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Roger Eugene Maris (September 10, 1934 – December 14, 1985) was an American professional baseball player who played four seasons in the minor leagues and twelve seasons in the major leagues. Maris played right field on four Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, from 1957 through 1968.
Maris set the MLB record for home runs during the 1961 season with 61 of them, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs in 1927. This record was challenged by then-baseball commissioner Ford Frick (who had been a friend of Babe Ruth), who said that Maris needed to break the record in 154 games instead of the current schedule of 162 games. His accomplishment of 61 home runs in a season came back to the forefront in 1998, when the 61 homer mark was exceeded by Mark McGwire, and later that same year by Sammy Sosa. Barry Bonds currently holds the single-season home run record of 73, which he accomplished in 2001. However, all those who exceeded Maris's single season record did so during baseball's so-called "steroid era", and every one of those players who surpassed 61 has been linked to steroids. As such, many baseball fans still consider Roger Maris's 61 HRs in 1961 to be baseball's legitimate single season home run record.
Maris began playing in the minor leagues in 1953. He reached the major leagues in 1957 playing for the Cleveland Indians. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season, and to the New York Yankees after the 1959 season. He finished his MLB career playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968. Maris was an American League (AL) All-Star from 1959 through 1962,[a] an AL Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961, and an AL Gold Glove Award winner in 1960. Maris appeared in seven World Series, five as a member of the Yankees and two with the Cardinals.
Maris set the MLB record for home runs during the 1961 season with 61 of them, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs in 1927. This record was challenged by then-baseball commissioner Ford Frick (who had been a friend of Babe Ruth), who said that Maris needed to break the record in 154 games instead of the current schedule of 162 games. His accomplishment of 61 home runs in a season came back to the forefront in 1998, when the 61 homer mark was exceeded by Mark McGwire, and later that same year by Sammy Sosa. Barry Bonds currently holds the single-season home run record of 73, which he accomplished in 2001. However, all those who exceeded Maris's single season record did so during baseball's so-called "steroid era", and every one of those players who surpassed 61 has been linked to steroids. As such, many baseball fans still consider Roger Maris's 61 HRs in 1961 to be baseball's legitimate single season home run record.
Maris began playing in the minor leagues in 1953. He reached the major leagues in 1957 playing for the Cleveland Indians. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season, and to the New York Yankees after the 1959 season. He finished his MLB career playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968. Maris was an American League (AL) All-Star from 1959 through 1962,[a] an AL Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961, and an AL Gold Glove Award winner in 1960. Maris appeared in seven World Series, five as a member of the Yankees and two with the Cardinals.
Roger Maris - Wikipedia
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Roger Maris, baseball's greatest unsung hero
Learn more about Roger Maris at http://books.simonandschuster.com/Roger-Maris/Tom-Clavin/9781416589297?mcd=vd_youtube_book Roger Maris: The Life of Baseball'...
Thanks you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that September 10 is the anniversary of the birth of American professional baseball player Roger Eugene Maris. He was a remarkable baseball player who set the MLB record for home runs during the 1961 season with 61 of them, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs in 1927.
It is sad that "then-baseball commissioner Ford Frick (who had been a friend of Babe Ruth), who said that Maris needed to break the record in 154 games instead of the current schedule of 162 games."
I doubt Babe Ruth would have begrudged his record being broken :-)
Rest in peace Roger Eugene Maris rogermaris.com/biography.html
BTW I collect Topps 1960's baseball cards - starting with 1960. I own Roger Maris All Star card from that year and one day I expect to post his basic card from that year.
Images: 1960 Topps All Star Card Roger Maris; Roger Maris at bat.
Background from
"Roger Eugene Maris was born in Hibbing, Minnesota on September 10, 1934. His father, who worked for the Great Northern Railroad, moved the family to North Dakota in 1942, where Roger and Rudy, his older brother by one-year, grew up. The Maris brothers played sports and attended Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota, where Roger and Rudy excelled in football and basketball. It was in the 10th grade when Roger met Patricia, his future wife, at a high school basketball game.
