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16. Roger Maris

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16.  Roger Maris
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: September 10, 1934 in Hibbing, MN USA
  • Weight: 197 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: April 16, 1957
  • Final Game: September 29, 1968
  • Gold Glove - 1960
  • Most Valuable Player - 1960
  • TSN All-Star - 1960
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1960
  • Most Valuable Player - 1961
  • TSN All-Star - 1961
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1961
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1961
  • MVP - 1960
  • MVP - 1961
  • MVP - 1964
 
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This one is a little tough.  We recognize (and we are sure most people agree) that the overall career numbers of Roger Maris does not equate to a Hall of Fame Baseball player.  However, many very good players have been excluded from Cooperstown because they lacked moments of greatness.  Nobody could ever doubt that Roger Maris had a year that was part of baseball immortality.

Roger Maris was not a one-season wonder, as it is often forgotten that he won the 1960 AL MVP before his legendary season and helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 1967.  However, it would be on the strength of that 1961 season where he shocked the entire sporting world with his assault on Babe Ruth’s Home Run record.  Please think of the adversity in which Maris accomplished it.  He broke the record in an era of no PEDs; he broke it with sportswriters constantly writing about how they didn’t want him to, and he did so when New York fans cheered against him and wanted the more popular Mickey Mantle to be the one to chase down the Bambino.  Granted, the media attention was not the same as in this era of ESPN and the internet, but the pressure on the Midwest farm kid had to be unbearable.  Maris would break one of the most coveted records in sports despite a nation cheering against him, and though he did not have the most statistically perfect season, it may have been the hardest one ever accrued.

Roger Maris had two great seasons, a couple of good ones, and an average career. He may not have had the career numbers the Hall covets, but what he did in 1961 was Hall of Fame worthy. Maris could very well remain the most immense Hall of Fame debate this side of Rose and Shoeless Joe.

Should Roger Maris be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 83.9%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 5.8%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 5.7%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 4.5%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Hibbing, Minnesota, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Tuesday, 01 January 1974
  • Position: Outfield
  • Played For: Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Rings (3) (New York Yankees 1961 & 1962, St. Louis Cardinals, 1967)
    MVP (2) (AL) (1960 & 1961)
    The Sporting News Player of the Year (1) (1961)
    All-Star (3) (1959, 1960 & 1961)
    Gold Glove (1) (AL) (1960)
    Highest bWAR for Position Players (1) (AL) (1960)
    Highest Offensive bWAR (1) (AL) 1960)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1) (AL) (1960)
    Most Runs Scored (1) (AL) (1961)
    Most Total Bases (1) (AL) (1961)
    Most Home Runs (1) (AL) (1961)
    Most RBI (2) (AL) 1960 & 1961)
    Most Extra Base Hits (2) (AL) (1960 & 1961)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Rightfielder (1) (AL) (1959)
    Most Double Plays Turned by an Outfielder (1) (AL) (1959)
    Most Total Zone Runs by an Rightfielder (1) (AL) (1960)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a RIghtfielder (3) (AL) (1960 & 1964) (NL) (1967)
    Most Total Zone Runs by an Outfielder (1) (AL) (1960)
  • Other Points of Note: Other Top Ten MVP Finishes: (Won the 1960 & 1961 AL MVP)
    None
    2 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (OPS+)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Doubles)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Walks)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Extra Base Hits)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Power-Speed #)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 33. Total Zone Runs by a Rghtfielder: 39
    64. Championship Win Probability Added: 49.7
    66. Putouts by a RIghtfielder: 2,017
    68. Fielding Percentage by a RIghtfielder: .983
    96. Total Zone Runs by an Outfielder: 45
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame: 1974: 21.4
    1975: 19.3
    1976: 22.4
    1977: 21.4
    1978: 21.9
    1979: 29.4
    1980: 28.8
    1981: 23.4
    1982: 16.6
    1983: 18.4
    1984: 26.6
    1985: 32.4
    1986: 41.6
    1987: 42.6
    1988: 43.1
  • Should be Inducted As A: New York Yankee

Should Roger Maris be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 83.9%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 5.8%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 5.7%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 4.5%

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