
Years later, shortly before his death, Jon’s dad told him, “We saw a man become a hero that day.”

As the chaos came to an end and Jon’s dad returned to his seat, he presented Jon with the baseball. Policemen converged from three directions and gradually pulled apart the mass. The crowd squeezed in around Jon, shoving and pushing, with Jon’s dad in the very center.
Roger maris crack#
Jon didn’t see it, but during Roger’s second at-bat, Jon knew by the crack of the bat and the reaction of the crowd that the Babe’s record was breaking. Being a young child, he had trouble seeing Roger Maris when he came to bat, because everyone in the bleachers around them stood in anticipation. In a 1998 article, writer Jon Young recounted a personal memory of the event when his dad took him to see the Yankees on that fateful Oct. But he continued hitting home runs, with his record breaking 61st happening on the final day of the season. The Babe was a legend for Yankees fans, and many openly rooted against Maris, even though he, too, was a Yankee. When an injury took Mantle out of the running, Maris was left alone in the spotlight, and he struggled with the attention. Mantle enjoyed the focus and became a media darling, but Maris was uncomfortable with the limelight. But it was the following year that Maris became a household name when he and teammate, Mickey Mantle, each looked they had a shot at beating Babe Ruth’s record. He won a Gold Glove and the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award. In 1960 he hit 39 home runs and led the league in RBIs. Maris came to the Yankees in a trade after the 1959 season. Roger Maris hit his 61st home run, breaking the record set by Babe Ruth for the most home runs in one season. Inducted in the Fargo Post 2 American Legion Baseball of Fame in 2006.It was on this date in 1961 that a shy baseball player from Fargo stunned the sports world in one of the most anticipated games ever played. Member of the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. His namesake is attached to the Roger Maris Cancer Center at Sanford Hospital in Fargo. Inducted into the North Dakota American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.Ī museum in his honor is housed at the West Acres Shopping Mall in Fargo. 9” in 1984 and he is honored with a plaque in the team’s famous “Monument Park” North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award Recipient - January 4, 1964
Roger maris series#
Hit six career home runs in 41 World Series games played. Louis).Īppeared in a total of seven World Series in his 12 season in the big leagues (1960-1964, 1967-1968).įinished his career with 275 home runs, 850 RBI, 826 runs, 652 walks. Won three MLB World Series Championships during his career (1961-New York, 1962-New York and 1967-St.

Sporting News Player of the Year in 1961. Hit 61 home runs in 1961 breaking Babe Ruth’s single season home run record of 60. Named American League Most Valuable Player in 19 while playing for the New York Yankees.
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Played in a total of seven all-star games during his career. Played in 12 big league seasons with four teams (Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees and St.
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Made his major league debut on Apwith the Cleveland Indians, the club he had signed with as an amateur free agent prior to the 1953 baseball season for $15,000. Was MVP of Post 2’s 1950 state championship team. Played Baseball for Fargo Post 2 American Legion from 1949-1951. Played Football and Basketball at Fargo Shanley High School.ĭuring his senior season in football in 1951, Maris returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in Shanley’s 32-27 win against Devils Lake High School. ROGER MARIS - PREP ATHLETIC STANDOUT AT FARGO SHANLEY HIGH SCHOOL Below is a list of accomplishments in Roger's athletic career that was highlighted by his unforgettable 1961 MLB regular season that saw him hit a record 61 home runs with the New York Yankees. Editor's Note: NDHSAA Media Specialist Tom Mix will periodically feature former student athletes and participants of NDHSAA-sponsored sports and activities on the NDHSAA NOW website ( This week's NDHSAA Alumni Spotlight shines on Roger Maris, a 1952 graduate of Fargo Shanley High School.
