Roger Maris: Hall of Famer ? History Through Film Mr. Clark

Chasing the Babe…

Roger Maris Height: 6'0 Weight: 197 Bats: Left Throws: Right Born: 9/10/34 Hibbing, MN

born in Hibbing, Minnesota on September 10, played sports and attended Shanley High School in Fargo, North Dakota. in the 10th grade Roger met Patricia, his future wife, at a high school basketball game.

College recruited by legendary coach Bud Wilkinson to play football for the University of Oklahoma Roger gave up his scholarship at the University of Oklahoma to pursue a career in baseball.

Professional signed a $15,000 contract to play for the Cleveland Indians organization. Roger spent four years in the minor leagues

Professional During his first year in the major leagues, 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. in his third year, was elected to the 1959 All-Star team.

Traded After the 1959 season, Roger Maris was traded to the New York Yankees.

A Yankee 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, second in home runs with 39 (one behind Mantle’s league leading 40), won the Gold Glove Award, and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player.

He also hit 2 World Series home runs, but it would be for the following year that he would be most remembered.

In 1961, Roger and teammate Mickey Mantle received national attention as they chased the single season home run record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927.

Although Roger got off to a slow start hitting only 1 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.

Roger tied Ruth on September 26th, hitting his 60th home run of the year. Maris, President Truman, and Mantle

Then, on October 1, 1961, the final day of the 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.

Ball hit by Roger Maris for his 61st home run of 1961

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 RBI's.

Roger and Mickey also set the home run record for teammates hitting 115 home runs between them.

Four times they hit home runs back to back At least one home run would be hit by Mantle or Maris every other game in the Yankee schedule On 14 separate instances, both men hit home runs in the same game Eleven times they hit home runs off the same pitcher during the same game Not once did Maris receive an intentional walk in order to get to Mantle who was next to hit

In 1962, Roger hit 33 home runs. He also drove in 100 RBI's and was selected to the All Star team for the 4th 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.

Roger Maris meets President John F. Kennedy

After the 1966 season, the Yankees traded Roger Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he played his last two years.

In 1967, Roger lead the Cardinals to the World Series, where he 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.

In all, Roger Maris played in seven World Series in the Sixties (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968), hitting six World Series home runs and driving in 18 World Series RBI's. He finished his career with 275 home runs.

On July 21, 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.

Maris and Mantle Honored at Yankee Stadium

“Sometimes I wish I never hit those 61 home runs. All I want is to be treated like any other player. I never wanted all this hoopla. All I wanted is to be a good ballplayer, hit 25 or 30 homers, drive in around a hundred runs, hit.280, and help my club win pennants. I just wanted to be one of the guys, an average player with a good season." Roger Maris on Roger Maris

Roger Maris died on December 14, 1985 of lymphoma cancer at the age of 51.

ACHIEVEMENTS Set Baseball's Single Season Home Run Record (61 in 1961) 275 Career Home Runs Two-time Most Valuable Player in American League (1960 & 1961) Led American League in RBI's (1960 & 1961)- Gold Glove Award Winner (1960) Seven World Series (1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968) Six World Series Home Runs

“I still see him in my dreams. We lived together, we kidded around a lot, we enjoyed our time out there. Roger was a hell of a player, a Hall of Famer for sure in my book." Mickey Mantle

Autographed PICTURE worth $4,900 Autographed BASEBALL worth $12,900

RankNameAgeHRsYearBats 1Barry Bonds* L 2Mark McGwire* R 3Sammy Sosa* R 4Mark McGwire* R 5Sammy Sosa* R 6Sammy Sosa* R 7Roger Maris L 8Babe Ruth L 9Babe Ruth L 10 Tied Ryan Howard (and 3 others) L Single Season Home Run Leaders