With the pressure intensifying over the newfound need to break the record within the time limit, Maris passed Mantle on August 15 for the final time that year and led the home run race for the rest of the season. Maris then became the first player in history to join the 50 home run club by the end of August. At the start of September, the race for the single-season record was still extremely close, with Maris having hit 56 home runs to Mantle's 53. However, Mantle was forced to pull out of the race after succumbing to an abscess in his hip joint caused from an injection that was supposed to cure him of a flu. Though most fans supported Mantle and vociferously rooted against Maris, it was the latter player who was now left to break Ruth's record alone.