As the season hits the three-quarter completed mark, things are becoming clear: we’re headed for the three-peat. Following in the footsteps of their 1937 and 1953 forerunners, the 1961 New York Yankees are edging closer to the pennant. Not only do they have a two-game lead with eight to play, they have a favorable schedule down the stretch.
After beating their rival Red Sox 3-1 in week 6 (including two extra-inning walk-off victories), the 15-9 Yankees need to go 6-2 over the final two series to get to 21-11, the record that every previous winner has had or better. But, based on how things have gone this season, 5-3, and possibly even 4-4, may get it done. The Yankees face the 11-13 1962 San Francisco Giants next, then end with the 12-12 1961 Detroit Tigers.
The 1967 St. Louis Cardinals and the 1969 Minnesota Twins are both two games back after they split their week 6 series. The Cardinals will play the Tigers, and then the 12-12 1967 Boston Red Sox. The Twins meet the Red Sox and the 10-14 1969 New York Mets.
This season has seen the most parity of any of the five that have been played, with all eight teams separated by just five games in the standings.
Some individual superlatives: Roger Maris of the 1961 Yankees hit four home runs against the Red Sox, giving him a league-best 12 in 24 games. He’s already tied the GTOP single-season record set by Wes Covington of the 1957 Braves in season 4. Jim Kaat of the 1969 Twins improved to 6-0 after six starts, the only pitcher in the league to reach that mark. Gary Bell of the 1967 Red Sox had a no-decision to remain at 5-0. Steve Carlton of the 1967 Cardinals won again to move to 5-1. Maury Wills of the 1962 Dodgers is up to 13 stolen bases and may beat Ty Cobb’s GTOP record of 16 in season 1.
GTOP Season 5 Home Page
GTOP Record Book
| Week 6 | W | L | PCT | GB | R | RA | +/- | AVG | ERA | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 New York Yankees | 15 | 9 | .625 | — | 97 | 82 | +15 | .219 | 3.10 | Stats |
| 1967 St. Louis Cardinals | 13 | 11 | .542 | 2.0 | 74 | 88 | -14 | .233 | 3.32 | Stats |
| 1969 Minnesota Twins | 13 | 11 | .542 | 2.0 | 131 | 100 | +31 | .277 | 3.85 | Stats |
| 1961 Detroit Tigers | 12 | 12 | .500 | 3.0 | 106 | 109 | -3 | .243 | 4.08 | Stats |
| 1967 Boston Red Sox | 12 | 12 | .500 | 3.0 | 111 | 101 | +10 | .266 | 4.10 | Stats |
| 1962 San Francisco Giants | 11 | 13 | .458 | 4.0 | 116 | 109 | +7 | .268 | 4.31 | Stats |
| 1962 Los Angeles Dodgers | 10 | 14 | .417 | 5.0 | 80 | 120 | -40 | .231 | 4.89 | Stats |
| 1969 New York Mets | 10 | 14 | .417 | 5.0 | 83 | 89 | -6 | .242 | 3.49 | Stats |
Week 6 recaps:
> Gameday #21
> Gameday #22
> Gameday #23
> Gameday #24
Week 6 results:
> Tigers d. Dodgers 3-1
> Yankees d. Red Sox 3-1
> Twins and Cardinals split 2-2
> Mets and Giants split 2-2
Week 6 YouTube broadcasts:
> Red Sox vs. Yankees (Gameday #24)
BATTING LEADERS
Average
.369 Rich Reese, 1969 Twins
.364 Orlando Cepeda, 1962 Giants
.362 George Scott, 1967 Red Sox
.360 Rico Petrocelli, 1967 Red Sox
.353 Rod Carew, 1969 Twins
.330 Tony Oliva, 1969 Twins
.327 Curt Flood, 1967 Cardinals
.318 Elston Howard, 1961 Yankees
.318 Ron Fairly, 1962 Dodgers
.317 Cleon Jones, 1969 Mets
Runs
23 Rod Carew, 1969 Twins
23 Roger Maris, 1961 Yankees
22 Carl Yastrzemski, 1967 Red Sox
21 Norm Cash, 1961 Tigers
21 Orlando Cepeda, 1962 Giants
21 Tony Oliva, 1969 Twins
Hits
38 Rich Reese, 1969 Twins
36 Rod Carew, 1969 Twins
36 Orlando Cepeda, 1962 Giants
34 Norm Cash, 1961 Tigers
34 George Scott, 1967 Red Sox
Doubles
13 Rich Reese, 1969 Twins
9 Cleon Jones, 1969 Mets
9 Lou Brock, 1967 Cardinals
8 Joe Foy, 1967 Red Sox
7 several
Triples
5 Mike Ryan, 1967 Red Sox
4 Roger Maris, 1967 Cardinals
4 Norm Cash, 1961 Tigers
3 several
Home Runs
12 Roger Maris, 1961 Yankees
10 Dick Brown, 1961 Tigers
10 Rocky Colavito, 1961 Tigers
8 Norm Cash, 1961 Tigers
8 Tom Haller, 1962 Giants
8 Orlando Cepeda, 1962 Giants
8 Harmon Killebrew, 1969 Twins
8 Yogi Berra, 1961 Yankees
RBI
26 Dick Brown, 1961 Tigers
26 Tony Oliva, 1969 Twins
24 Harmon Killebrew, 1969 Twins
23 Rocky Colavito, 1961 Tigers
23 Orlando Cepeda, 1962 Giants
Stolen Bases
13 Maury Wills, 1962 Dodgers
8 Rod Carew, 1969 Twins
5 Lou Brock, 1967 Cardinals
4 several
PITCHING LEADERS
Wins
6 Jim Kaat, 1969 Twins
5 Gary Bell, 1967 Red Sox
5 Steve Carlton, 1967 Cardinals
4 Whitey Ford, 1961 Yankees
4 Don Drysdale, 1962 Dodgers
4 Ray Washburn, 1967 Cardinals
4 Juan Marichal, 1962 Giants
ERA
1.69 Jim Kaat, 1969 Twins
2.11 Bill Stafford, 1961 Yankees
2.35 Whitey Ford, 1961 Yankees
2.40 Gary Bell, 1967 Red Sox
2.49 Steve Carlton, 1967 Cardinals
2.63 Ray Washburn, 1967 Cardinals
2.72 Don Drysdale, 1962 Dodgers
2.81 Ralph Terry, 1961 Yankees
3.00 Juan Marichal, 1962 Giants
3.38 Tom Seaver, 1969 Mets
Complete Games
4 Juan Marichal, 1962 Giants
4 Tom Seaver, 1969 Mets
3 Jim Kaat, 1969 Twins
2 several
Shutouts
2 Whitey Ford, 1961 Yankees
1 several
Saves
6 Joe Hoerner, 1967 Cardinals
5 Luis Arroyo, 1961 Yankees
5 Ron Perranoski, 1969 Twins
5 Ron Perranoski, 1962 Dodgers
5 John Wyatt, 1967 Red Sox
Strikeouts
58 Jerry Koosman, 1969 Mets
47 Don Drysdale, 1962 Dodgers
45 Tom Seaver, 1969 Mets
43 Jim Bunning, 1961 Tigers
40 Whitey Ford, 1961 Yankees
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 