OFF THE TOP SHELF MEMORIES OF THE M&M BOYS MELT ON THESE PAGES.

Byline: - Tom Hoffarth

--The book: ``The Sporting News presents 61*: The Story of Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and One Magical Summer''

--The author: Ron Smith, with forward by Billy Crystal

--The essential info: The Sporting News publishing, $29.95, 160 pages

--The historical significance: Today is the 40th anniversary of Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth's single-season home run mark. Maris' 61st home run, off Boston's Tracy Stallard on the last day of the regular season, fittingly gave the New York Yankees a 1-0 win in front of only 23,154 fans at Yankee Stadium. It was also the climax to a season in which Maris both bonded with and was thrown into a chase for the record with teammate Mickey Mantle, who finished with 54.

--The book's achievement: Billy Crystal's recent movie for HBO titled ``61*'' successfully captured the story in a theatrical context. This coffee-table-sized history book reproduces in detail much more. Aside from headline clippings and story excerpts from The Sporting News, there also are many striking black-and-white photographs that are the lasting images of that period in time. TSN archives are used to re-create each week of the season, which allows the reader to take the journey and get a structured sense of how everything actually unfolded.

And as home run history continues to unfold, this is something to keep nearby on a shelf.

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