Associated Press Athlete of the 1961:  Wilma Rudolph and Roger Maris

Professional Sports 1961

Baseball
 

Most Valuable Player in the American league.

New York Yankee outfielder Roger Maris hits 61 home runs to break Babe Ruth's single season record.

World Series: New York Yankees win 4 games to 1 over the Cincinnati Reds.

The series MVP is Whitey Ford of the Yankees.

Mickey Mantle becomes the highest paid player at $75,000 per season.

The Washington Senators move to Minneapolis as the Minnesota Twins.

New team: Los Angeles Angels (Anaheim).

New team: Texas Rangers (Dallas).

Football

NFL Championship: Green Bay Packers won 37-0 over the New York Giants

AFL Championship: Houston Oilers won 10-3 over the San Diego Chargers

New team: Minnesota Vikings Fran Tarkenton came off the bench in his pro debut and led the Vikings to an upset win over the Chicago Bears in the team's first game.

Basketball

NBA Championship:
Boston Celtics won 4 games to 1 over the St. Louis Hawks

New Team: Washington Wizards

Boxing

Floyd Patterson knocks out Ingemar Johansson (again) and Tom McNeeley to hold the Heavyweight Championship.

NHL - Hockey

Stanley Cup: Chicago Blackhawks win 4 games to 2 over the Detroit Red Wings. Leading scorer: Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens

Most Valuable Player: Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion, Montreal Canadiens

Golf

Grand Slam of golf results:
The Masters - Gary Player

US Open - Gene Littler
British Open - Arnold Palmer
PGA Championship - Jerry Barber
 

Horse Racing

Kentucky Derby - Carry Back
Preakness Stakes - Carry Back
Belmont Stakes - Sherluck

College Sports 1961

Football

Heisman Trophy: Ernie Davis of Syracuse becomes the first black player to gain the prize.

Cotton Bowl - Texas 12, Mississippi 7

Orange Bowl - LSU 25, Colorado 7

Rose Bowl - Minnesota 21, UCLA 3

Sugar Bowl - Alabama 10, Arkansas 3

"Bear" Bryant in his first year at for the Crimson Tide goes undefeated for the season and wins the championship.

National college football championship: Alabama Crimson Tide

Basketball
 

NCAA National Champions: 
Cincinnati  70, Ohio St. 65