Roger Maris

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Lore & Background

Maris played in the minor leagues from 1953 to 1956, and made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians in 1957. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season, and to the New York Yankees after the 1959 season. Maris finished his playing career as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968. Maris was an AL All-Star from 1959 through 1962, the AL Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961, and an AL Gold Glove Award winner in 1960. Maris appeared in seven World Series; he played for Yankees teams that won the World Series in 1961 and 1962 and for a Cardinals team that won the World Series in 1967. Maris's home run record was controversial, as the previous single-season home run record (60, set by Babe Ruth in 1927) was set during a period when MLB teams played 154 games per season. Maris broke Ruth's record in the year the AL baseball season was extended to 162 games, hitting his 61st home run in the last game of the season, which led to questions about the legitimacy of his record. However, he hit his first home run in the 11th game of the season, so that he hit all 61 within a 151-game span. Maris's major league record remained unbroken until Mark McGwire surpassed it in 1998; his AL record stood until 2022, when Aaron Judge hit 62 home runs for the New York Yankees.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Yankee Stadium was thick with tension on October 1, 1961. The crowd of 23,154 fans roared, not just for the game, but for history waiting to be written. Roger Maris stepped into the batter's box against Boston Red Sox pitcher Tracy Stallard. In the fourth inning, Maris connected, sending the ball soaring deep into the right-field bleachers, where fan Sal Durante caught it. It was his 61st home run of the season, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 set in 1927. Maris hit his first home run of the season in the 11th game, so he hit all 61 within a 151-game span. The stress of pursuing the record was so great for Maris that his hair occasionally fell out in clumps during the season. He was awarded the 1961 Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year and won the American League's MVP Award for the second straight year.

Reader's Guide

Roger Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota. He played minor league baseball from 1953 to 1956, then debuted with the Cleveland Indians in 1957. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in 1958 and to the New York Yankees after 1959. With the Yankees, he won AL MVP in 1960 and 1961, and a Gold Glove in 1960. He hit 61 home runs in 1961, breaking Babe Ruth's record. He played in seven World Series, winning with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962 and with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967. He retired after the 1968 season.

Did You Know?

• Maris hit his 61st home run on October 1, 1961, in the fourth inning of the last game of the season at Yankee Stadium.
• Maris's first home run of the 1961 season came in the 11th game, meaning he hit all 61 home runs within a 151-game span.
• Maris was an AL All-Star from 1959 through 1962.
• Maris won the AL Most Valuable Player award in both 1960 and 1961.