The 1961 New York Yankees season was the 59th season for the team. 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 games at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they defeated the Cincinnati Reds in 5 games. This season was best known for the home run chase between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, with the former beating Babe Ruth's single season record by hitting 61.

The 1961 Yankees are often mentioned as a candidate for the unofficial title of greatest baseball team in history.

• December 14, 1960: Bob Cerv was drafted from the Yankees by the Los Angeles Angels in the 1960 MLB expansion draft.^[1]
• January 16, 1961: Mickey Mantle became the highest paid baseball player by signing a $75,000 contract.
• Prior to 1961 season: Art López was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees.^[2]
• Prior to 1961 season: Ole Miss Rebels football quarterback Jake Gibbs was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees.^[3]

The 1961 season was notable for the race between center fielder Mickey Mantle and right fielder Roger Maris to break Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season (set in 1927). Maris eventually broke the record, hitting his 61st home run on October 1, the season's final day. During the season, Maris had seven multi-home run games; in a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, he hit four home runs.

1961 was an expansion year, with the American League increasing from eight to ten teams, the first expansion in the 61-year history of the league. The old schedule of 154 games (seven opponents multiplied by 22 games apiece) was replaced by 162 games (nine opponents multiplied by 18 games apiece) which led to some controversy due to the eight extra games that Maris had to try to hit 61.

Ultimately, when Maris broke Ruth’s record in game 162, baseball commissioner Ford Frick instigated "The Asterisk", which designated that Maris had only accomplished the feat in a longer season, and disallowed any reference to him as the record-holder. When commissioner Fay Vincent removed "The Asterisk" in 1991, Maris was finally given credit as the single-season home run record-holder. However, Maris had died in 1985, never knowing that the record belonged to him.

In addition to the individual exploits of Maris and Mantle, the '61 Yankees hit a major league record 240 home runs. The record stood until 1996 when the Baltimore Orioles, with the added benefit of the designated hitter, hit 257 home runs as a team.

• Roger Maris, American League MVP
• Roger Maris, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
• Whitey Ford, Cy Young Award
• Whitey Ford, Babe Ruth Award

1961 All-Star Game

• Whitey Ford, starter, pitcher
• Tony Kubek, starter, shortstop
• Mickey Mantle, starter, center field
• Roger Maris, starter, right field
• Luis Arroyo, reserve
• Yogi Berra, reserve
• Elston Howard, reserve
• Bill Skowron, reserve ^[9]

Harlan affiliation shared with Chicago White Sox^[10]