The
1961 World Series matched the
New York Yankees (109–53) against the
Cincinnati Reds (93–61), with the Yankees winning in five games to earn their 19th championship in 39 seasons. This World Series was surrounded by
Cold War political puns pitting the "
Reds" against the "
Yanks". But the louder buzz concerned the "M&M" boys,
Roger Maris and
Mickey Mantle, who spent the summer chasing the ghost of
Babe Ruth and his 60 home run season of 1927. Mantle finished with 54 while Maris set the record of 61 on the last day of the season. With all the attention surrounding the home run race, the World Series seemed almost anti-climactic.