Roger Maris

Date of Birth: September 10, 1934

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: December 14, 1985

Biography

Roger Eugene Maris was an American professional baseball right fielder known for breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record. Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Maris began his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Cleveland Indians in 1957. He later played for the Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. Maris is best remembered for his 1961 season with the Yankees when he hit 61 home runs, surpassing Ruth’s long-standing record of 60 home runs in a single season. This achievement earned him the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award for the second consecutive year. Maris retired from baseball in 1968 and was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

5 Interesting Facts about Roger Maris

1. Roger Maris was a two-time American League MVP, winning the award in 1960 and 1961.

2. Maris’s record of 61 home runs in a single season stood unbroken until 1998 when it was surpassed by Mark McGwire.

3. He played in seven World Series, winning three championships with the Yankees (1961, 1962) and the Cardinals (1967).

4. Maris wore the number 9 jersey, which the Yankees retired in his honor in 1984.

5. Despite his on-field success, Maris was often criticized by the media and fans, which took a toll on his mental health.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Roger Maris

1. “You hit home runs not by chance but by preparation.”

2. “It’s a business. If I could make more money down in the zinc mines, I’d be mining zinc.”

3. “I don’t want to be Babe Ruth. I just want to be Roger Maris.”

4. “Maybe I’m not a great man, but I damn well want to break the record.”

5. “It’s like obituaries, when you die they finally give you good reviews.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Roger Maris’s highest net worth achieved was estimated to be around $5 million at the time of his death in 1985.

Children

Roger Maris had six children with his wife, Patricia A. Maris: Roger E. Maris Jr., Kevin J. Maris, Randy Maris, Susan A. Maris, Sandra M. Maris, and Richard Maris.