Roger Maris Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
ROGER MARIS
Born: September 10, 1934 in Hibbing, Minnesota
Died: December 14, 1985 in Houston, Texas
Died: December 14, 1985 in Houston, Texas
Baseball Career:
First Game: April 16, 1957; Final Game: September 29, 1968
Bat: Left Throw: Right Height: 6' 0" Weight: 197
Awards and Achievements:
Named AL Most Valuable Player by Baseball Writers' Association of America (1960 to 1961)
Named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News (1961)
Named AL Player of the Year by The Sporting News (1960 to 1961)
Named outfielder on The Sporting News Major League All-Star Team (1960)
Named outfielder on The Sporting News AL All-Star Team (1961)
Won AL Gold Glove as right fielder (1960)
Roger Maris
This article was written by Bill Pruden and is presented in part, courtesy of the Society for American Baseball Research
With one extraordinary season Roger Maris secured his place in baseball history. And yet his establishment of the major league home run record in 1961 proved to be more of a personal curse than a professional triumph. It also overshadowed, indeed overwhelmed, the totality of a career characterized at least as much by his consistent and important contributions to a string of League and World Championship teams--in both leagues throughout the 1960s--as by any single slugging accomplishment.
The son of immigrants, the future home run king was born Roger Eugene Maras (the family name--or at least his side--was later changed to Maris, a change that may have resulted from family tension) on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota. The family moved to North Dakota when Maris was five, and he graduated from Bishop Shanley High School in Fargo. There he was an athletic legend, once returning four kick-offs for touchdowns in a single game, a feat that remains a national record. Indeed, Maris's football exploits earned him a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, but quickly realizing that college life was not for him, he turned his full attention to baseball, where he would make an indelible mark.
An American Legion star whose strong all-around play attracted the attention of many scouts, Maris began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians organization, being first assigned to their Fargo-Morehead club in the Northern League in 1953. Achieving much early success, he moved up the ladder the next year to the Keokuk (Iowa) Kernels, where he quickly demonstrated his all-around talent, tying an Three-I League single season record for put-outs by an outfielder in 1954, while hitting .303 and crushing seventy-eight home runs from 1953-56. Keokuk was also the place where Maris, who in his early years viewed himself as a contact hitter, discovered his power. His manager Jo Jo White taught him to pull the ball, thus unleashing what would prove to be a history-making force. But first that power helped lead the Indianapolis Indians to the 1956 Junior World Series title.
First Game: April 16, 1957; Final Game: September 29, 1968
Bat: Left Throw: Right Height: 6' 0" Weight: 197
Awards and Achievements:
Named AL Most Valuable Player by Baseball Writers' Association of America (1960 to 1961)
Named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News (1961)
Named AL Player of the Year by The Sporting News (1960 to 1961)
Named outfielder on The Sporting News Major League All-Star Team (1960)
Named outfielder on The Sporting News AL All-Star Team (1961)
Won AL Gold Glove as right fielder (1960)
Roger Maris
This article was written by Bill Pruden and is presented in part, courtesy of the Society for American Baseball Research
With one extraordinary season Roger Maris secured his place in baseball history. And yet his establishment of the major league home run record in 1961 proved to be more of a personal curse than a professional triumph. It also overshadowed, indeed overwhelmed, the totality of a career characterized at least as much by his consistent and important contributions to a string of League and World Championship teams--in both leagues throughout the 1960s--as by any single slugging accomplishment.
The son of immigrants, the future home run king was born Roger Eugene Maras (the family name--or at least his side--was later changed to Maris, a change that may have resulted from family tension) on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota. The family moved to North Dakota when Maris was five, and he graduated from Bishop Shanley High School in Fargo. There he was an athletic legend, once returning four kick-offs for touchdowns in a single game, a feat that remains a national record. Indeed, Maris's football exploits earned him a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, but quickly realizing that college life was not for him, he turned his full attention to baseball, where he would make an indelible mark.
