As the days of September passed in the Bronx, the Yankees put extended distance between themselves and the rest of the American League. Having entered the month with a 1-1/2-game lead over Detroit, the Bronx Bombers promptly won their first 13 games to extend that buffer to 11-1/2 games. A sub-plot, meanwhile, was a grueling one for self-effacing slugger Roger Maris. Chasing Babe Ruth’s sacred single-season home run record with opposition prevalent among everyone from the bleachers to the Commissioner’s office, Maris pressed on and eclipsed the mark on the final day of the season. Encapsulated and Graded Very Fine- 7.5, this October 2, 1961 issue of Sports Illustrated documents “No 60: Full Story of the Long Chase,” as well as a “World Series Preview.” Judging by the design and font size of the proclamations, the Fall Classic seemed merely an afterthought to Maris’s quest. With near-perfect timing, the issue hit the newsstands the morning after Maris broke Ruth’s record. This is one of three examples at its tier with only two graded higher. Holding superb content and significance in baseball history, this particular publication is extremely difficult to find in any condition. In fact: it ranks #1 on the "Hardest to Find" list. With its near-pristine status, this guide is among the most coveted and consequently, valuable you’ll ever encounter.