Roger Maris had great importance not only on sports history but in U.S. history as well. He brought the country together in 1961 as everyone had favorites in the race between him and Mickey Mantle to beat Babe Ruth’s home run record. Secondly Roger Maris beat all odds as the underdog and beat Mickey Mantle and broke the Babe’s home run record. Lastly he was an underappreciated player.
In 1927 George Herman Ruth otherwise known as Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs in one season. Many said that this record would never be broken. But fast forward 34 years and two New York Yankees were both favored to beat a past New York Yankees record. Roger Maris was in his second year as a New York Yankee and was not well liked. He was not well liked because
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A right handed power hitter was what teams like Cleveland and the Yankees wanted because they had a short porch in right field so it was easy for the lefties to hit them out. That is the only reason why the Indians signed him in the first place so he could hit home runs to that short porch in right. Then traded to Kansas City didn’t hit many home runs there. The New York Yankees had an extremely short porch in right field. It is notoriously short and the Yankees wanted him so bad because they knew that he would be hitting them out all day long at Yankee Stadium. Finally traded the Yankees got what they wanted a power lefty. People say that you place your best hitter in the third spot in your line up and your most powerful hitter fourth. That’s what the Yankees did they put Roger Maris batting third and a good friend of his Mickey Mantle right after him. Roger played differently than other players he didn’t try to hit a home run every time he went up to bat. Unlike people like Babe Ruth for 12 season he had the most home runs. Roger played to win. Roger would try and to find a hole in left or lay down a bunt. He played the same way in the field not afraid to lay out and make a great diving catch. Not afraid to sacrifice his body for an out. Roger played with this great mentality for the game. He played his heart out every day. Yet people didn’t like him because he was too quite or he beat the Babe’s record or challenged Mickey Mantle. Even after he was retired he was under appreciated. He never made it to the hall of fame even though he was a four-time all-star, two time MVP, finished with 850 RBIS, .260 life time batting average, 826 hits. He did all of that in less than 2,000 games. Roger played 12 years not getting what he deserves. Part of it was his quite avoid the attention attitude. He spent 15 years on the hall of fame ballot and never made it