Roger Maris - Keith Olbermann on ESPN 1996

Keith highlights Roger's three tragedies

[@BamaFanUSMC]

Maris was under appreciated. It's a shame how the press treated him during that '61 season. Deserves the Hall of fame.......

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

Never mind the press, how the New York crowd, Yankee fans treated him was disgusting. I’m a Yankee fan and i would never treat players like that even if they have a bad season. Not sure if it’s correct but i think someone once threw a chair from the stands towards him, like WTF?

[@BingCherry11]

If using roids is considered illegal then all the records achieved with their help should be removed from the records books. As a result, Roger Maris - Home Run record should still stand today!

[@slateblk1]

Breaks my heart that he's not in the HOF. He hit #56 off Jim 'Mudcat' Grant pitching for my Cleveland Indians. We were watching that game. In checking his stats against other HOFers he doesn't quite measure up, but it's my belief the Veteran's Committee will make it right, someday. How many throws for possible assists did he NOT have to make because of the general knowledge of his strength and accuracy? The Mick said he belongs in the Hall and that's good enough for me.

[@47barolo]

Roger was the epitome of class, style and talent, all rolled into one.

[@beaconmike]

Howard Cossell did an interview on ABC-TV with Roger prior to Roger's awareness that George Steinbrenner was going to honor Roger with a monument and plaque at Yankees Stadium withh Gehrig, Ruth, Dimaggio and Mantle. I wish you could all see the look on Roger's face on TV, when Howard told him that. He was just stunned and extremely humble. He said something like "you've got to be kidding me"..............Howard said NO, it was true.................Roger said "Well that's one of the nicest things that has ever been done for me." It was quite the interview.

[@lemaxmas]

Maris was a great all-round player. He was one of the best fielding rightfielders of that time. Right up there with Clemente, Kaline and Callison.

[@jameshoran8]

Being from Philly, thank you for including Callison in that list. What he did in 1964 for the Phillies almost got them to the World Series. And he hit the winning walk-off home run at the 64 All-Star game at Shea Stadium. He should have been the National League's MVP in 1964.

[@libraryquiet]

I don't care about what Bonds, Sosa and McGwire did. What Maris did in 1961 is still one of the most amazing feats in baseball.

[@DanielLDees]

libraryquiet, yes it was!

[@SonofHsu16]

libraryquiet I think what Ruth did in 1927 is just as impressive. He also did it in just 154 games but I’m a yankee fan and loved Maris’ accomplishment as much an anyone

[@jimharris4734]

@@SonofHsu16 One guy observed something VERY relevant. While Ruth had only 154 games, he got FOUR MORE AT BATS in those 154 games than Roger did in his 162 games! WHAT a nice piece of info. NO NEED for an asterisk from the beginning. MAris did what he did in '61 with FOUR LESS at bats than RUTH!

[@SonofHsu16]

@@jimharris4734 that’s fair. Maris was a fantastic player that had such immense amount of pressure it hurt him later in his career trying to live up to that season which he never matched even close to again

[@jimharris4734]

@@SonofHsu16 Yes Sam. I also think it may have shortened his life, sadly.

[@robertfarella5344]

Roger was my favorite player growing up in the '60s. He actually returned to Yankee Stadium in '78 not '84 as the narrator stated. I was at the game when Roger and Mickey raised the 1977 World Series Championship flag on opening day that year. It was very emotional watching, as the fans gave him a standing ovation.

[@Peter0955]

He won the 61 Series with Game 3 home run in 8th inning putting NY up 3-2, final score. Game 7 of 62 Series he saved game with his glove on bottom of ninth. An awesome outfielder with a big arm. He was a stud.

[@twillis449]

Roger Maris - truly a tragic figure - badly treated by the New York fans and by the Yankees.

[@bshalon]

I agree, Roger Maris holds the single season record at 61. He should be in HOF.

[@DanielLDees]

Bob, yes #9 belongs in hof.

[@johnpinero6085]

Maris was all class!

