Why was Yankee Stadium empty when Roger Maris broke the single season HomeRun

[FieryCross]

record of 61...................? not only was he about to break the most sacred record at that time but the Yankees were going to the playoffs. Its not like the Yankees were in last place with no chance of going to the playoffs. With something that significant, why was Yankee Stadium mostly empty that day?
Did people not have internet and tv to find out what was happening?

 

[sarrafzedehkhoee]

No. They had no internet. Baseball was simply different then, and so was society's view of it.
That said, Roger Maris has been maligned ever since then. He belongs in the Hall of Fame.

 

[bob1]

"That said, Roger Maris has been maligned ever since then. He belongs in the Hall of Fame."

For hitting 61 home runs? In 12 seasons his career BA was .260, 275 HR, 850 RBI, .345 OBP, .476 SLG. Definitely not HOF stats for an outfilder.

Sarge

 

[bob1]

"That said, Roger Maris has been maligned ever since then. He belongs in the Hall of Fame."

For hitting 61 home runs? In 12 seasons his career BA was .260, 275 HR, 850 RBI, .345 OBP, .476 SLG. Definitely not HOF stats for an outfilder.

Sarge

 

[Fozzy]

While I think some folks may have been upset at Maris breaking one of Ruth's records, I think it may also have to do with a couple other things. Maris, first of all, was not anywhere near the "personality" that Ruth was. And perhaps more importantly, I think the Yankees fans wanted Mantle to break that record (he was neck and neck with Maris until injuries late in the season).
Plus you also have to realize that attendance in those days was not nearly at the levels we expect today. The Yankees only averaged 21,444 per game that season. Hard to believe, but true.

BTW - I can tell the previous answerers are all much younger than I am. There was no such thing as "playoffs" in those days (except on rare occasions when teams tied during the regular season). The Yankees had all ready clinched the pennant (they had an 8 game lead going into that game) and were going to the World Series. That also may have played into it - the game itself was totally insignificant.

 

[frank]

You must be very young....The internet did not exist in 1961. Cable TV did not exist in 1961. Color TV existed, but only a few programs were in color. Now to the reasons....Roger Maris was not the person everyone wanted to break the record. Most people wanted Mantle to be the one to break it. In addition, the season had been expanded from 154 games to 162 games. Ruth set the mark of 60 in the 154 game schedule, so when Maris had not broken the record by that point, a lot of people believed that Ruth still held the record, whether Maris broke it that season or not....By the way, there were also no playoffs in 1961. The Yanks had already wrapped up the American League crown by then, so from a standings point of view, the game did not matter. There were no divisions as we know them. Only the American League and the National League. The winner of each played in the World Series. Only seven postseason games at the most. Imagine that.

I also feel that Roger Maris should be in the Hall of Fame, and think it is a travesty that he is not. I disagree with Sarge - the fact that he was (is?) the single season home run leader is achievement enough in my opinion to earn Hall of Fame recognition.

 

[Fungo]

The attendance on Oct 1, 1961 at Yankees Stadium was about 23,000 (only about half empty). Fans were upset because Maris was already tied with Ruth's record of 60 HRs and he was being allowed 162 games to hit his 61st. In addition, the Yankees had already clinched a World Series berth.

The game was probably on local NY TV (black & white). And there was no internet as we know it now. I recall this Sunday afternoon game was broadcast on the radio nationally because of Maris.

The Yankees were not going to the playoffs since there were no playoffs at that time. They went directly to the World Series and beat Cincinnati in 5 games.

 

[michael30texas]

David Pitching is exactly right. Watch 61.

Many people were basically protesting because of the expanded schedule they felt that Babe Ruth would still be the Home Run king and did not care to see Maris break the record. I also think (though I could be wrong) the Yankees had already wrapped up a playoff spot by that point in the season.

 

[DavidPitching]

he was gonna break Ruth's record..he was baseball's God..it's like writing a new Bible..no one will accept it..watch (61*)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlhsg_Tt2Pc

Movie should explain it

That's why they put the Asterisk to say..this didn't happen in 152 games..it happened after 152..also you can see 2 HR's taken away by wind or as they called it "Ruth's Spirit pushing the ball inside the field" haha