It was the home stretch of the 1961 season. The New York Yankees had widened their first place lead considerably over the Detroit Tigers. The nation, meanwhile, was still captivated by the chase of Babe Ruth's single-season mark home run. With Mickey Mantle injured, it was now his teammate Roger Maris vs. Babe Ruth. Even President John F. Kennedy was enthralled by the race.

As for the pennant, the Yankees would clinch on the night Maris needed his 60th home run to tie Babe Ruth in 154 games. The World Series between the Yankees and Cincinnati Reds was almost an afterthought.

I cover it all here in this final episode of the Baseball Sixty One podcast. I hope you enjoyed the podcast, as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

As the 1961 season was winding down, the New York Yankees went on a tear, reeling off 13 consecutive wins. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris continued to hit home runs, but a disturbing incident at Yankee Stadium, highlighted a doubleheader between the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians.

On Sep. 10, in the first game of a doubleheader, Indians outfielder Jimmy Piersall was attacked by two fans, but Piersall fought back. It was one of several incidents that highlighted a bizarre afternoon of baseball at the "big ballpark in the Bronx," as Yankees' broadcaster Red Barber used to refer to the Stadium.

All this and more highlight the latest episode of my Baseball Sixty One podcast.

A nation had become captivated with the home run race between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, as the Yankee teammates tried to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record in 154 games. Publications, even those not devoted to sports, started weighing in on the battle. Meanwhile, the Yankees surged into first place, but were still trying to fend off the Detroit Tigers, before a Labor Day weekend showdown series at Yankee Stadium.

The race did have some lighter moments, namely Mantle, Maris and Yogi Berra heading to Hollywood.

We cover it all, including the Dodgers nosedive in the National League, in this latest episode.