All these years later, Roger Maris still doesn’t get the respect he deserves.
The former New York Yankees slugger generated a media frenzy and huge controversy in 1961 with his pursuit of Babe Ruth’s home run record. Critics said Maris’ record 61 home runs deserved an asterisk because Ruth had set the original mark in fewer games (60 home runs in 154 games in 1927).
MLB did not add an asterisk to Maris’ record, but he never got the credit he deserved for breaking Ruth’s vaunted record. The whole 162 games vs. 154 games debate wore on Maris and made him bitter. In a 1980 interview, Maris remarked, “Do you know what I have to show for 61 home runs? Nothing. Exactly nothing.”
This brings us to the present day and a collectible that somehow manages to snub Maris again, almost 40 years after his death.
Roger Maris asterisked again. pic.twitter.com/Z6ih8BuE92
— Al Jean (@AlJean) July 5, 2023
That’s right, a limited edition bobblehead collectible featuring two of the Yankees’ three 60-home run club members, Ruth and Aaron Judge, who hit an AL-record 62 homers in 2022.
Ruth and Judge. But no Maris.
It gets weirder. The Maris snub was pointed out by Al Jean, who happens to be the current showrunner and executive producer of The Simpsons. Going further down the rabbit hole of weirdness, Jean was born in 1961, the year Maris got snubbed. (And say, wasn’t there an episode of The Simpsons that predicted Maris would get snubbed again?)
The “Aaron Judge & Babe Ruth New York Yankees 60 Home Run Club Dual Bobblehead” is produced by FOCO, costs $120, and is currently sold out, according to the company’s website.
Incredibly, it’s not the first time the company has featured Ruth and Judge — without Maris — on a collectible. The company also offers a “Field of Dreams” bobblehead, which sells for $65 and is also currently sold out.
A sports memorabilia company is selling bobbleheads featuring the Yankees' most memorable home run hitters: Babe Ruth and Aaron Judge…
But no Roger Maris, who has been iced out again it seems (h/t @AlJean) pic.twitter.com/NylSFMDTTz
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 5, 2023
We’ll conclude with a brief tribute to Maris, who died in 1985 at age 51. He had several other very good seasons besides that monster 1961 campaign. He won back-to-back AL MVP Awards in 1960-61, made four All-Star teams and finished his career with 275 home runs and a 127 OPS+.
Maybe not Baseball Hall of Fame numbers, but it wouldn’t hurt to honor him with a bobblehead.
[Al Jean; The Comeback; Photo Credit: FOCO]
