New York Yankees: Comparing the 2011 Offense with the 1961 Offense

The 1961 New York Yankees set a major league record by hitting 240 home runs. Led by Roger Maris (61), Mickey Mantle (54), and Bill Skowron (28), the Yankees easily eclipsed the 1956 Cincinnati Reds and the 1947 New York Giants, who set the record with 221 home runs each.

In 1997, the Seattle Mariners set the current record for team home runs, with 264. The 2011 Yankees, at the end of play on May 1, were on a pace to hit 296 home runs.

Robinson Cano, the greatest second baseman in Yankees' history, and outfielder Curtis Granderson are tied for the team lead with eight home runs each. That is a good sign because neither was, or is, expected to lead the team in home runs, but their totals this early in the season might mean each will come close to hitting 30 round-trippers.

First baseman Mark Teixieira has seven home runs, while catcher Russell Martin and former catcher Jorge Posada have six apiece. Teixeira should hit at least 30, while Martin and Posada might reach 20.

The great Alex Rodriguez, who has hit as many as 54 home runs in a season with the Yankees, has hit five in only 73 official at-bats. A-Rod claims that he no longer uses any performance enhancing substances, but he still should reach the 30 home run mark.

Brett Gardner has hit three, which is a little surprising, and Nick Swisher, who has good power, has hit but one. Swisher figures to hit at least 20, based on past performance.

This brings up an interesting question. How does the 2011 Yankees offense compare to the 1961 edition?

While it is early in the season, there are enough data to make some preliminary comparisons.

Teixeira is better than Bill Skowron, both offensively and defensively. He should match Skowron's 28 home runs.

Robinson Cano, when he concentrates, is almost as good defensively as Bobby Richardson, but Cano is a much more dangerous hitter. In 1961, Richardson hit only three home runs.

A-Rod doesn't come close to Clete Boyer defensively, but Clete hit a mere .224 with 11 home runs. Rodriguez is the greatest player to play third base.

Conspicuous by his absence when listing home runs by 2011 Yankees regulars is Derek Jeter. The greatest shortstop in the team's history has yet to belt his first home run. Tony Kubek hit eight, while batting .276. Jeter will, sadly, be hard-pressed to match Kubek's numbers.

The 1961 outfield destroys the current Yankees' outfield. Maris hit 61 home runs, Mantle hit 54, and the combination of Yogi Berra, Hector Lopez, Johnny Blanchard and Bob Cerv combined to hit well over 20.

Behind the plate, Elston Howard batted .348 with 21 home runs.

It sounds like a contradiction because the 2011 Yankees will probably score more runs than the 827 scored by the 1961 team, but the 1961 Yankees were more dangerous offensively, especially with Maris, Mantle and Howard batting third, fourth and fifth.

One should not claim that the difference in eras gives the 1961 Yankees the offensive edge because in 2011, American League teams are averaging 4.34 runs a game. In 1961, they averaged 4.53 runs a game.

This season, the Yankees are averaging 3.72 runs a game. In 1961, the Yankees averaged 3.75 a game. The difference is statistically insignificant.

It will be interesting to see how the Yankees sluggers fare during the next five months. They should come close to Seattle's record of 264 home runs, but home run hitters are strange and streaky. They have extended hot streaks, as well as extended home run droughts, which is another reason the 1961 Yankees were better offensively.

Mantle could bunt, which today is unheard of for a slugger. If necessary, Mickey would steal second, shake up the defense and get the offense started.

Howard, Skowron, and Cerv had great power to the opposite field, which meant they could often avoid hitting 400-plus drives to left field for outs. They could slice the ball to right field to take advantage of the short porch, which was only 344 feet away.

Of course, the major reason the 1961 team was better was the pitching, but that is for another time.

Reference:

Baseball Reference