"Since his epic year of 1961, when he hit 61 homers, Roger Maris seems to have stepped out of the hot glare of the spotlight and into the role of the solid man on the team behind Mantle. It is a role he performs with more grace. Last year, he was asked to take over in center field and he proceeded to show everyone what a superb outfielder he really was by making the transition so easily. At the plate, he raised his average 12 points over his 1963 mark with a .281, his highest figure since 1960. He hit 26 homers, to give him a total of 182 in his five years as a Yankee. He won the American League's MVP in 1960 and '61."
-Jack Zanger, Major League Baseball 1965
"In his first two years as a Yankee, Roger Maris hit exactly 100 home runs (including the record 61 in 1961). In the last three seasons, he's belted 'only' 82. But if the casual fan thinks there has been a diminution of Maris' performance, he's quite wrong.
Roger, of course, has not come close to repeating that fabulous home run performance, but he has been an exceptional ball player for all of his five seasons with the Yankees. While the 30-year-old slugger from Independence, Missouri has not been a .300 hitter, he has been a consistently good batter, with fine extra base and RBI power for the Bombers. Coupled with a strong bat has been Roger's exceptional outfielding talent. A normal right fielder, Rog also has done well in center.
To demonstrate his value, Roger hit .304 in the final 41 games of the stretch drive to the pennant late last summer while the Yankees were posting a 30-11 mark. In clutch situations last year, Maris led the club with a .311 batting average and .426 on-base average.
In spring training, Yankee Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio predicted a big year for Roger Maris.
'He has a beautiful style ... never swings too hard, has a fine attitude and ... well I think this just might be a big year for him,' said the Yankee Clipper."
-The New York Yankees Official 1965 Yearbook
"There's a 'new' Roger Maris playing for the Yankees this season. And because of it, Maris' pay was restored to an estimated $70,000, which he received during the 1962 and '63 campaigns.
According to General Manager Ralph Houk, who made the announcement of the slugging outfielder's contract signing, 'Roger made tremendous strides last year in learning to get along better with the press and public. Therefore he was rewarded with the pay cut he took last year being restored.'
Added Houk, 'Maris is a fine player. He has unseen qualities as an outfielder and is a very dangerous hitter in our ball park.'
Maris, incidentally, was the only player who had been given a salary cut during Houk's tenure as general manager.
The 1961 season, of course, is the one they'll always remember Maris for, when he belted 61 homers to top Babe Ruth's magic 60 mark. There are those, though, who will always maintain that Roger did not top the Babe because of the lengthier schedule.
Maris fell off in 1962 and dropped much further in '63, a season in which he was booed unmercifully by the fans. He was limited to 90 games that season due to injuries.
Roger bounced back in 1964, upping his homer total from 23 to 26, his RBI from 53 to 71 and his batting mark from .269 to .281.
When asked how he felt about possibly being moved from his familiar right field spot to center for 1965, Rog commented, 'It's okay. Right might be a bit easier, but I'm sure I can do an adequate job in center if I'm called upon.'
Maris, who ranks as the second-highest paid player in the A.L., behind Mantle, came to the Yankees on December 11, 1959, being obtained via a huge trade with the Kansas City Athletics.
Maris came to New York, along with shortstop Joe DeMaestri and first baseman Kent Hadley, in exchange for outfielders Hank Bauer and Norm Siebern, pitcher Don Larsen and first baseman Marv Throneberry.
Roger first came to the majors with the Cleveland Indians in 1957, then was swapped to KC on June 15, 1958, along with first baseman Preston Ward and southpaw Dick Tomanek, in exchange for first baseman Vic Power and utilityman Woody Held.
Maris was named the American League's Most Valuable Player in 1960 and 1961, also winning the $10,000 Hickock Belt as the Top Pro Athlete of the Year in '61. Rog also paced the junior loop in RBI in '60 and '61 and in slugging percentage in '60.
So the 'new' Maris begins in '65."
-Jay Publishing 1965 New York Yankees Yearbook
" 'Nothing shakes me up,' says Roger Maris of the New York Yankees. The six-foot, 205-pound outfielder has had some tough sledding since he hit 61 home runs in 1961 to break Babe Ruth's famous record. Since then there have been boos from irate fans who expect the blond slugger to hit one out of the park every time he steps up to the plate - and there have been recurrent rumors that the Yankees might trade their highly-publicized star.
'That 1961 was a lot for Rog to handle,' says teammate Hal Reniff. Looking back at 1961 with the constant pressure of interviews before and after each game, Maris admits, 'More than once I wanted to throw in all in, pack up and get away from everything.'
Maris hasn't come close to matching his showing of four years ago. Last season he hit .281 with only 26 home runs and 71 runs batted in. But baseball men will tell you the 30-year-old outfielder is one of the best all-around players in the game.
Shifted to the strange confines of center field early last September, Maris played the new position like a veteran right from the start. 'Maris did just what was expected of him,' beamed manager Yogi Berra, who had made the switch to ease the strain on Mickey Mantle's weak legs. 'He has good hands, he can throw and he gets a good jump on the ball.'
Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, Maris grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where he's remembered as a star high school athlete. He broke into organized baseball in 1953 after receiving a $15,000 bonus from Cleveland.
Maris joined the Indians in 1957 but was traded to Kansas City early in 1958. At the end of the 1959 campaign, the Athletics traded him to the Yankees where he proceeded to win the American League MVP Award in 1960 and '61. As for his diminishing home run output, Maris says, 'It's a matter of a split-second in timing. I hope it'll come around again for me.' "
-1965 Official Baseball Almanac
Traded to New York Yankees with first baseman Kent Hadley and shortstop Joe DeMaestri for pitcher Don Larsen, first baseman Marv Throneberry and outfielders Hank Bauer and Norm Siebern, December 1959.
Led American League in runs batted in (112), 1960.
Led American League in slugging percentage (.581), 1960.
Hit home run in first World Series at-bat, October 5, 1960.
American League MVP, 1960.
Hit 61 home runs in 1961- more than any player in one season.
Combined with Mickey Mantle to break Babe Ruth's and Lou Gehrig's 1927 home run [record for teammates] (107) with 115.
Set American League record for most home runs in six consecutive games (7), 1961.
Led American League in runs batted in (142), 1961.
Tied for American League lead in runs scored (132), 1961.
Winner of Hickok Belt as Top Professional Athlete of the Year, 1961.
American League MVP, 1961.
Associated Press Athlete of the Year, 1961.
Led Yankees in runs batted in (100), 1962.
-1965 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
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