[@TheBatugan77]

Spent 10 years in Missouri. 2003-2013. Mike Shannon still talks reverently about Roger. As he should.

[@Steve-vd3nx]

Still the home run king. Says a lot that post-steroid era, no one has hit more than 53 homers.

[@alfredfarber3385]

Why Maris should be in the HOF: Team player. Great baserunner. Just as good defensively in RF as Kaline, Clemente, Callison, and Robinson. When Mantle was out of the lineup and Maris was put in the three slot, he became one of the most clutch sluggers ever and his BA usually shot up over .300. He moved to CF with Mantle out and played great defense. In a game against the White Sox, Luis Aparicio, the fastest baserunner in the ML at the time, was on first. His teammate hit a routine single to right, and Maris threw Aparicio out going to third. A couple of innings later, Aparicio was on second and ran for home on a routine single to right. Maris gunned him down at the plate. I don't care about his stats...he was one of the best all-around players I ever saw. Over a 10-year period, he was in the top 10 in total homers and RBIs. Greatest swing ever as well. He didn't do it with drugs, and he wasn't a particularly big guy compared to the druggies who cheated to break his record.

[@Horsehockey105]

What a beautiful swing. So quick but effortless. Great clip, thanks so much for uploading.

[@sananto6896]

In my opinion, Roger Maris is the most underrated and unappreciated big star baseball player ever. He was a superior athlete who excellent in multiple sports in high school. He set a state record scoring four touchdowns running back kick-offs in one game. He was offered a full football scholarship to Oklahoma. Even Mickey Mantle attest to the fact that Maris was not just a home run hitter, he was a great athlete. That he is not selected to the HOF is totally insane.

[@jstarks123]

He won the MVP in 1960, so I'd say that was a great year. It's true that Maris had better pitches to hit with Mickey batting behind him, but Maris hit 39 homers in 1960 batting BEHIND Mantle. Everyone expected him to live up to that '61 season, but let's face it. In that era, without steroids, no player could have done that more than once. He had tremendous pressure on him that year, and the pressure on him in 1962 was probably even greater because his haters were just waiting to rip him apart.

[@mitchflynn1]

I saw Roger Maris in 1968, Phila, Connie Mack Stadium. He did not start but pinch-hit late in game. I was very much aware even then of who he was. He was the main reason I wanted to see the Cardinals,and managed to talk my father into taking me. Wanted to see him launch one out on the rooftops on 20th street. He popped up to the catcher. Still hurts. Also believe 61 season given all of the stress he was under contributed to his early death at age 51

[@pamillar7521]

1 was at Yankee Stadium for Old Timer Day and Roger was there...he got a single into centre field to drive in the only run of the game...it was very fitting...

[@Jmoondog12]

It was a tragedy people hated him so much that he always received death threats just for being a great home run hitter! He didn't deserve any of that he deserved praise for what he had accomplished!

[@pamillar7521]

Roger Maris was an enigma...Maris was very good outfielder and an excellent baserunner...He was not appreciated like he should have been...

[@loyaldude10]

maris was not very media friendly or charismatic. unfortunate but......

[@michaelbelfer1069]

He wasn't just a very good outfielder, he was a great outfielder. Clemente was the top right fielder in the NL and Roger Maris was #1 in the AL. He caught everything ( made it look easy because no one got a better jump on the ball) and had a cannon for an arm. Eventually people stopped testing him his arm was so good. Al Kaline of the Tigers, Hank Aaron Braves, were the only other right fielders in their class. Roger was a great all around player

[@eugene680]

What's really sad was Bonds, Sosa and McGwire stole the record from Maris by cheating. And all 3 were being cheered while they were cheating.

[@rickmays797]

Not deserving

[@clydeb7713]

No PEDS greatest single season home run hitter period. Belongs in the hall of fame.

[@eugene680]

Another thing. The people who cheered for McGwire, Sosa and Bonds for breaking the record and knowing full well they were on drugs are sports gamblers. They didn't care how those players did it, they just wanted to win the bet.