Roger played baseball in the American Legion program during the summers, since the North Dakota high schools with the cold weather did not have a program. Roger led his American Legion team to the state championship. With his excellent speed, Roger was a standout in football as well. In one game against Devil's Lake during his senior year, he scored four touchdowns on kickoff returns to set a national high school record.
Roger was recruited by legendary coach Bud Wilkinson to play football for the University of Oklahoma. But with a professional baseball contract looming, Roger gave up his scholarship at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a career in baseball. He signed a $15,000 contract to play for the Cleveland Indians organization.
Roger spent four years in the minor leagues playing for Fargo-Moorhead, Keokuk, Tulsa, Reading and Indianapolis before making it to the major leagues in Cleveland.
During his first year in the majors, Roger hit 14 home runs and drove in 51 RBI's for the Cleveland Indians. Midway through his second year, Roger was traded to the Kansas City Athletics and finished the season with 28 home runs and 81 RBI's. Roger received attention and in his third year, was elected to the 1959 All-Star team.
After the 1959 season, Roger Maris was traded to the New York Yankees. In 1960, his first season with the Yankees, Roger led the major leagues with 27 home runs and 69 RBI's by the halfway point and was again named to the All-Star team. An injury sliding into second to break up a double play caused him to miss 17 games. However, Roger still finished the season first in RBI's with 112, first in slugging percentage, first in extra base hits and second in home runs with 39 (one behind teammate Mickey Mantle who led the majors with 40). He also hit two World Series home runs, won the Gold Glove Award for outstanding fielding, and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player. But it would be for the following year that he would be most remembered.
In 1961, Roger and Mickey Mantle received national attention as they chased for the single season home run record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927. Although Roger got off to a slow start hitting only one home run in April, he quickly made up ground hitting 11 home runs in May and 15 home runs in June. The two Yankee sluggers went back and forth leading the majors in home runs during the summer. Roger became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs by the end of August. Mantle had 46. The Yankees continued to win and were playing to sellout crowds both at home and on the road. An unfortunate injury to Mantle in September caused him to miss games at the end of the season, but he still finished with a career high 54 home runs.
There was an incredible amount of pressure on Roger Maris. Roger, however, tied Ruth on September 26th, hitting his 60th home run of the year. Then, on October 1 1961, the final day of the regular season, Roger hit his 61st home run against the Boston Red Sox, to set the new home run record. The Yankees won the game 1 to 0 on Roger's home run, and went on to win the World Series that year. Roger was named the Most Valuable Player in the American League for the second straight year, as he led the league in home runs and runs scored and tied for RBI's. Roger and Mickey also set the home run record for teammates hitting 115 home runs between them.
Roger and Mickey filmed the movies Safe at Home and That Touch of Mink, which were released in theaters in 1962.
In 1962, Roger hit 33 home runs. His 133 home runs were the most of any player for the three year period from 1960 to 1962. He also drove in 100 RBI's for the third straight year and was selected to the All-Star team for the fourth straight year. Mickey hit 30 home runs, drove in 89 RBI's, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player that year. The Yankees repeated as World Series Champions.
In 1963, Roger missed almost half of the season with injuries playing in only 90 games, but still hit 23 home runs and drove in 53 RBI's and the Yankees returned to the World Series. In 1964, Roger hit 26 home runs and 71 RBI's and the Yankees again won the pennant and a trip to the World Series.
Roger sustained a wrist injury in 1965 and was only able to play in 46 games for the Yankees. After the 1966 season, the Yankees traded Roger Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played his last two years.
In 1967, Roger helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series, where he then homered and drove in a Cardinal record 7 RBI's as St. Louis won the World Series. In 1968, Roger helped the Cardinals return to the World Series and then announced his retirement at the end of the season.
In all, Roger Maris played in seven World Series in the sixties (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968) more than any other player, where he hit six World Series home runs and drove in 18 World Series RBI's. He finished his career with 275 home runs.
After Roger retired from baseball, he owned and operated an Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship with his brother Rudy and raised his six children with his wife Patricia. On July 22, 1984, in a ceremony in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees retired Roger's number (#9) and erected a plaque in his honor paying tribute to his achievements.