An American Legion star whose strong all-around play attracted the attention of many scouts, Maris began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians organization, being first assigned to their Fargo-Morehead club in the Northern League in 1953. Achieving much early success, he moved up the ladder the next year to the Keokuk (Iowa) Kernels, where he quickly demonstrated his all-around talent, tying an Three-I League single season record for put-outs by an outfielder in 1954, while hitting .303 and crushing seventy-eight home runs from 1953-56. Keokuk was also the place where Maris, who in his early years viewed himself as a contact hitter, discovered his power. His manager Jo Jo White taught him to pull the ball, thus unleashing what would prove to be a history-making force. But first that power helped lead the Indianapolis Indians to the 1956 Junior World Series title.
1980 Hee Haw (in person), 1967 1967 World Series (in person), 1961 The Annual National Sports Awards (in person), 1998 Race for the Record (Other), 1961 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (in person), 1968 1968 World Series (in person), 1963 1963 World Series (in person), 1961 The National Sports Awards (in person), 2008 Bigger Stronger Faster* (Other), 2006 Costas Now (Other), 1960-1963 The Ed Sullivan Show (in person), 2010 30 for 30 (Other), 2005 ESPN 25: Who's #1 (Other), 2001 Boston Red Sox: 100 Years of Baseball History (Other), 2001 The Greatest Summer of My Life: Billy Crystal and the Making of (Other), 1992 The 50 Greatest Home Runs in Baseball History (Other), 1986 Pinstripe Power: The Story of the 1961 New York Yankees (Other), 1980 It's My Turn (in person), 1964 1964 World Series (in person), 1962 1962 World Series (in person), 1962 Safe at Home! (in person), 1961 1961 World Series (in person), 1960 1960 World Series (in person), 2010 HBO Boxing After Dark (Other), 1991 Baseball's Record Breakers (in person), 1983 1983 Cracker Jack Oldtimer's Baseball Classic (in person)
Style
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ROGER MARIS In Yankee Stadium. Photograph inscribed and signed: "To Bill/Good Luck/Roger Maris". Color, 8x10. The man who broke Babe Ruth's record by hitting 61 home runs in 1961 poses in Yankee Stadium, "The House that Ruth Built". read more...Sale Price $637.50
$750.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 8x10. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $1,105.00
$1,300.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8x10 overall, image 7¼x9 (one surface). Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8x10 over all, image 7¼x8¾. Captioned at bottom: "Roger Maris' 61st HOME RUN - 1961. read more...Sale Price $616.25
$725.00
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ROGER MARIS. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 7x8½. Pictured just after he hit his record-breaking 61st home run at the end of the 1961 season. Roger Maris (1934-1985), read more...Sale Price $1,190.00
$1,400.00
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ROGER MARIS. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 7½x9½. Roger Maris (1934-1985), who played for the Cleveland Indians (1957-1958) and the Kansas City Athletics (1958-1959) before read more...Sale Price $1,105.00
$1,300.00
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ROGER MARIS The first Major Leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs signs this 8½x11 photocopy Photocopy signed in Ink: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8½x11. Roger Maris read more...Sale Price $1,190.00
$1,400.00
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ROGER MARIS. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 7½x7¼. Reproduction of a newspaper photograph showing the Yankee slugger just after he hit his 61st home run. Roger Maris (1934-1985), read more...Sale Price $1,105.00
$1,300.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 3¼x4½. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $467.50
$550.00
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ROGER MARIS. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8x10. Informal photograph of Maris as a New York Yankee. Maris broke Babe Ruth's single season record when he hit 61 home runs in 1961. read more...Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 8x10. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $616.25
$725.00
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1961 ALL-STARS: ROGER MARIS, MICKEY MANTLE, HARMON KILLEBREW, NORM CASH and ROCKY COLAVITO A group of all-stars from 1961 sign a black and white image of themselves, Framed to 16½x24¼. read more...Sale Price $1,020.00
$1,200.00
