Born #OTD 1934: remembering the great Roger Maris on what would have been his 90th birthday

Topps 1963

Roger Maris is arguably the most glaring omission from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While some folks today may believe he had only one standout season (1961), Maris was, in fact, a seven-time All-Star, a back-to-back AL MVP in 1960 and 1961, and a Gold Glove winner. He is most famous for breaking Major League Baseball’s single-season home run record with 61 in 1961. Although this record has since been surpassed in the National League (McGwire, Sosa, Bonds), it is worth noting that no American League player exceeded this total until Aaron Judge hit 62 in 2022. Maris was also instrumental in the Yankees’ World Series victories in 1961 and 1962, as well as in the St. Louis Cardinals' seven-game triumph in the 1967 World Series, where he hit .385 and recorded seven RBIs. While he may not have displayed the consistent brilliance of players like Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays, it is absurd for the Hall to not recognise his historical significance. Maris made history, and he remains a household name decades after he departed this ruthless and unappreciative world.

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