**Presents**
1963 Jello #16 Roger Maris
1962 Post Cereal #6 Roger Maris (cut from cereal box)
The Roger Maris Page!
Roger Maris had the misfortune of breaking Babe Ruth's "unbreakable" single-season Home Run record in 1961. Of course it was a "career year" for Maris and he could
never repeat that sensational season. So he was vilified in New York and the media and is ignored by the Hall of Fame today. This page is a tribute to Roger Maris and
his family. I had the privilege of meeting Roger in 1980 and I will never forget it. His record may be broken by tainted sluggers since, but Roger was a great baseball
player, family man, and person. Enjoy! Tim
never repeat that sensational season. So he was vilified in New York and the media and is ignored by the Hall of Fame today. This page is a tribute to Roger Maris and
his family. I had the privilege of meeting Roger in 1980 and I will never forget it. His record may be broken by tainted sluggers since, but Roger was a great baseball
player, family man, and person. Enjoy! Tim
| 1962 Bazooka Gum Box 3-card Panel (Joey Jay, Roger Maris, Frank Howard) |
| 1968 Topps #330 Roger Maris "blacless" (left) and regular card (right) |
This 3-card panel was cut from the bottom of a Bazooka Bubble Gum box. These cards are
usually found cut into "singles" as intended. They are great to collect because they usually
feature different poses than appeared on their Topps cards. They are also less expensive,
probably because of their smaller size and the fact that the backs are blank. But these are a
very fun issue to collect!
usually found cut into "singles" as intended. They are great to collect because they usually
feature different poses than appeared on their Topps cards. They are also less expensive,
probably because of their smaller size and the fact that the backs are blank. But these are a
very fun issue to collect!
If you can see the difference between these two 1968 Topps cards,
then you should be a printer. The one on the left is missing the black
ink. Very rare card. The 1968 Topps #330 card is Maris' last regular
issue card.
then you should be a printer. The one on the left is missing the black
ink. Very rare card. The 1968 Topps #330 card is Maris' last regular
issue card.
Here is every one of Topps baseball cards featuring Roger Maris during his playing career. Click on an image to see a larger scan of the card!
1958 #47 1959 #202 1960 #377 1960 #565 AS 1961 #2 1961 #44 1961 #478
1961 #576 1962 #1 1962 #53 1962 #234 1962 #313 1962 #401 1963 #4
1963 #120 1963 #144 1964 #225 1964 #331 1965 #155 1966 #365 1967 #45
1968 #330 1969 #164
1959 Armour Bacon Kansas City A's Roger Maris
1959 Armour Bacon Kansas City Athletics Roger Maris (hands on knees pose) Courtesy of Larry Stauss
1959 Armour Bacon Roger Maris (photo to waist pose) Courtesy of Jon Craig
This is a very, VERY scarce Roger Maris issue. In 1959, various Kansas City Athletic
players made public appearances at local markets to promote Armour meat products
(see wire photo, left). Only 4 different "cards" are known, and two of them feature
Roger Maris (see above). Armour provided the players with this very thin paper
issue, which was issued in notepad form. They also issued the players a mechanical
wooden pencil shaped like a baseball bat to sign autographs. The above "photo to
waist" issue is of a thicker paper stock than the thin notepad "cards." You can see the
difference in paper stock between the two examples above. Possibly, this may be the
cover of the notepad itself. If you know any more on this please send us an Email .
BTW, the owner of this card obtained it in person in 1959! The SCD Standard
Catalog Of Baseball Cards says that "To date, all known specimens have been found
autographed"; however there is one currently on eBay that is NOT autographed and I
have another example that is not signed myself, so the SCD Catalog is going to need
to make some corrections for the 2007 edition...
players made public appearances at local markets to promote Armour meat products
(see wire photo, left). Only 4 different "cards" are known, and two of them feature
Roger Maris (see above). Armour provided the players with this very thin paper
issue, which was issued in notepad form. They also issued the players a mechanical
wooden pencil shaped like a baseball bat to sign autographs. The above "photo to
waist" issue is of a thicker paper stock than the thin notepad "cards." You can see the
difference in paper stock between the two examples above. Possibly, this may be the
cover of the notepad itself. If you know any more on this please send us an Email .
