M&M Boys
Encyclopedia
"The M&M Boys" was the nickname given to the New York Yankees
' early-1960s slugging tandem of Mickey Mantle
and Roger Maris
. The nickname gained provenance during the 1961 season
, when Maris and Mantle, batting 3-4 in the Yankee lineup, both challenged Babe Ruth
's 34-year old single-season record of 60 home runs. The home run lead would change hands between the two teammates numerous times throughout the summer and fueled intense scrutiny of the players by the press. Maris eventually broke the record when he hit his 61st home run on the final day of the season, while Mantle belted 54 before he was forced from the lineup in September with an abscessed hip.
Maris' record would stand for 37-years until it was broken by Mark McGwire
in 1998
. The duo, however, retains the single-season record for combined home runs by a pair of teammates (115).
The name is typically applied in baseball at amateur and professional levels to two successive hitters with last names beginning with M in a line-up that hit for average and power while complementing one another.
3-4 hitting tandem of Joe Mauer
and Justin Morneau
, who won the American League Most Valuable Player awards in 2009 and 2006 respectively. The batting prowess of Mauer that has currently earned him three batting championships and defense that has won two Gold Gloves, along with the power of Morneau that has earned him annual appearances at the top of MVP ballots and the Home Run Derby championship in 2008, have warranted comparisons to the old Yankees tandem. However, Morneau has expressed some minor disdain for the term, feeling it's being applied too soon.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
' early-1960s slugging tandem of Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
and Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
. The nickname gained provenance during the 1961 season
1961 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 59th season for the team in New York, and its 61st season overall. The team finished with a record of 109-53, eight games ahead of the Detroit Tigers, and won their 26th American League pennant. New York was managed by Ralph Houk. The Yankees played their home...
, when Maris and Mantle, batting 3-4 in the Yankee lineup, both challenged Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
's 34-year old single-season record of 60 home runs. The home run lead would change hands between the two teammates numerous times throughout the summer and fueled intense scrutiny of the players by the press. Maris eventually broke the record when he hit his 61st home run on the final day of the season, while Mantle belted 54 before he was forced from the lineup in September with an abscessed hip.
Maris' record would stand for 37-years until it was broken by Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
in 1998
1998 Major League Baseball season
*American League Championship Series MVP: David Wells**American League Division Series:*National League Championship Series MVP: Sterling Hitchcock**National League Division Series*All-Star Game, July 7 at Coors Field: American League, 13-8; Roberto Alomar, MVP...
. The duo, however, retains the single-season record for combined home runs by a pair of teammates (115).
The name is typically applied in baseball at amateur and professional levels to two successive hitters with last names beginning with M in a line-up that hit for average and power while complementing one another.
Table key
| Yankee team leader | |
| † | American League record |
| ‡ | Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| # | Player | Position | Games | AB | Hits | Home runs | Runs batted in | Batting average | On-Base % | Slugging % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right fielder Right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound... |
161 | 590 | 159 | 61 | 141 | .269 | .372 | .620 | ||
| ‡ | Center fielder Center fielder A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field... |
153 | 514 | 163 | 54 | 128 | .317 | .448 | .687 |
Modern usage
Most recently, it has been used by broadcasters, analysts, and the print media to refer to the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
3-4 hitting tandem of Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer
Joseph Patrick Mauer is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is the only catcher in Major League history to win three batting titles...
and Justin Morneau
Justin Morneau
Justin Ernest George Morneau is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Minnesota Twins. At 6 feet 4 inches and 225 lbs, Morneau was originally drafted as a catcher by the Twins in 1999. He converted to first base in the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2003...
, who won the American League Most Valuable Player awards in 2009 and 2006 respectively. The batting prowess of Mauer that has currently earned him three batting championships and defense that has won two Gold Gloves, along with the power of Morneau that has earned him annual appearances at the top of MVP ballots and the Home Run Derby championship in 2008, have warranted comparisons to the old Yankees tandem. However, Morneau has expressed some minor disdain for the term, feeling it's being applied too soon.