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ROGER MARIS and MICKEY MANTLE. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris" and "Mickey Mantle". B/w, 9¼x7¼. Photograph of 1961 All-Stars; Harmon Killebrew, Jim Gentile, Norm Cash and Rocky Colavito are also pictured but did not sign. read more...Sale Price $1,700.00
$2,000.00
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ROGER MARIS, WILLIE MAYS and MICKEY MANTLE Black and white publicity photograph of Roger Maris, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle holding their bats. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris", "Willie Mays" and "Mickey/Mantle". B/w, 9x6¾. read more...Sale Price $1,190.00
$1,400.00
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ROGER MARIS. Comprises: (1) Sports Card signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 2½x3½. Topps #2. Stats from 1953-1960 on verso. Displayed in 3½x5 case. Fine condition. (2) Baseball signed: "Roger Maris". Official Rawlings Bobby Brown American League baseball. Slightly soiled. Minor bumps. Fine condition. read more...Sale Price $2,380.00
$2,800.00
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ROGER MARIS. He signs on this contract for an appearance for Kraft Foods per NCB-TV Typed Contract signed: "Roger Maris", 11½p, 8½x11. No place, 1961 September 5. read more...Sale Price $3,360.00
$4,200.00
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ROGER MARIS He agrees to appear in a taping of Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall on September 29, 1961; He would hit his record breaking 61st homer two days later! Carbon Typed DS: "Roger Maris" in ink under "Agreed to and Accepted", 1p, 8½x11. New York, New York, 1961 September 5. read more...Sale Price $2,880.00
$3,600.00
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ROGER MARIS. Lower portion of a Partly Printed DS: "Roger Maris", 1p, 8½x7¼. No place, [1962 January 9] Countersigned: "Thos M. Lacey" for Cooper Tire & Rubber Conpany. Top portion of document cut away. read more...Sale Price $1,360.00
$1,600.00
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ROGER MARIS and MICKEY MANTLE. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris" and "Mickey/Mantle". B/w with yellow hue, 7¼x8¼. In 1961, MARIS broke Babe Ruth's single season record when he hit 61 home runs. The record had stood for 34 years. read more...Sale Price $1,190.00
$1,400.00
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ROGER MARIS, WILLIE MAYS and MICKEY MANTLE Black and white with yellow hue publicity photograph of Roger Maris, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle holding their bats. Photograph signed: "Roger Maris", "Willie Mays" and "Mickey/Mantle" read more...Sale Price $1,020.00
$1,200.00
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ROGER MARIS. Magazine Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 8½x11. Roger Maris (1934-1985) broke Babe Ruth's single-season record when he hit 61 home runs in 1961. While National read more...Sale Price $467.50
$550.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Magazine Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8½x11. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Magazine Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 7½x9¾. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Magazine Photograph signed: "Best Wishes/Roger Maris". B/w, 8x11. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Magazine photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8½x11 overall, image 6¼x8¾ (one surface). Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $531.25
$625.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Magazine Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". B/w with green hue, 5x8. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $467.50
$550.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Magazine Photograph signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 8x10. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $552.50
$650.00
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ROGER MARIS, ORLANDO CEPEDA and TIM McCARVER. Magazine Photographs signed: "Roger Maris", "Orlando Cepeda" and "Tim McCarver" on their respective photos. Color, 8½x11. MARIS broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $467.50
$550.00
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ROGER MARIS 8x8 photocopied image of the first Major Leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs Photocopy signed in Ink: "Roger Maris". B/w, 8x8. Roger Maris (1934-1985), who played for the read more...Sale Price $616.25
$725.00
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ROGER MARIS First major leaguer to hit more than 60 home runs. Sports Card signed: "Roger Maris". Color, 2½x3½. Maris broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old major league record of 60 home runs in one season when he hit 61 in 1961. read more...Sale Price $396.00
$440.00
