1961 East-West Game (Negro League)

The 1961 East-West Game was the thirty-fifth East-West Game, in its twenty-ninth consecutive year, and the next-to-last in the series. Played on Sunday August 20, 1961, it was held in New York's Yankee Stadium, marking the first year that no East-West Gama would be held in Chicago's Comiskey Park. It was held in conjunction with the segregated New York Elks Convention.

New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller tossed out the first pitch, and the West, consisting of players for the Kansas City Monarchs and Detroit Stars and managed by Willie Washington, won the game in a 7-1 rout over the East, which consisted of players from the Birmingham Black Barons and Raleigh Tigers and managed by Frank Fleming, three pitchers for the West team holding the East squad to one hit. Satchel Paige started for the West and was credited with the victory and named MVP, despite surrendering the East's only hit, an infield single by Fred Green. It was Paige's third victory in the classic, and his first since 1943, against one defeat.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
West	1	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	2	7	6	2
East	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	4

Sources

• New York Times
• Pittsburgh Courier