Selig can alter legacy Aug 11, 2009
All Bud Lite has to do is declare that -- under the powers granted the commissioner to act in the best interests of the game -- baseball will once again recognize Roger Maris as the all-time single-season home-run leader and Hank Aaron as baseball's career home-run king. Hank Aaron holds aloft the ball he hit for his 715th home run in 1974, breaking Babe Ruth's record. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Holliday paces Cardinals 4-3 win over Astros Aug 2, 2009
He is the first Cardinal to hit in his first eight games with the team since Roger Maris in 1967, and he is the first Cardinal since 1954 to reach base safely two or more times in his first eight games. Holliday is a. (Park Hills Daily Journal, MO)
Holliday has another 4-hit game in Cardinals' win Aug 1, 2009
He is the first Cardinal to hit in his first eight games with the team since Roger Maris in 1967, and he is the first Cardinal since 1954 to reach base safely two or more times in his first eight games. You want to have an opportunity to affect the game and try to have good at-bats, thats the goal, Holliday said. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Holliday, Ankiel lift Cards past Astros Aug 1, 2009
Holliday has begun his Cardinals career with an eight-game hitting streak, the first St. Louis player to do that since Roger Maris in 1967. He's having a great time in his new home, and playing in a pennant race. (MLB.com -- St. Louis Cardinals)
Confident Greene ready to return Aug 1, 2009
Tidbits Matt Holliday became the first Cardinal since Roger Maris in 1967 to have a hit in each of his first eight games with the team. Holliday has reached base safely at least twice in all eight games he has played as a Cardinal. (MLB.com -- St. Louis Cardinals)
There's no * beside Aaron's career (Yesterday) Jul 29, 2009
Although Bonds technically holds both records, more and more people, inside and out of baseball, as they learn more about the Steroids Era, are recognizing Roger Maris and Aaron as the true home run champions. Which is as it should be. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
Hank Aaron: Pete Rose 'belongs in' Cooperstown Jul 27, 2009
Hall of Famer , ninth on the all-time home run list with 583, says Roger Maris not only deserves to be recognized as the single-season home-run leader, but also as a Hall of Famer. "Roger, for the single thing he did," Killebrew said, "he should be in the Hall of Fame.". (USA Today -- Sports)
Aaron: Put asterisk by steroid-linked records Jul 26, 2009
Roger Maris' 61 homers stood as baseball's single-season record from 1961 through 1998, when passed it with 70 ... "As far as I'm concerned, Hank Aaron is the all-time home run champ, and Roger Maris should still have the [single-season] record at 61, but Barry Bonds is the name you see in the record book," Killebrew said. (ESPN -- Baseball)
Roger Maris' courtesy meant plenty to Olson Jul 25, 2009
Cal Olson, a 36-year-old photographer with the Fargo Forum, was dispatched to Minneapolis, where Fargo's favorite son, Roger Maris, was making a "nearby'' stop with the New York Yankees.It was Aug. 29, 1961, and Maris had a veritable army of reporters and photographers in tow as he made his historic march toward hitting more home runs in a major league season than anyone before or since -- steroids-enhanced achievements not included.With 51 homers in the books and more than a month of games... (Sioux City Journal)
ST. LOUIS' OWN Jul 14, 2009
His best friend was Roger Maris. And he remains close with Cardinals Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, saying they played in baseball's greatest era. (USA Today -- Sports)
Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hitting cleanup for baseball Jul 13, 2009
" The Cardinals, who haven't reached the playoffs since winning the World Series in 2006, enter the break in first. Yet there are fears of what will transpire in the second half. Pujols has been walked 71 times, including 32 intentionally, the most by any hitter outside Bonds since the stat became official in 1955. It's this fear for Pujols, and the fact the cleanup hitters are batting .225 behind him, that could derail the season. It also could halt Pujols' bid to surpass Roger Maris' mark of... (USA Today -- Sports)
Celizic: Derby remains All-Star breaks biggest delight Jul 13, 2009
