Year of the Homer (Contd.)

Hardly anyone noticed that the New York Yankees were winning ball games last week--enough to recapture first place in the American League--but everyone noticed how they were winning.

In four games against the hapless Chicago White Sox, the Yankees scored 26 runs, all but eight of them on home runs. In the opening doubleheader, Roger Maris hit four homers, took over the league leadership (with 40) from Teammate Mickey Mantle (who hit two in three days) and spurted 22 games ahead of Babe Ruth's record 1927 pace. Second-string Yankee Catcher Johnny Blanchard tied a major-league record by hitting four consecutive homers, and even Third Baseman Cletis Boyer (batting average: .231) hit three in two games. Moaned beleaguered Chicago Manager Al Lopez: "I think the fans want to see some bunting and some hit-and-run, not just home runs." But the fans seemed to love it.

Although the free-swinging Yankees were well ahead of all the teams in both leagues in season homer production (with 155), other teams were not quiet. Detroit's Rocky Colavito hit two homers, kept the surprisingly stubborn Tigers close behind the Yankees. In the National League, Cincinnati's Frank Robinson collected four and Milwaukee's Henry Aaron got three. Season totals: American League, 1,000; National League, 763.

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