Playing against the Boston Red Sox in the regular-season finale on October 1, 1961, at Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his 61st homer of the year to surpass Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 (set in 1927).

Sal Durante. A 19-year-old fan from Brooklyn, he grabbed Maris' home-run ball 15 rows up in the right-field stands. In exchange for the ball, Durante received $5,000 and two trips to the West Coast.

Russ Nixon. Boston's catcher when Maris homered. Bill Stafford. With relief help from Hal Reniff and Luis Arroyo, he was the winning pitcher in the Yankees' 1-0 victory. Tracy Stallard. Boston pitcher off whom Maris homered. Carl Yastrzemski. Boston's left fielder (he went 1-for-4) who was still an active major leaguer in 1982.