Roger Maris

Roger Maris, born on September 10, 1934, was an iconic American professional baseball right fielder who left an indelible mark on Major League Baseball (MLB) over his twelve-season career. He is most renowned for his remarkable achievement in 1961, when he set a new single-season home run record by hitting sixty-one home runs, surpassing the legendary Babe Ruth's previous record of sixty.

Maris began his professional journey in the minor leagues, playing from 1953 to 1956, before making his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 1957. His career took a significant turn when he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season, and subsequently to the New York Yankees after the 1959 season. He concluded his playing days with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967 and 1968.

Throughout his career, Maris was recognized for his exceptional talent, earning All-Star honors from 1959 to 1962, and winning the American League Most Valuable Player award in both 1960 and 1961. He also received the American League Gold Glove Award in 1960. Maris showcased his skills on the grand stage, appearing in seven World Series and contributing to the Yankees' victories in 1961 and 1962, as well as the Cardinals' triumph in 1967.

The controversy surrounding Maris's home run record stemmed from the fact that it was achieved during a season extended to one hundred sixty-two games, while Ruth's record was set in a one hundred fifty-four game season. Despite this, Maris hit all sixty-one home runs within a span of one hundred fifty-one games, solidifying his place in baseball history. His record stood unbroken until Mark McGwire surpassed it in 1998, while his American League record remained until 2022, when Aaron Judge hit sixty-two home runs for the New York Yankees.