His subsequent, less stellar seasons with the Yankees (he never hit more than thirty-three home runs in one season again) became increasingly unbearable and, in 1966, he asked to be traded. The sizable number of Ruth devotees among the Yankees fans, however, only stepped up their taunting of Maris following his accomplishment. Always modest and shy, Maris headed straight for the dugout after rounding the bases and only returned for a bow at his teammates' urging. Still, the crowd cheered Maris on October 1, 1961, when, in the Yankees' last game of the season, he hit that 61st homer. Maris believed Yankee management, like many fans, was rooting for Mantle. Indeed, both players had gone to bat nearly the same number of times. In July of 1961, Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick had announced that the home run record would be qualified since the season had been expanded from 154 games in Ruth's day to 162. There was little support from above, either. His typically blunt responses to reporters led them to portray him as gruff and unlikable, whereas Mantle was a perennial favorite with fans and the press alike. Maris did not receive the same unwavering adoration the Babe enjoyed thirty-four years earlier, however, in his race toward number sixty-one. When Mantle suffered an injury after his 54th home-run it became clear that Maris would be the one to break Ruth's record. While the media played up stories of a rivalry between the competing Yankees, the "M & Boys" laughed at the hoopla. In his first year with the Yankees, he hit thirty-nine home runs, was named the American League's Most Valuable Player and received a Gold Glove award.įor most of the 1961 season, Maris ran neck-and-neck with teammate and friend Mickey Mantle for the new home run record. Maris made a mark on the team even before it appeared he would break Ruth's long-standing record. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics during the 1958 season and, in 1960, he was traded to the Yankees. In 1957, Maris was promoted to the major leagues, although he played only one season with the Indians. (age 51) Hibbing, Minnesota, United States
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