[@willdrucker4291]

Love to hear the Scooter with the calls for WPIX TV

[@HeavyJ713]

A class act. Today's Diva athletes could take a lesson from that

[@rickmays797]

Y E S

[@Foo3112]

I wish I would of finished hearing Peters story but it sounded waaay cool for Maris to recognize that and approach peter after breakfast. Im sure he got his autograph :)

[@johnsupon2327]

Here we are in 2021 and Roger Maris is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Politics has kept him out of it and it is a shame. Roger should be judged by his on field accomplishments.

[@HeavyJ713]

The man was the definition of what a baseball player should be

[@johnclaud12]

#9 Roger Maris, one to be remembered.

[@Hootowl54]

Agreed! And I think anyone who has EVER used performance enhancing drugs and accomplished any record deserves an asterisks, at the very least.

[@jstarks123]

You could be right about the stress. I'm sure the three packs of cigarettes a day didn't help matters either. But that is a cool story you have there. Maris wanted to call it quits in '68, but the owner convinced him to play one ore more year, and granted Maris a beer distributorship as part of the deal. You're lucky you got to see him play.

[@Raelspark]

There should never be a "shadow of an asterisk" over Maris. So what if he had 8 extra games! The Yanks had to travel west. The stadiums were different.

[@willdrucker4291]

agreed...nothing against the Babe, but it would appear all the travel and the larger ball parks in 1961 would work as a disadvantage for Roger

[@DanielLDees]

Roger was a great all around player. lifetime 260 average, 275 dingers, 61 dingers,in one season, great glove. an RBI machine.

[@rickmays797]

Amen

[@faffaflunkie]

No one ever mentions that in the _Babe Ruth era_ no one ever heard of a _slider._ *Frick* was just what his name rhymed with- a _prick._

[@raypowers8083]

True, but Ruth still out-homered entire clubs, so he still stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. Ruth hit those mush balls out of ballparks. Imagine Ruth hitting a harder ball with a lighter bat, and the hitters would have adjusted to new pitches.

[@raypowers8083]

...and I mean that with zero disrespect to Maris. Roger did it fair and square and it still the true single season HR king.

[@TheBatugan77]

@@raypowers8083 you TELL him Ray!

[@kimkelly5512]

Maris belongs in The Baseball Hall Of Fame, it's time number 9 should be honored as a great player ⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾

[@Drewzker]

You cut Peter Gammons story short at the end! I wanna hear the story.

[@TheBatugan77]

I did that...

[@conan-xs4tm]

I respect R.Maris's in 1961. If someone will hit more homerun, I believe his 『61』is brilliant in my mind.forever! Thank you!

[@kt7635]

From what all I've read, Roger Maris was a respectful gentleman, who was not only a single season home run king, but also a good man who dealt with a lot of hatred from some folks...& for no reason, other than a weird form of jealousy due to being fans of Ruth & Gehrig. I've read Maris would mind his own business, & did his job. #RESPECT. Although he played years before I was born, he is All-Time Great, and a baseball hero of mine. I wish I had his autograph! :)

[@mytg8]

What's the problem? Rog hit 61 over the last 154 games.

[@nathanterry8558]

It sucks it was cut off. I wanted to hear that dude's Roger Maris story.

[@rickmays797]

Yes me too !!!!!!

[@jackwillis6867]

Roger Maris should be in the Hall of Fame.

[@ernestolombardo5811]

I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it: the way the Yankees and their spoiled-rotten little monster "fans" threw that horrible tantrum and abused/ignored one of their very own players, even though the new record would remain in pinstripes, I'm glad neither the season nor career HR kings had anything to do with the Bronx, all actions there screamed that the place didn't deserve such a distinguished legacy. Let this sink in: the man was psychologically tortured and physically threatened for having an excellent season that led the team to the pennant and championship. Such brazen level of callous stupidity is fucked up and a half.

[@jimharris4734]

Agreed Ernesto!!!

