Roger Maris: Baseball’s Reluctant Hero
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- ISBN13: 9781416589280
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
The definitive biography of the baseball legend who broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home-run record—the natural way—and withstood a firestorm of media criticism to become one of his era’s preeminent players.
ROGER MARIS may be the greatest ballplayer no one really knows. In 1961, the soft-spoken man from the frozen plains of North Dakota loved one of the most incredible seasons in baseball history, when he outslugged his teammate Mickey Mantle to become the sport natural home-run king. It was Mantle himself who said, “Roger was as excellent a man and as excellent a ballplayer as there ever was.” Yet Maris was vilified by fans and the press and has never received his due from biographers—until now.
Tom Clavin and Danny Peary trace the dramatic arc of Maris’s life, from his boyhood in Fargo through his early pro career in the Cleveland Indians farm program, to his World Series championship years in New York and beyond. At the center is the exciting tale of the 1961 season and the suffering Maris endured as an outsider in Yankee pinstripes, unloved by fans who compared him unfavorably to their heroes Ruth and Mantle, relentlessly attacked by an aggressive press corps who establish him cold and inaccessible, and treated miserably by the organization. After the tremendous challenge of breaking Ruth’s record was behind him, Maris ultimately regained his like of baseball as a member of the world champion St. Louis Cardinals. And over time, he gained redemption in the eyes of the Yankee faithful.
With research drawn from more than 130 interviews with Maris’s teammates, opponents, family tree, and friends, as well as 16 pages of photos, some of which have never before been seen, this timely and poignant biography sheds light on an iconic figure from baseball’s golden era—and establishes the importance of his role in the sport history.
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Finally, a long overdue book on the fantastic Roger Maris. This man should be in the Hall of Fame, and he most certainly still should be officially recognizable as the REAL one season home run record holder. McGuire`s recent admission that he cheated in 1998 surprised absolutely no one. We all know that Sammy “speak no english” Sosa and the lovable, loveable, honest, under federal government investigation for the past ten years Barry Bonds are just as huge a fraud as McGuire. Roger Maris was a decent family tree man who never questioned for the public attention thrust on him starting in 1961 and continuing the remainder of his career. The maggots calling themselves sportswriters that populated New York newspapers in the sixties, not to mention the buzzards and vultures that called themselves “fans” during that time, made this mans life a living hell his last five years with the Yankees and it was excellent to see Roger get the last laugh. He went to St. Louis, helped the Cardinals to two pennants and one World Championship while the Yankees and their wonderful writers and fans sank into the cellar or very near to it in 1967 and 1968. How ironic that baseball once thought of placing an asterisk on Maris` 61 homers because he played 8 more games than the Babe, now, he has been passed by three dirty, rotten , no-excellent cheaters. Bonds, Sosa`s and McGuire`s accomplishments should not have an asterisk placed next to them. They should be erased from baseball`s record book as if they never happened.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
I thought I knew everything there was to know about one of my favorite players; not even close. Like spellbinding fiction, Clavin and Peary weave a powerful baseball narrative that hooked me from page one with its rich characterizations. I feel like I know the man — and both his triumphs and his demons — personally. Takes a place between Mays and Lombardi in my sports library.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
This is the Roger book. They finally got it right. The Greatest tale never told (Before). There is nothing more to say- Delight in! W. Maras
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Nearly 50 years have passed since that glorious (for the fans) and torturous (for Roger Maris) season when baseball’s reluctant hero broke Babe Ruth’s record with 61* home runs. To this day, the record still stands, despite the tainted steroids induced numbers…73-70-66…registered by players who will probably never be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame, despite their impressive numbers.
Does Roger Maris belong in Cooperstown? Certainly. Will he ever get there? Eventually. Hopefully, this wonderful biography, written by Tom Clavin & Danny Peary, will hasten the process. This is a man who had to suffer more stress than few could bear during that incredible season, when it seemed the whole world was against him. Certainly, a hostile New York media made life miserable for the intoverted Maris, who could have made things simpler on himself by being more apporoachable and simple going; but that wasn’t in his make-up. He was silent and he was proud; and he was his own worst enemy. Still, he accomplished his heroic feat: 61* in ‘61. The asterisk has long since been removed, but the fact that it was imposed to start with is a travesty; all the more reason to celebrate what Maris did for baseball. This is the right single season record, and it was customary under the harshest of circumstances for this fantastic player.
This book is a wonderful tribute to a reluctant hero; you don’t have to be a fan of the game to appreciate its significance. I only hope the members of baseball’s Hall of Fame’s Veteran’s Committee re-evaluate the accomplishments of Roger Maris on the meadow and give him his rightful place among the sport additional legendary heroes.
Roger Maris belongs in Cooperstown, and this book supplies the evidence to support that aver.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5
Back before the home run chase of 1998, featuring steroid-enhanced players Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, two Yankee teammates staged an epic chase of their own against Babe Ruth’s hallowed 60 home runs in a season. These two men were Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Mickey was loved and adored by Yankee fans, while Maris was viewed as an outcast because he wasn’t an “original” Yankee like Mantle was. In this one defining season, Maris would suffer more hatred, ridicule, and threats than any additional player in recent memory.
Maris and his older brother Rudy were born in Minnesota and stirred to Fargo, North Dakota while they were still young. Upon entering junior high and high school, the boys excelled at sports. Both played baseball, football, and basketball. Rudy was the one that others thought would become a professional athlete, but polio took away his chance. Roger nonstop to excel, and eventually was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. Roger spent a couple of years in Cleveland and was eventually traded to Kansas City, where he played for the A’s. During these early years, Roger became known as an aggressive base runner, superior fielder, and strong hitter. He didn’t get a real chance to show his power until he was traded to the Yankees before the 1960 season.
Upon arriving in new York, Roger was inserted into a powerful line up consisting of Mickey Mantle, Moose Skowron, and Yogi Berra. Roger had an MVP season in 1960, belting 39 home runs. Despite his achievements on the meadow, the New York press corps establish Roger to be to some extent aloof and surly. This unfair perception would follow Roger throughout his Yankee career, but it was at its worst in 1961.
1961 saw the greatest home run chase ever, as Mantle and Maris staged a season-long assault on Ruth’s magical 60 home runs. Throughout the season, Mantle and Maris remained neck in neck as they both approached 60. But, Mantle missed the final weeks of the season and finished up with 54 home runs. Roger dealt with reporters who would misinterpret interviews and write whatever they wanted about him. He received death threats, his hair started to fall out, and he was treated miserably by the Yankees organization. Commissioner Ford Frick, realizing that Ruth’s record was in jeopardy, made the stunning statement that any record broken in more than 154 games would have an asterisk placed next to it (1961 was the first year of the 162-game schedule). Maris finished up with 59 home runs after 154 games. But, he hit his 61st on the last day of the season.
Roger endured several more years of torment from the New York press before getting traded to St. Louis, where he won 2 more pennants and a World Series. He retired in 1968. After retiring, he and his brother operated a successful Budweiser distributorship. Roger died of complications from cancer in 1985 at the age of 51.
This is an outstanding book. I’ve been a baseball fan my whole life, and I’ve never read as an informative and revealing book as this one. Authors Clavin and Peary do a masterful job of describing Roger’s rise to stardom and the unbelievable pressure he faced while in New York. The coverage of the 1961 season is exceptional. I especially liked how Maris’ and Mantle’s friendship was covered throughout the book. No person was more saddened by Roger’s death than Mickey was.
I give this brilliant book my highest recommendation. Roger Maris is the right home run champion, and his record should be restored. Baseball fans will like this masterful book.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5