BTW, the owner of this card obtained it in person in 1959! The SCD Standard
Catalog Of Baseball Cards says that "To date, all known specimens have been found
autographed"; however there is one currently on eBay that is NOT autographed and I
have another example that is not signed myself, so the SCD Catalog is going to need
to make some corrections for the 2007 edition...
1959 Wire Photo (Roger Maris signing autograph for fan)
>>>This is a postcard featuring Roger Maris near the end of his career as a member of the
St. Louis Cardinals. On December 8, 1966 the Yankees traded Roger Maris to the Cardinals
for Charlie Smith. The Yankees treated Maris badly; when he was traded they didn't tell him
in person but sent a telegram stating he had been traded and "thank you very little." Pretty
bush league of the Yankees to do that. The New York press and fans also never forgave
Roger for his incredible 1961 season so it was a bad divorce. However the trade was very
good for Maris and the Cardinals. Roger enjoyed his last two years in St. Louis and was a fan
favorite. He really put on a show in the 1967 World Series against Boston where he batted
.385 with 10 hits (including a HR) and 7 runs batted in. You can see by Maris' smile that he
was happy in St. Louis. Check out the 1963 Topps #120 baseball card of him (above) and I
think that picture of Maris sums up his experience in New York.
I am not sure of the issue date of these postcards, but they would have to be either 1967 or
1968. The backs have information about Aamco Transmissions. This issue is now listed in
the 2006 Edition of the Sports Collectors Digest Standard Catalog Of Baseball Cards by Bob
Lemke. Of course SCD fails to list me as a contributor, but hey I am just happy to see more
Roger Maris items documented! Thanks Bob.
St. Louis Cardinals. On December 8, 1966 the Yankees traded Roger Maris to the Cardinals
for Charlie Smith. The Yankees treated Maris badly; when he was traded they didn't tell him
in person but sent a telegram stating he had been traded and "thank you very little." Pretty
bush league of the Yankees to do that. The New York press and fans also never forgave
Roger for his incredible 1961 season so it was a bad divorce. However the trade was very
good for Maris and the Cardinals. Roger enjoyed his last two years in St. Louis and was a fan
favorite. He really put on a show in the 1967 World Series against Boston where he batted
.385 with 10 hits (including a HR) and 7 runs batted in. You can see by Maris' smile that he
was happy in St. Louis. Check out the 1963 Topps #120 baseball card of him (above) and I
think that picture of Maris sums up his experience in New York.
I am not sure of the issue date of these postcards, but they would have to be either 1967 or
1968. The backs have information about Aamco Transmissions. This issue is now listed in
the 2006 Edition of the Sports Collectors Digest Standard Catalog Of Baseball Cards by Bob
Lemke. Of course SCD fails to list me as a contributor, but hey I am just happy to see more
Roger Maris items documented! Thanks Bob.
1968 Aamco Transmission Postcard Roger Maris
1962 Venezuela Topps #1 Roger Maris (back view)
1962 Venezuela Topps #1 Roger Maris
This 1962 Venezuela Topps Roger Maris card is similar to the regular Topps card with the exception of the card back, which is written en espanol. The
Venezuela Topps cards are much more difficult to acquire than the regular Topps cards and are especially rare in high grades. This is PSA's highest graded
example of this card.
Venezuela Topps cards are much more difficult to acquire than the regular Topps cards and are especially rare in high grades. This is PSA's highest graded
example of this card.
This is a card you don't see every day. While it looks like a regular 1967 Topps Roger Maris
card, it is actually a proof card that was never issued in gum packs. It is rumored that the
surviving copies made their way into the hobby through long-time Topps man Woody Gelman.
