Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Roger Maris

1984.07.21 Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

The New York Yankees honored both Roger Maris and Elston Howard with plaques placed in Monument Park and jersey retirement.

Maris started his major league career as a rookie with the Cleveland Indians, before being traded to the Kansas City Athletics half way through his second year. Maris was elected to the All-Star team the following year, 1959.

The Yankees took notice of the young ballplayer and made a deal for him, bringing him into an outfield with Mickey Mantle in 1960. Maris would be named the American League MVP and win a Gold Glove for fielding.

In 1961 both Maris and Mantle made headlines with their chase of Babe Ruth's impossible task of 60 home runs in a season. Mantle would fall short at 54 due to injuries, but Maris continued hitting his 61st home run in the last game of the season. Again Maris would be named the American League MVP.

While with the Yankees Maris would win two World Championships and lead the league in home runs 3-times and score more than 100 runs four consecutive years.

Following the 1966 season, Maris would be traded to the St Louis Cardinals, where he would win his 3rd World Series. In total Maris appeared in 7 World Series, winning 3, elected to the All-star team 7-times
Oct 1, 1999 Fargo, ND Hometown Hero pictorial postmark



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