1961 Buffalo Bisons Roster
Team Record: 85-67
Finished 3rd in the IL
Manager: Kerby Farrell (85-67)
Affiliation: Philadelphia Phillies
Location: Buffalo, New York
Ballpark: War Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 259,724, Avg. 3,417
Playoffs - Buffalo Bisons 4 games, San Juan/Charleston Marlins 0
Finals - Buffalo Bisons 4 games, Rochester Red Wings 1
The Buffalo Bisons of the International League ended the 1961 season with a record of 85 wins and 67 losses, finishing third in the IL.
The Bisons scored 670 runs and allowed 612 runs. Don Mincher, Ted Savage and Félix Torres led Buffalo with 24 home runs apiece., while Tony Curry and Jacke Davis walloped 15 or more also. Félix Torres drove in 97 runs. Ted Savage paced batters with significant playing time by hitting .325. Wally Seward and Babe Birrer topped the squad with 11 wins each, and Bill Smith recorded a 3.56 ERA, best among pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Members of the 1961 Buffalo Bisons who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Julio Becquer, Babe Birrer, Bob Bowman, Paul Brown, Jimmie Coker, Tony Curry, Jacke Davis, Solly Drake, Rubén Gómez, Harry Hanebrink, Mickey Harrington, Ed Keegan, Joe Lonnett, Hank Mason, Don Mincher, Bobby Morgan, Cal Neeman, Taylor Phillips, Stan Pitula, Dick Ricketts, Humberto Robinson, Bob Sadowski, Ted Savage, Wally Shannon, Dwight Siebler, Bill Smith, Max Surkont, Bill Taylor, Félix Torres and Bobby Wine.
Kerby Farrell served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Baillargeon | R | R | August 8, 1940 | 6'0" | 190 | Montreal, QC CA |
| Julio Becquer | L | L | December 20, 1931 | 5'11" | 178 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| Babe Birrer | R | R | July 4, 1929 | 6'0" | 195 | Buffalo, NY US |
| Bob Bowman | R | R | May 10, 1931 | 6'1" | 195 | Laytonville, CA US |
| Paul Brown | R | R | June 18, 1941 | 6'1" | 190 | Fort Smith, AR US |
| Dick Bunker | L | L | April 5, 1935 | 5'11" | 165 | Norwood, MA US |
| Jimmie Coker | R | R | March 28, 1936 | 5'11" | 195 | Holly Hill, SC US |
| Tony Curry | L | L | December 22, 1937 | 5'11" | 185 | Nassau, New Providence BS |
| Jacke Davis | R | R | March 5, 1936 | 5'11" | 160 | Carthage, TX US |
| Solly Drake | S | R | October 23, 1930 | 6'0" | 170 | Little Rock, AR US |
| Jim Frey | L | L | May 26, 1931 | 5'9" | 170 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Rubén Gómez | R | R | July 13, 1927 | 6'0" | 170 | Arroyo, PR |
| Harry Hanebrink | L | R | November 12, 1927 | 6'0" | 165 | St. Louis, MO US |
| Mickey Harrington | R | R | October 8, 1934 | 6'4" | 205 | Hattiesburg, MS US |
| Ed Keegan | R | R | July 8, 1939 | 6'3" | 165 | Camden, NJ US |
| Joe Lonnett | R | R | February 7, 1927 | 5'10" | 180 | Beaver Falls, PA US |
| Hank Mason | R | R | June 19, 1931 | 6'0" | 185 | Marshall, MO US |
| Don Mincher | L | R | June 24, 1938 | 6'3" | 205 | Huntsville, AL US |
| Bobby Morgan | R | R | June 29, 1926 | 5'9" | 175 | Oklahoma City, OK US |
| Cal Neeman | R | R | February 18, 1929 | 6'1" | 192 | Valmeyer, IL US |
| Taylor Phillips | L | L | June 18, 1933 | 5'11" | 185 | Atlanta, GA US |
| Stan Pitula | R | R | March 23, 1931 | 5'10" | 170 | Hackensack, NJ US |
| Vic Rehm | S | L | February 16, 1936 | 6'4" | 200 | Carlyle, IL US |
| Dick Ricketts | L | R | December 4, 1933 | 6'7" | 215 | Pottstown, PA US |
| Humberto Robinson | R | R | June 25, 1930 | 6'1" | 155 | Colon, Colon PA |
| Bob Sadowski | L | R | January 15, 1937 | 6'0" | 175 | St. Louis, MO US |
| Ted Savage | R | R | February 21, 1936 | 6'1" | 185 | Venice, IL US |
| Wally Seward | L | L | July 1, 1932 | 6'2" | 170 | Everett, MA US |
| Wally Shannon | L | R | January 23, 1933 | 6'0" | 178 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Dwight Siebler | R | R | August 5, 1937 | 6'2" | 184 | Columbus, NE US |
| Bill Smith | L | L | June 8, 1934 | 6'0" | 190 | Washington, DC US |
| Max Surkont | R | R | June 16, 1922 | 6'1" | 195 | Central Falls, RI US |
| Bill Taylor | L | L | December 30, 1929 | 6'3" | 212 | Alhambra, CA US |
| Félix Torres | R | R | May 1, 1932 | 5'11" | 165 | Ponce, PR |
| Bobby Wine | R | R | September 17, 1938 | 6'1" | 187 | New York, NY US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