This year, all that really matters is that Albert Pujols, who is on a pace to break Roger Maris 61-home run non-juiced record, will be going for the fences in front of his hometown fans in Americas best baseball city, St. Louis. The NLs other entrants are Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres, Brewer Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard of the Phillies. (MSNBC -- Sports)
* For baseball card collector, 98 is a tough year to swallow Jul 12, 2009
For David Vincent, a home run historian who has been called the Sultan of Swats Stats, 1998 was a thrilling remake of 1961, when Roger Maris set the previous single-season home run record with 61. There was the commercial a few years ago about how chicks dig the long ball, Vincent said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Column: McOwens' minor streak may be major Jul 11, 2009
When I was growing up, the magic numbers in the record book were 61 (held by Roger Maris, for most homers in a season), and 714 (held by Babe Ruth, for most home runs in a career). DiMaggio s 56 ranked a distant third. (Longview Daily News, WA)
The art of the catch Jul 7, 2009
It could well be remembering some of the game s best Tony Oliva in Minnesota, Frank Robinson in Baltimore, Al Kaline in Detroit, Hank Aaron in Milwaukee and Atlanta, Roger Maris of the Yankees, among others in right field. They were superb. (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
All-Time Top 40 Players Jul 5, 2009
Fortunately, the rules of this exercise helped a little considering only the body of their work as Cardinals eliminated some players who might well have deserved consideration otherwise Roger Maris, Orlando Cepeda, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Burleigh Grimes, Jack Clark and Dennis Eckersley come quickly to mind. As it was, I started off with a list of about 70 players and then started pruning. (St. Louis, TheInsiders.com)
DAILY PITCH: Once again, Pirates waiting until next year Jul 2, 2009
Pujols, 11-for-24 with five homers against the Big Unit, is the 30th player to have at least 30 homers before the All-Star break since Roger Maris in 1961. Florida's homered and drove in four runs as the Marlins came from four runs down to earn a rain-shortened 7-5 win against the Nationals. (USA Today -- Sports)
Maris deserves another look Jun 30, 2009
In fact, this solution is a feel-good maneuver: Bring Roger Maris into Cooperstown. His record of 61 home runs can never be restored. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Blockbuster: Cavs acquire Shaq from Suns Jun 27, 2009
And if it works, and lasts, the pairing may one day belong in the same company as some of the all-time combinations: Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. For now, the Cavaliers, who came up short this year despite winning 66 regular-season games and their first eight playoff games, are only thinking of unseating the Lakers as champions next June. (Herald Online, SC -- Sports)
Jeff PearlmanPEARLS OF WISDOM Jun 27, 2009
Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and Roger Maris were retired. "Nobody wants to touch this issue, because it's Kryptonite," said Howard Bryant, author of Juicing the Game, the brilliant steroid-era book. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- MLB)
Say it aint Sosa, Sammy Jun 25, 2009
He was locked into a chase of Roger Maris' record with Mark McGwire. Now he s the subject of the late night comedians. (Wahpeton Daily News, ND)
Sandberg: Sosa doesn't deserve Hall of Fame Jun 24, 2009
Sosa and Mark McGwire captivated America with their 1998 battle to break Roger Maris' season record of 61 homers. McGwire set the mark while Sosa finished with 66. (USA Today -- Sports)
Sluggers paying for tainted homers Jun 19, 2009
Sosa, the smiling author of the two-fingered salute, hit 66 home runs, pushing McGwire, who hit 70, to break Roger Maris' mark. For his role, Sosa was voted the National League Most Valuable Player. (Honolulu Advertiser)
The Thrill Is Gone Dilip Vishwanat/Getty ImagesAlbert Pujols is on pace to hit 55 HRs, which would be the 13th highest total of Bud Selig's reign as commissioner.Home run numbers have long carried a mystique that's unlike any statistic in sports. But thanks to the Selig Era, the wonder behind huge home run seasons is gone, says Joe Posnanski. Jun 18, 2009
I KNOW Sosa beat Roger Maris' famed 61-homers-in-a-season three times in his career (as many as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds combined). Three times. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
Sosa steroids: Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003 Jun 18, 2009