[@richiemartinez8078]

There shouldn't be asterics near anyone's name.bonds,McGuire or Maris

[@fek2000]

The video of McGwire at the beginning of this conjers up the image of an unflushed tiolet in a field of dead skunks

[@jstarks123]

and I'm not saying Maris has HOF numbers, because he doesn't. But I can name a handful of guys in the HOF who deserve to be there less than Maris (Rizzuto, and Mazeroski to name a couple). And I don't care how good a fielder Mazeroski was, he has no business being there. Maris was not a popular guy with the media and sportswriters. For the amount of time he played, he had very good numbers. But everyone seems to judge his other season based on that '61 season, and I just don't think it's fair.

[@andywerner838]

From what I've heard and read all Maris basically wanted to do was play baseball

[@thomaswolf723]

There never was an asterisk attached to Maris's accomplishment, despite the comment of Commissioner Frick. This is a myth. The record book did, however, have a separate record for home runs hit within a 154 game schedule (Ruth) and a 162 game schedule (Maris). Maris was a strict pull hitter and the short right field at Yankee Stadium was obviously an inviting target. However, in 1961, 31 of his 61 homers were hit on the road and 30 were hit at Yankee Stadium. In 1960, when he won his first MVP with 39 home runs, he hit 26 on the road and only 13 at Yankee Stadium. Thus, in those two MVP years of 1960-61, he did not take advantage to any great extent of the short right field.

[@AnimatedIdiotGuide]

I would like to believe that this happened only because Frick got a lot of backlash from people - specifically the players - for the stupidity of his statement. But I have no evidence of this, and it's more wishful thinking

[@michaelbelfer1069]

For most of the 1950's Mantle was booed because he wasn't Joe D. and Maris was booed because he wasn't Mantle. I was a 7 in 1961 and remember that home run race well as a kid can. I loved them both and I saw Maris hit a homer in a 2-1 loss to Chicago.

[@markkrauklis8294]

Maris was a CLASS ACT!!!😍🤩🥰❤️

[@jstarks123]

No, it didn't hurt. But Maris also hit more than half of his homers on the road that year. So we can't say it exactly helped much, either.

[@sce2aux464]

Back when Olbermann might have been worth listening to.

[@jimsmith6547]

Or hannity or Limbaugh or oreilly

[@jimallen8]

I was at a double header in Baltimore in '61, Yanks vs Orioles, May 24th . Maris and Mantle homered in the first game. Maris homered in the second game, but it was called off due to rain in the fifth inning, so the home run didn't count. He hit #59 in game #155 of the season. If the Orioles and Yanks had played 1/2 an inning more, the game counts, and he has 60 by game 155. How many other homers did he hit that season due to rainouts? Who knows, but one or two is conceivable. Then he is within the 154. He didn''t hit his first homer until the 11th game of the season, so technically, he did hit 61 within 154 games. .

[@jameshoran8]

When Bonds showed up in Philly in 2006, the fans put out a sign in left field that simply said The Babe did it with hot dogs and beer.

[@lowmazda626]

my heroes have always worn pinstripes

[@andante005]

My Father in right field on home run # 61. But, he would have wanted everyone to know how special Roger was, and of the incredible pressure he was subjected to. Also, that Tracy Stallard, the pitcher for the Sox was an incredible competitor, and that the Sox all loved that about him. No way......was he gonna ever "serve one up". Maris made it happen.

[@andante005]

thank you so much for this post......fun to watch

[@jackwillis6867]

The communer didn't know it was 61 Hr's in a season and not 61 in so many games. Maris should be in the hall of fame,, Maris won MVP in 60 and 61 ,he saved a world series for the Yankees on a great throw to keep mays from scoring the timing run because the next and final play Willie McGovern line out to 2nd baseball man Bobby Richardson. Maris should be in the hall of fame because he hit 61 he's on a team that hit more hr's than in other team.

[@richarddenny5340]

first and foremost I hated the Yankees but I had so much respect for Roger. He was a fantastic ballplayer. I rooted for him to get 61.

