Roger Maris is my all-time favorite Yankee. I remember as a nine-year-old boy following Mantle and Maris pursuit of the Babe’s record in the sports page. Great video thanks for posting. Brings back many great memories of that time so long ago.
I was born in '61, and enjoyed at the time the McGuire-Sosa-Bonds competition, and loved the fact that #99 broke the Yankee record, in all essence he is the only one untarnished by Steroids. As for ARod, only time will tell. Does people like that belong in the Hall of Fame, all I can say is ask Gaylord Perry! To me Roger belongs in the Hall of Fame, for hitting 61 homeruns and keeping the record for 37 years.
I was only 2 years old when Roger Maris hit 61 home runs but I'll tell you the treatment he received from the Yankee fans and all the other fans of baseball was totally disgusting he never deserved it he did his best under terrible terrible circumstances I have nothing but respect for him God bless him and his family I just wish that he knew how many people are behind them it's just too bad you never knew
All Houk was trying to do is get Maris out of his slump. He only had one home run in April 1961. Mantle started doing well and Roger was fearing he was going to be traded again and was slumping. Ownership and management met up with him and told him to swing for the fences about the lineup shakeup. Houk decided to switch Roger to 3rd in the lineup and Mickey 4th and the rest was history. Mickey was even cheering for him from his hospital bed after the hip infection when Roger broke the record on Game 162 against Boston pitcher Tracy Stallard. Mickey really got to know him and already knew that Roger was not a bad guy and Mickey is literally what it says on his plaque in monument park, A GREAT TEAMMATE. Roger's widow as well as Roger understood that Yankee fans wanted Mickey or no one to take down The Babe's record. I'm happy Aaron Judge got the record cleanly and wears 99 iconically on his back.
I always loved Maris in the NYY outfield starting in 1960. He had roomed with the great Colavito while in Cleveland and I collected both in baseball cards. Both of these great room mates clearly belong in the HOF. I remember the great M&M Boys newspaper reports during the memorable '61 season. The NYC newspapers openly disliked Maris. I never did like these self aggrandized members of 4th estate. These reporters couldn't wear Roger's jockstrap, but they unjustly controlled many facets of the great game of baseball. Roger never felt too comfortable in NYC. But he had my 110% support until this present day. Many years later Mr. Paredes, the soon to be president of Panama openly challenged my support for Roger and called him an unprintable name. I never disrespected the future president, but my support was unshakable. My loyalty is still alive, active and well during the present 2022 Aaron Judge pursuit of Roger's record. I see that the Maris family has been present at Yankee Stadium during this historic home run (non steroids) chase. It's a great classy way to write an appendix to the memorable record of the still famous Roger Maris.
And to think the home run race started because Roger was in a slump and fearing of being traded again while Mickey was starting the season in 1961 red hot. So Houk decides to switch them in the lineup knowing that they would pitch to Roger and not Mickey, but instead, it did its job and got them both red hot in that back and forth home run race as well as got them accidently chasing The Babe's record of 60 home runs from 1927 unexpectedly. Aaron Judge could be next. Judge is at 49 as of Aug 26, 2022. Judge is 12 home runs from tying Roger.
i think Roger should still own the record. Steroids taken by all the players that passed him was a huge factor though several will never own up to it. Your thoughts please.
@@maverick7266 no question you can say in a way Maris was a tragic baseball character & he did absolutely nothing wrong but media didn’t want him to break the record, former players, for a short time teammates, fans & others we all owe Maris a big apology cause he just did his job.
