Fifty years ago, New York sports fans were in their glory. Two Yankees sluggers, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, were closing in on Babe Ruth's elusive record of 60 home runs in a season.
On Aug. 13, 1961, the M&M boys both hit No. 45 during a doubleheader against the Washington Senators.
There was no doubt that longtime Yankee Mickey Mantle was the fans' favorite. Even teammates had trouble remaining impartial.
"I think there was a little tension in our clubhouse," says Bobby Richardson, who played second base for the 1961 Yankees. "I think there were some that were pulling for Mickey and maybe one or two that roomed right by Roger that were pulling for him to break it."
While Richardson was on the field at Yankee Stadium, another Bobby, a rabid 9-year-old fan, was following the drama across the river in Queens.
"The Yankees were the team that was on radio and television in New York. Mickey Mantle was the guy, so they became my team," says famed sportscaster Bob Costas, who has made a career out of capturing the poetry of sports. "A lot of people thought, if anyone is going to break this record, it should be Mickey Mantle."
These two voices — Costas and former player Bobby Richardson — help us remember that sizzling summer of '61.
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