Roger Maris died on December 14, 1985 of lymphoma cancer at the age of 51.
In 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs surpassed Roger's Home Run record which had stood for 37 years.
In 1999, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp honoring Roger Maris.
In 2001, the acclaimed Billy Crystal film, 61*, starring Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane, about the 1961 home run chase, premiered in New York City.
In 2005, the North Dakota Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging commissioner Bud Selig to reinstate Roger Maris' 61 home runs in 1961 as the major league record. State senators approved the resolution 45-0.
In 2011, the New York Yankees celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Roger Maris' 61st Home Run during ceremonies on September 24th, at Yankee Stadium.
Career Statistics
Personal
Position: Outfield
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6'0
Weight: 198 lbs
Career Highlights
• Single Season Home Run Record (61 in 1961)
• 275 Career Home Runs
• Two-time Most Valuable Player in American League (1960 + 1961)
• Seven World Series Appearances (more than any other player in the 1960's)
• Seven All-Star Games
• Gold Glove Award (1960)"
Roger Maris, baseball's greatest unsung hero
"Roger Maris: The Life of Baseball's Reluctant Hero is the first definitive biography of the life and career of the amazing baseball legend."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kigu5J2Qy8s
Thanks for mentioning me my friend SSG William Jones
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy WilberSGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless CPT Scott Sharon PO1 H Gene Lawrence
It is sad that "then-baseball commissioner Ford Frick (who had been a friend of Babe Ruth), who said that Maris needed to break the record in 154 games instead of the current schedule of 162 games."
I doubt Babe Ruth would have begrudged his record being broken :-)
Rest in peace Roger Eugene Maris rogermaris.com/biography.html
BTW I collect Topps 1960's baseball cards - starting with 1960. I own Roger Maris All Star card from that year and one day I expect to post his basic card from that year.
Images: 1960 Topps All Star Card Roger Maris; Roger Maris at bat.
Background from
"Roger Eugene Maris was born in Hibbing, Minnesota on September 10, 1934. His father, who worked for the Great Northern Railroad, moved the family to North Dakota in 1942, where Roger and Rudy, his older brother by one-year, grew up. The Maris brothers played sports and attended Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota, where Roger and Rudy excelled in football and basketball. It was in the 10th grade when Roger met Patricia, his future wife, at a high school basketball game.
Roger played baseball in the American Legion program during the summers, since the North Dakota high schools with the cold weather did not have a program. Roger led his American Legion team to the state championship. With his excellent speed, Roger was a standout in football as well. In one game against Devil's Lake during his senior year, he scored four touchdowns on kickoff returns to set a national high school record.
Roger was recruited by legendary coach Bud Wilkinson to play football for the University of Oklahoma. But with a professional baseball contract looming, Roger gave up his scholarship at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a career in baseball. He signed a $15,000 contract to play for the Cleveland Indians organization.
Roger spent four years in the minor leagues playing for Fargo-Moorhead, Keokuk, Tulsa, Reading and Indianapolis before making it to the major leagues in Cleveland.
During his first year in the majors, Roger hit 14 home runs and drove in 51 RBI's for the Cleveland Indians. Midway through his second year, Roger was traded to the Kansas City Athletics and finished the season with 28 home runs and 81 RBI's. Roger received attention and in his third year, was elected to the 1959 All-Star team.
After the 1959 season, Roger Maris was traded to the New York Yankees. In 1960, his first season with the Yankees, Roger led the major leagues with 27 home runs and 69 RBI's by the halfway point and was again named to the All-Star team. An injury sliding into second to break up a double play caused him to miss 17 games. However, Roger still finished the season first in RBI's with 112, first in slugging percentage, first in extra base hits and second in home runs with 39 (one behind teammate Mickey Mantle who led the majors with 40). He also hit two World Series home runs, won the Gold Glove Award for outstanding fielding, and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player. But it would be for the following year that he would be most remembered.
