Maris, Roger Eugene

Maris, Roger Eugene mărˈĭs [key], 1934–85, American baseball player, b. Hibbing, Minn. He played (1957–59) for Cleveland and the Kansas City Athletics before joining (1960) the New York Yankees. In 1961, Maris hit 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth's record of 60 in one season. Ford C. Frick, commissioner of baseball, ruled that since Maris had played in a 162-game schedule (as opposed to Ruth's 154 one), his record would be listed officially with a qualifying asterisk; this decision stood until 1991. In 1998, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa both surpassed Maris's mark. Maris won the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1960 and again in 1961. He hit 275 home runs in a 12-year major league career (1957–68).

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