Will Roger Maris ever get into the HOF?

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

So what do you think?

To me, he seems like one of the major omissions from Cooperstown. While you could argue that he had a too few great seasons, I'd argue that there are lesser players in the HOF.

I'm not arguing that he's at the same level as the likes of Ruth, Gehrig and Aaron. But is he really less deserving than Richie Ashburn, Ron Santo and Bill Mazeroski?

If he's ever elected to Cooperstown, would a bump in his card prices likely follow?

Let the debate begin!

Hello, Gary. Nice post from our "resident" London mate. I began becoming aware of baseball and collecting cards of the players in 1961. Roger Maris became a hero of mine that year, and I've never thrust him aside as a hero. I fully agree with you, Gary; Roger Maris belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The arguments against him are compelling, while some are immature. I won't discredit anyone else's admission to the BBHOF. I for one believe one outstanding season should carry more weight than what it does. Had Rog hit 59, we wouldn't be talking about the matter.

Really? What a hollow argument.

The fact Mr. Maris broke the record in more games than the Babe has been de-bunked sufficiently. The fact that it was an expansion year is true, yet the opportunity for record numbers was out there for every player, but only Roger Maris was able to break baseball's most revered single-season record. The man did this under some of the most trying, stressful, and discouraging conditions. How he held up is anyone's guess, but his devotion to his family, his team, and his personal drive to do his dead level best every game, no matter what the press threw at him, is the height of courage.

They call it a hall of fame. Roger Maris earned more fame than half the enshrinees in that one season. Same with Gil Hodges managing the Amazing Mets of 1969, and yet he's not in, either. Same with Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard Round the World magical one-game moment, but it wasn't enough to elect him. Granted, where would Hack Wilson, Dizzy Dean, and Big Ed Walsh be without their Mount Everest years? So? That's irrelevant; their career year made such a huge impression on the voters that they enshrined them, whether while they were alive or almost forgotten.

The guys who vote players in nowadays demand big numbers from a couple decades, with lots of rings, or lots of league leaderships. I'm not saying they're entirely wrong, but I'm with you, Gary; when a player plays his heart out trying to bust the Babe's "sacred" record of 60 homers in a season, AND DOES IT, it sure says a lot about the people involved with the sport, and its fans, who decide that man doesn't deserve to be in the BBHOF.

As our Exhibit expert said, collectors have priced him as a Hall of Famer, 'cause a bunch of us, including me, value Roger Maris as a Hall of Famer.

Back to the OP question. No, Gary, I don't think the BBHOF Veterans Committee will elect Roger Maris. I'll be mighty pleased if they do, and scream, "Well, it's about time!!!!!" However, given the value system of today, and the fact that ball-less MLB has never addressed the matter of the players who achieved moon-shot record years due to their shooting up with steroids, I guess Roger's memory will continue to be cherished by his devoted fans who have their rich patina plaques of Roger Maris entrenched in their hearts and minds until they die.

That's my nickel pack's worth. Keep enjoying Roger Maris cardboard, Gary!

--- Brian Powell

[toppcat]

It would be interesting if the HOF ever decided to honor meritorious individual seasons or feats with some kind of honor. You could have things like No Hit Vandermeer's back to backs, Maris in '61, etc.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by toppcat

It would be interesting if the HOF ever decided to honor meritorious individual seasons or feats with some kind of honor. You could have things like No Hit Vandermeer's back to backs, Maris in '61, etc.

This is already done in the museum portion of the Hall of Fame. The plaque gallery contains plaques for the inducted Hall of Famers. The rest of the museum contains plenty of information, displays and memorabilia recognizing the history of baseball including records, individual feats and accomplishments, etc.

[Popcorn]

I’m usually tuff on HOF inductees but I think he deserves it. They basically “maris” proofed baseball after his 61 season.

The hr record was always the most important stat in sports for a 100 years and he owned it. I’d put him in.

[brian1961]

Hey Gary, that's a nifty Roger Maris Hartland Statue, introduced in 1961 I believe, right after Roger's 1960 MVP season. The company did the same for the National League MVP, Dick Groat. Groat is the most notorious scarcity among Hartland baseball statues.

