Now is the time to give Roger Maris and Henry Aaron asterisks next to their names in baseball’s record book. The asterisks would of course signify steroid-free performance. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is considering returning the all-time homerun record to Aaron if proven that Barry Bonds used steroids. Aaron thinks it should be left alone, “you’d have to go back and change all kinds of records”. Maris would probably feel the same, but maybe the commissioner should note in the record books that Maris and Aaron set the records the right way.
Maris never did have an asterisk by his name. Commissioner Ford Frick stated around mid-season of 1961 that if Maris or Mantle did not break the record in 154 games, then there should be a distinguishing mark next to the record. No mark was ever in the record books—Maris’s record was listed as 61 homeruns in 161 games and Ruth’s was listed as 60 homeruns in 154 games. Maris, by the way, hit 60 homeruns in fewer plate appearances (684) than Ruth (689) and that one missing game was a suspended game against Baltimore in which he and Mantle both hit homeruns that were never counted in the season’s total.
Should Maris be in baseball’s hall of fame? Players that he played with and against think so. Mantle said this about Maris—“Roger was the best all around baseball player that he ever saw. Roger was a great fielder, had a great arm, was a great base runner, was always mentally in the game, and never made a mistake throwing too high or to the wrong base.” He put it simply, “Roger was as good as there ever was.”
Casey Stengel, who knew a little bit about baseball, said of Maris–”I give the man a point for speed because he can run fast. Then I can give him a point because he can slide fast. I give him another point because he can bunt. I also give him a point because he can field. He is very good around fences–sometimes on top of fences. Next, I give him a point because he can throw. So I add up my points and I’ve got five for him before I even come to his hitting.”
Trivia question—who played in more World Series in the 1960’s than any other major leaguer? Answer—Roger Maris. He was a team player and a winner. Maris may never make it to the baseball hall of fame, but at least give him the asterisk that he was promised back in ’61.
Give Maris His Asterisk By James Hansen
Now is the time to give Roger Maris and Henry Aaron asterisks next to their names in baseball’s record book. The asterisks would of course signify steroid-free performance. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is considering returning the all-time homerun record to Aaron if proven that Barry Bonds used steroids. Aaron thinks it should be left alone, “you’d have to go back and change all kinds of records”. Maris would probably feel the same, but maybe the commissioner should note in the record books that Maris and Aaron set the records the right way.
Maris never did have an asterisk by his name. Commissioner Ford Frick stated around mid-season of 1961 that if Maris or Mantle did not break the record in 154 games, then there should be a distinguishing mark next to the record. No mark was ever in the record books—Maris’s record was listed as 61 homeruns in 161 games and Ruth’s was listed as 60 homeruns in 154 games. Maris, by the way, hit 60 homeruns in fewer plate appearances (684) than Ruth (689) and that one missing game was a suspended game against Baltimore in which he and Mantle both hit homeruns that were never counted in the season’s total.
Should Maris be in baseball’s hall of fame? Players that he played with and against think so. Mantle said this about Maris—“Roger was the best all around baseball player that he ever saw. Roger was a great fielder, had a great arm, was a great base runner, was always mentally in the game, and never made a mistake throwing too high or to the wrong base.” He put it simply, “Roger was as good as there ever was.”
Casey Stengel, who knew a little bit about baseball, said of Maris–”I give the man a point for speed because he can run fast. Then I can give him a point because he can slide fast. I give him another point because he can bunt. I also give him a point because he can field. He is very good around fences–sometimes on top of fences. Next, I give him a point because he can throw. So I add up my points and I’ve got five for him before I even come to his hitting.”
Trivia question—who played in more World Series in the 1960’s than any other major leaguer? Answer—Roger Maris. He was a team player and a winner. Maris may never make it to the baseball hall of fame, but at least give him the asterisk that he was promised back in ’61.