[@rickmays797]

In 62 he also hit 28 doubles Check out how many doubles he hit in 61

[@damour5]

Very very interesting. Thanks.

[@johnpinero6085]

The final score of that last game Yankees 1 Boston 0

[@bg147]

I always thought it was cool that he showed off the guns with the short sleeves. It seems his time marked the beginning of nasty sports journalism.

[@JustinVerlander35]

Damn look how young Peter Gammons was.

[@rickmays797]

I wanted to hear him or Keith o any day His story got cut short why for heaven sakes

[@scottlewis8681]

Why is Roger not in the HOF? srl

[@DanielLDees]

#9 belongs in mlb hof.

[@RamsayboltonSnow]

Why is he not in the hof

[@mcgurkryans]

Older Roger looks alot like Ray Stevenson... Titus Pullo! 13!!

[@STP43FAN1]

It is certainly a fascinating story, but to equate people hating on Maris as a tragedy is a huge stretch.

[@JOHNROBBINS61]

34 way to young to walk away

[@margaritacanizales5560]

En 1991 está ba embarazada y leyendo la historia personal de RogerMaryss me dio mucha sensibilidad. Está historia la leí en selección es de Readdiggestt y gracias a esta historia decidí registrar amigo bebé como Roger pero , mi esposo solo me dijo maris no así q le. Llamé Roger en memoria a Roger Maris

[@MyyyClips]

@lemaxmas Absolutely!!

[@DanStrayer]

Show the rest of the Gammons clip! WTF?

[@mocyoung]

None of them were doing anything illegal at the time. It's only been retroactively banned. ALL players were doping, even the saintly A-Rod.

[@gptvproductions]

@eugene680 Yeah, but now their "legacy" is totally suspect. They're all about to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. I don't think they'll be voted in right away if at all. Everybody knows guys like Maris and Hank Aron are the real deal.

[@rickmays797]

How bout phil rizzuto

[@rickmays797]

Love ya Phil!!!!!!

[@uberdavez]

I despise Olberman's politics but he likes baseball so he can't be all bad.

[@RENE-vm8ce]

Rodger is still the record holder , fucking no steroids, like the other fucking cheaters

[@lemaxmas]

You've been proven wrong by a number of people on this site already. You've clearly already eaten your own words by the number of mistaken information you've spread. Keep up the projecting it suits you.

[@mitchflynn1]

Without Mickey Mantle, there would have been no Roger Maris. He came from obscurity, had one very good year, followed by one great year,and gone just that fast. As Mantle's career declined, Maris' numbers dropped off the table as well. There has to be a reason why Maris never seems to get any love from the HOF

[@johnpinero6085]

Era of steroids

[@mitchflynn1]

There is no such thing as a performance enhancing drug. There is no such thing as "cheating" in the batters box. Also, it didn't hurt Maris or Ruth to have a little-league fence in right field at Yankee stadium. Deal with it.

[@pbrickley6247]

Ford Frick did the right thing. Had Babe Ruth been able to "feast" off the hapless hurlers of the expansion Washington Senators and Los Angeles Angels in 1927 for at least 18 games he would have hit approximately 75-77 home runs according to most knowledgeable baseball people.

[@rayp4050]

There will always be intangibles, but modern players shouldn't be penalized for when they played any more than older players for not having played at night, in California, vs. minorities etc. I will say that having to argue Ruth vs.Maris, both having worn your favorite team's uniform is a. good problem to have!

[@toinimoore3463]

Old Ruth was a Boozer and womanizer !! I don’t care how many hits he had was bad example for kids and here is total Family Man and what Do The Rotten Yanks Do No Protection for him Is Put Down Glad I Am Not A New Yorker 😢😔

[@rickmays797]

Ford Frick was a personal frjend of Babe Ruth Why are we still fighting about this 😕 😔 😐 Both these guys were great ball players and died way too young to CANCER GIVE EACH THERE DUE.

[@opticscolossalandepicvideo4879]

Cry baby Maris. He couldn’t handle New York and made everyone miserable including himself