" Sosa and McGwire completed a much-celebrated march to breaking baseball's single season home run record in 1998, both surpassing Roger Maris' 61 -- Sosa with 66, McGwire 70. Sosa went on to hit 60-plus homers twice more. Former Giants slugger , who has been a key figure of the BALCO steroids investigation, holds the record with 73 in 2001. Guillen also believes that the names of Latino players are being leaked at a disproportionate rate. "As more names come out, you're shocked," he said. "It's... (FOX61, CT)
Woodie Held, 77, ex-MLB infielder Jun 17, 2009
CLEVELAND - Woodie Held, who played 14 years in the Major Leagues and was traded for future home run king Roger Maris, died Thursday in Dubois, Wyo. after a long bout with cancer. (Boston Globe)
Report: Sosa failed '03 drug test » Jun 17, 2009
But in reality, this is a problem of education that has to be attacked," he said.Sosa, now 40, and McGwire engaged in a race in 1998 to break Roger Maris' season record of 61 home runs, a chase that captivated the country. McGwire set the mark while Sosa, with a big smile and a trademark hip-hop out of the batter's box, finished with 66.Sosa followed up by hitting 63, 50, 64, 49 homers in his next four years. He hit 40 more in 2003, a season in which he was caught using a corked bat in front of... (ESPN -- Baseball)
Sammy Sosa failed drug test in 2003, New York Times reports Jun 17, 2009
Sosa, who lives in the Dominican Republic, became a national figure with the Chicago Cubs in 1998, when he and Mark McGwire, of the St. Louis Cardinals, engaged in a compelling race to overtake Roger Maris' single-season home run record of 61. McGwire passed Maris first and ended up with 70 home runs. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Sosa planning to announce formal retirement Jun 4, 2009
Known as the "Caribbean Bambino" after his home run race in 1998 with trying to break baseball's season record held by Roger Maris with 60, Sosa expressed sadness in regards to many Dominican players who are facing difficult moments in their careers, singling out 's 50-game suspension for steroid use. "Manny's case has been truly hurtful. It hit me but now it's time for Manny to get back on his feet and face the consequences of his actions", said Sosa. (ESPN -- Baseball)
* New Yankee Stadium no hitters park yet: analysts May 16, 2009
The old Yankee Stadium was known for its short right-field fence, a tempting target for Yankee sluggers such as Ruth, Gehrig, Mantle, Roger Maris and Reggie Jackson. All were left-handed hitters, with Mantle a switch-hitter. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Sports)
Baseball's best rivalry takes new stage May 4, 2009
Another might recall that Roger Maris belted home run No. 61 there against the Red Sox. The most crushing defeat the Red Sox ever had at Yankee Stadium was probably Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, when a 5-2 lead was squandered with five outs to go and Aaron Boone sent the Yankees to the World Series with a home run in the bottom of the 11th. (MLB.com -- Boston Red Sox)
Yanks need Pettitte's typical reliability Apr 28, 2009
First baseman Mark Teixeira's five walks on Saturday were the most by a Yankees batter in a game since Roger Maris drew five walks in a 12-inning game against the Angels on May 22, 1962. It was the seventh time a Yankees player has walked five times in a nine-inning game, a club record. (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
CLASSIC STADIUMS: New York's past stadiums Apr 17, 2009
Yankee Stadium's product, which by 1965 had turned into a second-division team as Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris and others aged, decayed more than the stadium. NL fans in the city, who never liked the Yankees when they beat up on their Giants and Dodgers, headed to Shea to throw their support behind the Mets, who outdrew the Yankees from 1964-1975, including the two years the clubs shared Shea. (USA Today -- Sports)
It's easy as M-V-P Apr 16, 2009
And Kobe's was the most memorable, the Roger Maris 61 he dropped at Madison Square Garden in February. So with such closely matched statistical accomplishments, what should the tipping point be. (CBS News)
Field of dreams Apr 16, 2009
It was home base for DiMaggios hitting streak, and the place where Ruth set the home run record that was supposed to last forever, but fell to Roger Maris. The original Yankee Stadium lived for 85 years and still had plenty of life left in it when they started dreaming up ways to build its successor. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Sabathia fits as leading man for opener Apr 16, 2009