In 1961, Roger and Mickey Mantle received national attention as they chased for the single season home run record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927. Although Roger got off to a slow start hitting only one home run in April, he quickly made up ground hitting 11 home runs in May and 15 home runs in June. The two Yankee sluggers went back and forth leading the majors in home runs during the summer. Roger became the first player in history to hit 50 home runs by the end of August. Mantle had 46. The Yankees continued to win and were playing to sellout crowds both at home and on the road. An unfortunate injury to Mantle in September caused him to miss games at the end of the season, but he still finished with a career high 54 home runs.
There was an incredible amount of pressure on Roger Maris. Roger, however, tied Ruth on September 26th, hitting his 60th home run of the year. Then, on October 1 1961, the final day of the regular season, Roger hit his 61st home run against the Boston Red Sox, to set the new home run record. The Yankees won the game 1 to 0 on Roger's home run, and went on to win the World Series that year. Roger was named the Most Valuable Player in the American League for the second straight year, as he led the league in home runs and runs scored and tied for RBI's. Roger and Mickey also set the home run record for teammates hitting 115 home runs between them.
Roger and Mickey filmed the movies Safe at Home and That Touch of Mink, which were released in theaters in 1962.
In 1962, Roger hit 33 home runs. His 133 home runs were the most of any player for the three year period from 1960 to 1962. He also drove in 100 RBI's for the third straight year and was selected to the All-Star team for the fourth straight year. Mickey hit 30 home runs, drove in 89 RBI's, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player that year. The Yankees repeated as World Series Champions.
In 1963, Roger missed almost half of the season with injuries playing in only 90 games, but still hit 23 home runs and drove in 53 RBI's and the Yankees returned to the World Series. In 1964, Roger hit 26 home runs and 71 RBI's and the Yankees again won the pennant and a trip to the World Series.
Roger sustained a wrist injury in 1965 and was only able to play in 46 games for the Yankees. After the 1966 season, the Yankees traded Roger Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played his last two years.
In 1967, Roger helped lead the Cardinals to the World Series, where he then homered and drove in a Cardinal record 7 RBI's as St. Louis won the World Series. In 1968, Roger helped the Cardinals return to the World Series and then announced his retirement at the end of the season.
In all, Roger Maris played in seven World Series in the sixties (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968) more than any other player, where he hit six World Series home runs and drove in 18 World Series RBI's. He finished his career with 275 home runs.
After Roger retired from baseball, he owned and operated an Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship with his brother Rudy and raised his six children with his wife Patricia. On July 22, 1984, in a ceremony in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees retired Roger's number (#9) and erected a plaque in his honor paying tribute to his achievements.
Roger Maris died on December 14, 1985 of lymphoma cancer at the age of 51.
In 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs surpassed Roger's Home Run record which had stood for 37 years.
In 1999, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp honoring Roger Maris.
In 2001, the acclaimed Billy Crystal film, 61*, starring Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane, about the 1961 home run chase, premiered in New York City.
In 2005, the North Dakota Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging commissioner Bud Selig to reinstate Roger Maris' 61 home runs in 1961 as the major league record. State senators approved the resolution 45-0.
In 2011, the New York Yankees celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Roger Maris' 61st Home Run during ceremonies on September 24th, at Yankee Stadium.
Career Statistics
Personal
Position: Outfield
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Height: 6'0
Weight: 198 lbs
Career Highlights
• Single Season Home Run Record (61 in 1961)
• 275 Career Home Runs
• Two-time Most Valuable Player in American League (1960 + 1961)
• Seven World Series Appearances (more than any other player in the 1960's)
• Seven All-Star Games
• Gold Glove Award (1960)"
Roger Maris, baseball's greatest unsung hero
"Roger Maris: The Life of Baseball's Reluctant Hero is the first definitive biography of the life and career of the amazing baseball legend."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kigu5J2Qy8s
Thanks for mentioning me my friend SSG William Jones
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy WilberSGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSgt Brian Brakke 1stSgt Eugene Harless CPT Scott Sharon PO1 H Gene Lawrence
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