The difference is "YANKEES" on the card front, while the regular Topps card features "CARDS"
as Maris was traded in 1966. The picture definitely shows Maris in Yankee pinstripes with
Yankee Stadium in the background, so most likely the picture was taken in 1966. The back of
the proof card is blank with no statistics. But the BIGGEST difference is the price tag. A regular
1967 Topps #45 Roger Maris sells for around $30 in NM while this example here recently sold
on eBay for over $900! That's not a typo folks! Along with the 1953 Fargo/Moorehead Twins
minor league cards of Maris (spelled "Maras" as this was the original family name before Maris
changed it around 1955), and the 1959 Armour Bacon Maris issues, this is one very tough
Maris to find!
card, it is actually a proof card that was never issued in gum packs. It is rumored that the
surviving copies made their way into the hobby through long-time Topps man Woody Gelman.
The difference is "YANKEES" on the card front, while the regular Topps card features "CARDS"
as Maris was traded in 1966. The picture definitely shows Maris in Yankee pinstripes with
Yankee Stadium in the background, so most likely the picture was taken in 1966. The back of
the proof card is blank with no statistics. But the BIGGEST difference is the price tag. A regular
1967 Topps #45 Roger Maris sells for around $30 in NM while this example here recently sold
on eBay for over $900! That's not a typo folks! Along with the 1953 Fargo/Moorehead Twins
minor league cards of Maris (spelled "Maras" as this was the original family name before Maris
changed it around 1955), and the 1959 Armour Bacon Maris issues, this is one very tough
Maris to find!
1967 Topps #45a Roger Maris blank back proof
(scarce!)
(scarce!)
Another tough Maris card is this 1961 #25 7-11 card. 7-11 (a chain of convenience markets -
"oh thank heaven for 7-11") produced this somewhat crude set in 1961. They feature a small
black picture and previous season's highlights, printed on pink cardboard. The backs are
blank. According to the 2006 SCD Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, these 2-7/16" x 3-3/8"
cards were a "crude attempt which was abruptly halted." The cards were sold seven for 5 cents
in vending machines. I have had this card on my want list for a few years (since I first found out
about these cards) now and recently this one popped up on eBay. I got outbid on it and it sold
for a bit over $200. Nuts.
"oh thank heaven for 7-11") produced this somewhat crude set in 1961. They feature a small
black picture and previous season's highlights, printed on pink cardboard. The backs are
blank. According to the 2006 SCD Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, these 2-7/16" x 3-3/8"
cards were a "crude attempt which was abruptly halted." The cards were sold seven for 5 cents
in vending machines. I have had this card on my want list for a few years (since I first found out
about these cards) now and recently this one popped up on eBay. I got outbid on it and it sold
for a bit over $200. Nuts.
| 1961 7-11 #25 Roger Maris (very rare!) |
| 2007 Topps Heritage 1957 Roger Maris |
1966 Topps Charlie Smith 1966 Topps #365 Roger Maris
Who is Charlie Smith? Well on December 8, 1966 the New York Yankees traded Roger Maris to the St. Louis Cardinals for third sacker Charlie Smith. No other players were involved
and no cash either. Just a straight up trade. Roger Maris for Charlie Smith. A guy who had won two A.L. MVP Awards, a Gold Glove, broken Babe Ruth's unbreakable single-season
Home Run Record, and helped the Yankees to 5 straight World Series for Charlie Smith. No offense to Charlie Smith, but he was no Roger Maris. Smith went on to hit .224 and .229 in
his two seasons as a Yankee. Of course Maris went on to help the St. Louis Cardinals to 2 straight World Series including the 1967 Cardinals Championship team. The Yankees didn't
return to the World Series until a decade later in 1976. While the Yankees showed little respect for Roger Maris at the time, they later made amends to Maris by retiring his uniform
number (#9). Roger Maris passed away on December 14, 1985. While he is not enshrined in Cooperstown, he may as well be. His baseball legacy is ensured by that one spectacular
season in 1961. Click HERE to see Roger's complete baseball statistics (courtesy of Baseballreference.com)
Note: The 1966 Topps #365 Roger Maris card is an uncorrected (UER) error card. While not listed in the catalogs as such, Topps incorrectly listed Maris' birth year
as "1931." Roger Maris was actually born in 1934.