Roger Maris (1960) held the record previously with seven. Tickets. (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
Older fans excited about new Stadium Apr 15, 2009
"I grew up with Yankee Stadium. This is not Yankee Stadium like I know it. But it is, in more than a few ways, still Yankee Stadium. "I think I'll still like it," LaDuca said, laughing. For so many of the Yankees fans 00000C4F who grew up watching Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris and, for the eldest among them, even Joe DiMaggio, the new Stadium is something quite new, not yet integrated into the Yankees tradition that they know. But most have high hopes. John Ricci, 68, of Norwalk, Conn.,... (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
Cano off to a hot start for Yankees Apr 11, 2009
On Thursday, Nick Swisher became the first Yankee to drive in four or more runs in his first start for the team since Roger Maris' debut on April 19, 1960, at Fenway Park, when Maris had four RBIs, according to Elias. Mariano Rivera is 32-for-34 in save opportunities vs. the Royals and has a 1. (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
Street named after Astros broadcaster Apr 9, 2009
Along the way, he was at the microphone to describe multiple record-setting plays, including Roger Maris 61st homer in 1961 and Henry Aaron s historic 715th home run in 1974. He was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. (Houston Business Journal, TX)
Safe at Home Baseball Movie (1962) Apr 6, 2009
Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris Star in New York Yankees Sports Film. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris -- the New York Yankees' M -- star in the 1962 baseball movie Safe at Home ... Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris play themselves, with William Frawley, Patricia Barry and Don Collier also on deck. (Suite101.com)
A letter to Babe: You would be proud Apr 4, 2009
In succession after you, there is Roger Maris (He broke your record with 61 home runs, sorry. Yogi, Larrupin' Lou, Joltin' Joe, the Mick, Elston, Scooter, Whitey and ol' Bill Dickey. (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
Short porch to beckon at new Stadium Apr 1, 2009
The Yankees have a storied history of left-handed and switch-hitting sluggers taking advantage of that wall, from Ruth and Gehrig to Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, later to Bobby Murcer and Reggie Jackson and Teixeira's childhood idol, Don Mattingly. Now, Teixeira has a chance to be next. (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
Johnny Blanchard, 76, lefty known as Yankees Super Sub Mar 29, 2009
He was in the shadow of Roger Maris, who broke Babe Ruth's record with 61 homers, and Mickey Mantle, who hit 54 home runs. But he had his moments that summer. (Boston Globe)
Greene: Fargo's faith cannot be destroyed Mar 28, 2009
Take the Roger Maris Museum, for one particularly lovely example ... The town's American Legion Post No. 2 built the Roger Maris Museum where everyone could see it: in the West Acres Shopping Center, at the Sears end of the mall ... As the waters rose in the Red River during these dwindling days of March, the Roger Maris Museum, and the West Acres Shopping Center itself, were closed down at the end of the week so the mall's employees, along with everyone else in town, can prepare for what is to... (CNN -- US)
Jones River Writers: Baseball Hall of Shame Mar 27, 2009
In those early 60s, we would watch Casey Stengel manage Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and the rest of that legendary team ... He once rode a hospital elevator with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris and got their autographs. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
Expert: Tiger is just as hungry, driven as ever Mar 13, 2009
Roger Maris started losing his hair in 1961 in the chase to catch Babe Ruths then-record 60 homers. Bobby Jones retired from golf at 28 to escape the pressures of the game. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Wolff defends Selig on steroids Mar 10, 2009
Wolff pointed to the fact that Selig unilaterally instituted a drug-testing program in the Minor Leagues prior to the 1998 season -- the same year in which Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa engaged in a home run race in which both surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs, with McGwire finishing with 70. But Selig couldn't do the same at the Major League level because that required collective bargaining with the players union. (MLB.com -- Oakland Athletics)
