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June, 2025

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Roger Maris - The man who still holds the HR record

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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
I am reading the biography of Roger Maris and its really really cool because it is the first book I have ever read in which my grandpa is one of the main characters. Roger Maris told my grandpa "Im going to play in the majors someday.' My grandpa said, 'yeah, Roger, you're going to play in the majors. So will I." They had this conversation while they were in high school and little did my grandpa know, but his best friend that told him this would be the man that would break Babe Ruth's single season home run record.


13 years ago
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
that was a nice little story. Thanks man.
13 years ago
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O.G.Surachai
Posts: 334 - Karma: 84
That's pretty awesome that you're grandpa was close to him. Technically he only still holds the AL record for single season home runs now. Barry Bonds has the all time record (not trying to start a steroids debate lol) with 73. Another really interesting thing you should check out if you're interested in this kinda thing is a guy named Sadaharu Oh. He played in Japan for a long time and hit more home runs than Hank Aaron did in his career. Could arguably be the best home run hitter of all time and gets almost no recognition for it.
13 years ago
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OCM
Posts: 1276 - Karma: 976
Because he played in Japan, where the pitching is nowhere near as strong as in the MLB.

In my mind, Maris still holds the record. All of the players who beat that record (Bonds, Sosa, McGwire) have been proven to have taken steroids when they broke the record.
13 years ago
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O.G.Surachai
Posts: 334 - Karma: 84
They also have smaller fields lol, no denying he was a beast though.
13 years ago
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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
This exactly. Name one player other than Maris who broke Ruths record and didn't take steroids.
13 years ago
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,847
I like the move 61 but that's about the end of my knowledge
13 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
Maris was the only one vilified for it too. He did it close enough to Ruth when people still worshiped him as a demi god so they hated him for it. He said he regretted it in the end. It's sad really, hes the only one to do it in that era and drug free. I don't think he ever hit more than 50 after that season.
13 years ago
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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
Yeah a lot of people didn't like Maris for doing partially because they weren't ready to see Ruths record be broken and because the NY media was wanting Mickey Mantle to be the record breaker because he was pretty much on the same record breaking pace that Maris was up until he got injured in september when he had 50 some HRs.
13 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
That is why I love baseball because The history is so American like its our game like football (soccer) is everyone else's. I honestly dont even like watching it anymore unless im there but the history is fascinating. My favorite players is probably Ted Williams, so many great stories.
13 years ago
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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
Yup baseball is a wonderful game. I don't think that there is another sport out there who's fans praise the legends of the game as much as baseball fans. My favorite players are Roger Maris for obvious reasons and Cal Ripken Jr. because playing 3,000 some games with out ever taking a day off is one of the most impressive athletic feats ever.
13 years ago
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
there's really just no real reason to dislike him. Best hitter ever, war time fighter pilot, and was heavily involved in a lot of charity work. Supposedly he would absolutely never turn down a hospital visit for a child.

just an overall good guy.
13 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
Stand up guy. Battled to get his average back up to 400. then had one double header left in the season. His coach asked him repeatedly to sit out to ensure he got it. He said if he couldn't do it to the end he didn't deserve it. He then went 6 for 8 on the day with a homer and a double finishing the season at 406.
13 years ago
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 443
Sorry for random baseball story. This thread should now be classic baseball stories and lore.
13 years ago
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
the fact that he ended his career with a home run is awesome.

Always surprises me how many people know about and are absolutely dying to see the red seat at Fenway.
13 years ago
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OCM
Posts: 1276 - Karma: 976
His average coming into the final day was .3995, so it was technically .400 but he didn't want anyone to doubt him or not recognize it so he played and got it up to .406. Great story, although I really dont enjoy watching baseball, the history of it is so incredible.
13 years ago
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POW-WOW
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 40
Hank Aaron did fair and square.
13 years ago
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OCM
Posts: 1276 - Karma: 976
Click for larger image
13 years ago
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POW-WOW
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 40
What?
13 years ago
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OCM
Posts: 1276 - Karma: 976
Did you understand what record he was referring to?
13 years ago
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POW-WOW
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 40
Home runs... Hank Aaron hit 755 in '75 or '76. What don't you get?
13 years ago
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POW-WOW
Posts: 1464 - Karma: 40
Victory feels good
13 years ago
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BravoWhiskey5280
Posts: 4020 - Karma: 520
Should of said single season record.
13 years ago
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OCM
Posts: 1276 - Karma: 976
You're right, it does
13 years ago
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