Top 5 Players of the 1961 World Series

Originally published on Jun. 3, 2019

By Zane Miller

On Monday, October 9th, 1961, the New York Yankees defeated the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field in Cincinnati to win the 58th World Series four games to one. It was the 19th World Series championship for the Yankees franchise and the fifth that was won in Ohio. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. #28 Bud Daley (Yankees)- P

Daley took the win in game five, coming in relief to pitch the final six and two thirds innings with no earned runs on five hits and no walks in the Yankees’ 13-5 victory to take the series championship.

4. #18 Gordy Coleman (Reds)- 1B

Coleman earned player of the game honors in game two, hitting two RBIs with one run and two hits in the Reds’ 6-2 win.

3. #22 Bill Stafford (Yankees)- P

Stafford got player of the game in game three, going six and two thirds innings with two earned runs, seven hits and a pair of walks as the Yankees went on to win it 3-2.

2. #16 Whitey Ford (Yankees)- P

Ford was game one’s player of the game, picking up a complete game shutout with just two hits and a walk allowed as the Yankees claimed a 2-0 victory.

1. #11 Hector Lopez (Yankees)- RF

Lopez was the player of the game in games four and five, grabbing two RBIs in game four with a run and a hit as the Yankees won it 7-0, while game five saw Lopez put up five RBIs with a pair of runs and a pair of hits as the Yankees won the series with the 13-5 victory.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

 

Link to stats database: https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1961_WS.shtml