Eric Blau, at 87; poet created 'Jacques Brel' Feb 26, 2009
Mr. Blau was at one point a ghostwriter for instructional pamphlets ostensibly written by sports stars such as Roger Maris and Bob Cousy, and with the cartoonist Roy Doty he created "The Adventures of Danny Dee," an early children's show that featured rudimentary animation. According to Stone, she and her husband, whom she married in 1962, were introduced to Brel's music by a friend who worked for a record company. (Boston Globe)
Make it official: Aaron is real home run king Feb 24, 2009
Kevin Maris, the son of Roger Maris whose single-season home-run record was broken by McGwire and then Bonds said it best a couple of years ago: Now the records aren t attainable if you are legit. The sport s leaders need to change that culture. (Racine Journal Times, WI)
Celizic: Bonds trial just more misery for baseball Feb 24, 2009
It is already 11 years since we suspended disbelief and cheered as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa dueled through September to shatter Roger Maris single-season record of 61 home runs. It is four years since Jose Canseco wrote his smear-all book about steroids and baseball. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Don't blame Selig for steroids mess Feb 19, 2009
That was three years before the sham that was artificially enhanced players Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased Roger Maris season-season home run record of 61. So blame the union, blame the players and blame the culture. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The more things change... Feb 19, 2009
The endless image of the president hugging Lewinsky has been replaced by McGwire hugging his son, hugging the tear-filled family of Roger Maris, and hugging his rival, Sammy Sosa. Thank you for giving us back the hug. (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
Selig downplays talk of returning HR record to Aaron Feb 17, 2009
But the record situation, if you go back to what Ford Frick did (with Roger Maris in 1961), is a very slippery slope. Changing records is a very difficult process. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
Selig, union heads must pay for hurting game (Yesterday) Feb 16, 2009
So while it was so painfully obvious that Barry Bonds was using a newly acquired pro wrestling physique to smash hallowed cultural mileposts erected by Roger Maris and Hank Aaron, whom Selig so richly admires, the commissioner was utterly catatonic in spite of his "first priority?". Selig should be fired, which has a zero probability, or have the decency to resign, which has a less-than-zero probability. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
'Mad Dog' riffs on A-Rod, Yankees Feb 14, 2009
Similarly, when you think of the single-season HR record, it's Roger Maris. -Russo doesn't give A-Rod credit for apologizing because he had to. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
Celizic: Aaron can't beonce-and-future HR king Feb 13, 2009
He would presumably also demote all single-season home run records so that Roger Maris 61 could re-assume its position atop the record list. The impulse is understandable. (MSNBC -- Sports)
KEITH: Answering your questions Feb 12, 2009
My suspicion is that a large percentage of fans already discount Mr. Bonds and instead view Hank Aaron and Roger Maris as the true leaders in those categories, even if the record books don't. The story is just about trying to make the news highlights. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
In New York, A-Rod defended, vilified Feb 10, 2009
I grew up with Frank Robinson, Bob Gibson, Mickey Mantle, Tom Seaver, Mike Schmidt, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Roger Maris. "Numbers are the most sacred part of the game. Guess what? Now they're tainted.". (MLB.com -- NY Yankees Yankees)
Aaron still home run king Feb 9, 2009
If your good friend Puppet Bud Selig had any kind of a spine (he doesn t) or was in control of his own strings (he isn t), he d do what is within in his power as Commissioner to act on behalf for what is in Major League Baseball s best interests (he does have that blanket power) and declare that Hank Aaron and Roger Maris are the TRUE homerun champions in Baseball, and the numbers 755 and 61 are the TRUE benchmarks for homeruns in a career and in a season ... roger Maris still has the single... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
