As the two strove to break Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1961, the media went to great lengths to paint Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as rivals rather than teammates. In fact, it seems that both of them got along well with each other despite the pressure on them.

Also, it seems unlikely that Maris would have been able to hit 61 home runs that year if it hadn’t been for Mantle. This is why:

Before joining the Yankees, Maris was an average hitter and part-time outfielder. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1953 and opened the 1957 season with the Tribe, hitting .235 with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs in his rookie year. He subsequently was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in 1958 and to the Yankees after the 1959 season.

On the New York pinstripes, Maris became one of the most productive power hitters in the league. A dead-throw hitter, he threw 39 home runs in 1960, hitting .283 and leading the American League in RBIs (112) and slugging percentage (.581). He was second in the league in home runs, runs (98) and total bases (290). His performance earned him the American League Most Valuable Player award.

But 1961 was the year that changed Maris’s life and baseball forever. His much talked about pursuit of Babe Ruth’s single-season 60 HR record garnered unprecedented media attention in baseball, particularly as Mantle, the media darling in this drama, was chasing Ruth’s record along with Maris.

A late-season illness caused Mick to miss games that ultimately cost him any chance of catching Ruth’s ghost, and Mantle finished the year with 54 home runs.

Despite mounting pressure from the media, as well as verbal and even physical abuse from “fans”, including death threats, Maris pulled off his 61st round trip on the final day of the season, breaking the record. unbreakable and establishing one that would stand for 37 years. .

But here’s what’s amazing about that season and Mantle’s essential role in Roger Maris’ achievement. During the season, which turned out to be the second straight MVP campaign for Maris, the Yankees right fielder did not draw a single intentional walk. In 590 official at-bats, the most prolific home run hitter of that season (or any season prior to 1961) did not receive a single free pass to first base.

There could only be one explanation, and that was that the guy hitting behind Roger Maris turned out to be Mickey Mantle.

So there would be little to be gained by walking Maris and sending him to the bases on Mantle’s home run. That would be a more “expensive” run than allowing Maris a home run. Maris was constantly allowed to see the kind of pitches he could throw in the right field seats.

And Mantle’s greatness took on another layer: For that season at least, Mickey Mantle proved just as dangerous in the on-deck circle as he was in the batter’s box.