Winter 2014 Auction Closing Feb 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2014
Heading into the final month of the 1961 baseball season, the Yankees were battling the Detroit Tigers for the American League pennant, leading by 1.5 games at the time. But a very close second to that race was the historic horse race between slugging superstars Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, who not only were vying for the home run title but were both on pace to eclipse Babe Ruth's franchise and major league record for a season. Everyone was focused on the race, including the Louisville Slugger bat manufacturing company, which produced this "Derby" tote board of sorts with squares for each day of the month and columns for both contenders as well as Babe Ruth's 1927 daily home run log. The paper poster measures 71" x 12" in its modern wood frame and, besides some yellowing and a few folds, is a tremendous relic that displays beautifully and grades EX-NM. After August 31 that year, Maris had a 51-48 edge on "The Mick" and would eventually hold him off while establishing the new record of 61.