Oct. 4, 1961 - The Yankees defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 2-0, in the first game of the 1961 world series at Yankee Stadium today. Whitey Ford, the 32-year-old left-handed wizard, pitched a two-hitter, and behind him, Elston Howard and Bill Skowron weighed in with homers. Ford's victory was his eighth in world series competition, which is one more than the total of any other pitcher. Even more astounding, the shutout was his third in a row in series play. He blanked the Pirates twice in his only two appearances in last October's series. Ford now has pitched 27 straight scoreless world series innings. The series record is 29 2/3 innings, set by Babe Ruth for the Boston Red Sox before the Bambino became the king of home run hitters.
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