It was about 1971 or 72. A cross-country buddy of mine, Fred, had me over for supper. I noticed he had a Roger Maris Hartland on display, which immediately caught my interest. All alone, it was probably a cherished childhood gift that still meant something to him. Anyways, I tried a couple of times that evening to get him to sell it to me. He quietly refused each time----good for him! Deep down, I wouldn't want to deprive a dear friend of something that meant a lot to him. As it turned out, that was the closest I ever came to a Maris Hartland. I hope my buddy Fred is doing well, and still has his Hartland Rajah! Thanks for showing that beautiful statue to us, Gary. All the best to you, Brian Powell

[John1941]

The Hall of Fame is not really a hall of fame. That's just what it's called. It is an honor for the best players, not necessarily the most famous. The two things, at least in my opinion, should not be mixed up.

Roger Maris, though he was definitely famous, just did not have a long enough peak to be worthy of enshrinement.

[jchcollins]

The all or nothing line that the HOF has come to represent has gotten pretty silly. I wouldn't have a problem with Maris getting in, but there are plenty of players who are a lot more deserving that still aren't. Dick Allen. Minnie Minoso. Gil Hodges. Tony Oliva...the list goes on. He's a pretty weak choice based on career numbers for an OF. Would we be having this conversation, perhaps even with the 61 homers - had Maris been playing in Kansas City or Cleveland still at the time? Probably not. As has already been mentioned, he is already treated like a HOF'er in our hobby and he has been for decades. Just like Munson, Rose, and a few others. It kind of doesn't matter.

[UKCardGuy]

Originally Posted by brian1961

Hello, Gary. Nice post from our "resident" London mate. I began becoming aware of baseball and collecting cards of the players in 1961. Roger Maris became a hero of mine that year, and I've never thrust him aside as a hero. I fully agree with you, Gary; Roger Maris belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The arguments against him are compelling, while some are immature. I won't discredit anyone else's admission to the BBHOF. I for one believe one outstanding season should carry more weight than what it does. Had Rog hit 59, we wouldn't be talking about the matter.

Really? What a hollow argument.

The fact Mr. Maris broke the record in more games than the Babe has been de-bunked sufficiently. The fact that it was an expansion year is true, yet the opportunity for record numbers was out there for every player, but only Roger Maris was able to break baseball's most revered single-season record. The man did this under some of the most trying, stressful, and discouraging conditions. How he held up is anyone's guess, but his devotion to his family, his team, and his personal drive to do his dead level best every game, no matter what the press threw at him, is the height of courage.

They call it a hall of fame. Roger Maris earned more fame than half the enshrinees in that one season. Same with Gil Hodges managing the Amazing Mets of 1969, and yet he's not in, either. Same with Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard Round the World magical one-game moment, but it wasn't enough to elect him. Granted, where would Hack Wilson, Dizzy Dean, and Big Ed Walsh be without their Mount Everest years? So? That's irrelevant; their career year made such a huge impression on the voters that they enshrined them, whether while they were alive or almost forgotten.

The guys who vote players in nowadays demand big numbers from a couple decades, with lots of rings, or lots of league leaderships. I'm not saying they're entirely wrong, but I'm with you, Gary; when a player plays his heart out trying to bust the Babe's "sacred" record of 60 homers in a season, AND DOES IT, it sure as anything says a lot about the people involved with the sport and its fans that that man doesn't deserve to be in the BBHOF.

As our Exhibit expert said, collectors have priced him as a Hall of Famer, 'cause a bunch of us, including me, value Roger Maris as a Hall of Famer.

Back to the OP question. No, Gary, I don't think the BBHOF Veterans Committee will elect Roger Maris. I'll be mighty pleased if they do, and scream, "Well, it's about time!!!!!" However, given the value system of today, and the fact that ball-less MLB has never addressed the matter of the records of players who achieved moon-shot record years due to their shooting up with steroids, I guess Roger's memory will continue to be cherished by his devoted fans who will have their rich patina plaques of Roger Maris entrenched in their hearts and minds until they die.

That's my nickel pack's worth. Keep enjoying Roger Maris cardboard, Gary!

--- Brian Powell

Thanks Brian. I agree with everything you said.

To add something a little different, rather than a card, here's a photo of a 1960 Maris Hartland Statue.