Tracy Stallard, who gave up Maris’ 61st homer, dies at 80

New York Yankees slugger Roger Maris, left, talks to Tracy Stallard of the New York Mets before an exhibition game in Florida in this March 19, 1963 photo. In 1961 Stallard, then of the Boston Red Sox, pitched the ball that Maris hit for his record-breaking 61st home run. (AP/File)

COEBURN, Va. — Tracy Stallard, the pitcher who gave up Roger Maris’ record 61st home run in 1961, has died. He was 80.

The Sturgill Funeral Home in Coeburn, Virginia, said Monday that Stallard died Wednesday at the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, Tennessee.

He was on the mound for Boston in 1961 when Maris broke the single-season record that Babe Ruth had held since 1927. The record stayed until 1998.

Stallard went 30-57 with a 4.17 career ERA while pitching for the Red Sox (1960-62), New York Mets (1963-64) and St. Louis Cardinals (1965-66).

His funeral was Sunday at the Sturgill Funeral Home.

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