July 16, 1961 - Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick threw a protective screen around Babe Ruth's season record of 60 home runs today. He ruled that no batter would be credited with breaking the record unless he did it in 154 games. The current season is the first in which the American League will play 162 games. The ruling was prompted by the home run feats this season of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. Maris has hit 35 homers and Mantle has clouted 32. Maris is 19 games ahead of the pace Ruth set in 1927. Mantle is eight games ahead of Ruth's schedule.
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