and no cash either. Just a straight up trade. Roger Maris for Charlie Smith. A guy who had won two A.L. MVP Awards, a Gold Glove, broken Babe Ruth's unbreakable single-season
Home Run Record, and helped the Yankees to 5 straight World Series for Charlie Smith. No offense to Charlie Smith, but he was no Roger Maris. Smith went on to hit .224 and .229 in
his two seasons as a Yankee. Of course Maris went on to help the St. Louis Cardinals to 2 straight World Series including the 1967 Cardinals Championship team. The Yankees didn't
return to the World Series until a decade later in 1976. While the Yankees showed little respect for Roger Maris at the time, they later made amends to Maris by retiring his uniform
number (#9). Roger Maris passed away on December 14, 1985. While he is not enshrined in Cooperstown, he may as well be. His baseball legacy is ensured by that one spectacular
season in 1961. Click HERE to see Roger's complete baseball statistics (courtesy of Baseballreference.com)
Note: The 1966 Topps #365 Roger Maris card is an uncorrected (UER) error card. While not listed in the catalogs as such, Topps incorrectly listed Maris' birth year
as "1931." Roger Maris was actually born in 1934.
1960 Topps Tattoos Roger Maris
In 1960, Topps produced a baseball "tattoos" series. You would moisten your skin, hold the tattoo in place, and wa-la, you were a stud. Needless to say, these tattoos are quite scarce
today. Included in the series was Roger Maris, who had been traded in late 1959 by Kansas City for Hank Bauer, Don Larson, Norm Siebern, & "Marvelous" Marv Throneberry. Bauer
was near the end of his career playing just 2 more seasons; Larson, well, he was famous for that one World Series game in 1956 (when he pitched a perfect game) but never won over
11 games in a season; Siebern had a respectable career, batting .272 with 132 home runs and 636 RBIs in 12 seasons; Marv Throneberry was to gain fame as an inept first sacker for
the early Mets team and later in Miller Lite TV commercials. Maris, on the other hand, went on to become a legend. So it was a pretty damn good deal for the Damn Yankees.
today. Included in the series was Roger Maris, who had been traded in late 1959 by Kansas City for Hank Bauer, Don Larson, Norm Siebern, & "Marvelous" Marv Throneberry. Bauer
was near the end of his career playing just 2 more seasons; Larson, well, he was famous for that one World Series game in 1956 (when he pitched a perfect game) but never won over
11 games in a season; Siebern had a respectable career, batting .272 with 132 home runs and 636 RBIs in 12 seasons; Marv Throneberry was to gain fame as an inept first sacker for
the early Mets team and later in Miller Lite TV commercials. Maris, on the other hand, went on to become a legend. So it was a pretty damn good deal for the Damn Yankees.
"Safe At Home" lobby card featuring Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris
I am not into "newer" cards; however I saw this and had to add it to the Maris page. "The National" or National Sports Collectors Convention was held in Cleveland Ohio this year (2007)
and Topps issued these special cards "that never were" in limited quantities. This card depicts Maris using Topps' 1957 card design. Maris' rookie card is 1958 Topps #47 (see
above). I normally would not post a newer card on this website; however with Maris I will make this exception.
and Topps issued these special cards "that never were" in limited quantities. This card depicts Maris using Topps' 1957 card design. Maris' rookie card is 1958 Topps #47 (see
above). I normally would not post a newer card on this website; however with Maris I will make this exception.
