of the 70s for the New York area.

He is also an author of No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training (Second Edition): A Guide for People with Limited Time and Running Wild: (Growing Up in the 1970s)