the 1961 cleveland indians season was a season in american baseball. the team finished fifth in the newly expanded 10-team american league with a record of 78–83, 30½ games behind the new york yankees. although the 1961 season ended up being a disappointment, the indians had a brief flurry of pennant fever early in the 1961 season. after starting 12-13, the indians started to streak, going 22-4 over their next 26 games to reach a record of 34-17 (were 38-20 after 58 games). however the indians cooled off afterwards and were quickly knocked out of first place, as they went 44-66 the rest of the year. for the 2nd year in a row, the indians had held first place in june, only to slump to a losing record. this would happen again in 1962 as well (47-34 start in early july).