1957 newspaper clipping of Roger Maris of the Cleveland Indians
Roger Maris autographs are highly coveted and very expensive, usually fetching $400 or more. I thought this was an interesting piece so I copied it from eBay. This is a terrific
newspaper clipping of Roger Maris in his rookie season (1957) while a member of the Cleveland Indians. There was a book written awhile back called "The Curse Of Rocky Colavito"
but a very good case could be made for a book entitled "The Curse Of Cleveland's GM." Why would Cleveland trade a young Roger Maris, who had hit 14 HR's in only 358 at-bats his
rookie year? The next season Roger was traded early in the season along with two other players to Kansas City for Woodie Held & Vic Power. Maris went on to hit 28 home runs in
1958. Now Held and Power both had some terrific seasons, but did either have similar seasons to Maris' 1960 & 1961 seasons? Worse, why in the world, if you are Cleveland, would
you trade away an outfield of Roger Maris, Rocky Colavito, and Jim Piersall? Maris was traded in 1958, Colavito in 1960, and Piersall in 1961. Can you imagine those three in
Cleveland's outfield? Cleveland couldn't.
I thought the comparision to Mickey Mantle at the very end of this piece was very interesting. Note the cartoon depiction of Mantle (#7) looking up to the larger image of Maris. I can't
make out the artist's name (the drawings are terrific), but the cartoon images of Maris sure looks like the artwork on the back of Topps baseball cards (especially in 1958 and 1959).
Maybe it is the same artist. Regardless this is a great Roger Maris piece and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
newspaper clipping of Roger Maris in his rookie season (1957) while a member of the Cleveland Indians. There was a book written awhile back called "The Curse Of Rocky Colavito"
but a very good case could be made for a book entitled "The Curse Of Cleveland's GM." Why would Cleveland trade a young Roger Maris, who had hit 14 HR's in only 358 at-bats his
rookie year? The next season Roger was traded early in the season along with two other players to Kansas City for Woodie Held & Vic Power. Maris went on to hit 28 home runs in
1958. Now Held and Power both had some terrific seasons, but did either have similar seasons to Maris' 1960 & 1961 seasons? Worse, why in the world, if you are Cleveland, would
you trade away an outfield of Roger Maris, Rocky Colavito, and Jim Piersall? Maris was traded in 1958, Colavito in 1960, and Piersall in 1961. Can you imagine those three in
Cleveland's outfield? Cleveland couldn't.
I thought the comparision to Mickey Mantle at the very end of this piece was very interesting. Note the cartoon depiction of Mantle (#7) looking up to the larger image of Maris. I can't
make out the artist's name (the drawings are terrific), but the cartoon images of Maris sure looks like the artwork on the back of Topps baseball cards (especially in 1958 and 1959).
Maybe it is the same artist. Regardless this is a great Roger Maris piece and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
1953 Fargo Moorhead Twins Roger Maras
1953 Fargo Moorehead Twins Roger Maras (Roger Maris)
Probably the rarest baseball card of Roger Maris is this 1953 Fargo Moorhead Roger Maras issue. This pre-dates Maris' first Topps baseball card (1958 Topps #47)
by 5 years. The Fargo Moorhead Twins were an Indians minor league team. Roger's surname was originally spelled "Maras" but he changed it in 1955 to "Maris." This is
a rare card; one of two featuring Maris. The other features Maris batting. The cards in themselves are rare; imagine how rare this early autograph (spelled "Maras") is.
Time will tell; this item is currently listed on eBay by Heritage Auction house (April 2008). Minimum bid is $1000. This will sell for much more than that. The card without
the autograph lists for $1250 (either pose) in NM, $625 in EX. Maris autographs fetch a few hundred dollars and being this is a very rare and early autograph, should
fetch a significant amount. If I wasn't in debt already, I would GO back into debt for this piece!
by 5 years. The Fargo Moorhead Twins were an Indians minor league team. Roger's surname was originally spelled "Maras" but he changed it in 1955 to "Maris." This is
a rare card; one of two featuring Maris. The other features Maris batting. The cards in themselves are rare; imagine how rare this early autograph (spelled "Maras") is.
Time will tell; this item is currently listed on eBay by Heritage Auction house (April 2008). Minimum bid is $1000. This will sell for much more than that. The card without
the autograph lists for $1250 (either pose) in NM, $625 in EX. Maris autographs fetch a few hundred dollars and being this is a very rare and early autograph, should
fetch a significant amount. If I wasn't in debt already, I would GO back into debt for this piece!