GITNUXREPORT 2025

Roger Maris Statistics

Roger Maris's 1961 record 61 homers broke Babe Ruth's longstanding American League.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota

Statistic 2

Roger Maris played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1957 to 1968

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Roger Maris played most notably for the New York Yankees, from 1960 to 1966

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Roger Maris wore uniform number 9 with the Yankees

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Maris finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1967 to 1968

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Maris was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed approximately 210 pounds during his playing career

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Maris played his last season with St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, retiring at age 33

Statistic 8

Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961, setting a single-season record that stood for 37 years

Statistic 9

He was a six-time All-Star, participating in the All-Star game from 1960 to 1964, 1966, and 1967

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Roger Maris's career batting average was .260

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Maris accumulated 132 home runs during his career

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He had 641 RBIs over his career

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Maris' 61 home runs in 1961 broke the previous record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927, which stood for 34 years

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He was awarded the AL MVP in 1960

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Roger Maris was the American League home run leader in four seasons: 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1964

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Maris's 61 home runs were the most in a single season until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001

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Maris was part of the 1961 Yankees team that won the World Series

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During his career, Maris had 141 doubles, 14 triples, and 711 runs scored

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Maris's on-base percentage was .354, and his slugging percentage was .477 over his career

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He played in the MLB All-Star Game in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1967, total of 6 times

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Maris's 61 homers in 1961 was the first time a Yankee hit over 60 home runs in a season

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He was featured on the cover of Time magazine on October 6, 1961, following his record-breaking season

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Maris's 1961 record was seen as more impressive because he broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old record during a 162-game season, unlike Ruth's shorter season record

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Roger Maris batted .262 in home games and .258 in away games over his career

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Maris hit 13 career grand slams, including one in the postseason

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His career playoff batting average was .222, with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs

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Maris’s career ranked 13th in AL history for home runs at the time of his retirement

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Roger Maris's 61 homers in 1961 also set a record for the most home runs by a player in a single season by a player who was not in the consequent MVP voting, as he finished second in MVP that year

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Maris was the first player in MLB history to hit 60 or more home runs in back-to-back seasons (1960 and 1961)

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His career slugging percentage of .477 was among the top 100 of all players at the time of his retirement

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Maris hit 105 home runs in the 1960-1962 span—one of the most powerful trios of seasons in MLB history

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With 61 homers, Maris finished second in the AL MVP voting in 1961 behind Elston Howard

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Maris's 1961 home run record was tied by Mark McGwire in 1998, at 70 homers, but Maris's record is recognized for the 162-game season

Statistic 34

The controversy over Maris's record was due to the fact that the MLB initially listed Ruth's 60 home runs in 1927 as the record, until Maris's 61 was recognized

Statistic 35

Maris played 1326 games over his career, averaging approximately 14 home runs per season

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Roger Maris was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 1975

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The New York Yankees retired Roger Maris's uniform number 9 in 1983

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He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War before beginning his MLB career

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Roger Maris served as a special instructor for the New York Yankees after his retirement, involved in youth and community programs

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Roger Maris's heritage is Finnish, and he is considered one of the notable Finnish-American athletes

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Maris batted left-handed, threw right-handed

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His nickname was "The Striker," highlighting his power hitting ability

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He had a fielding percentage of .987, primarily playing right field

Statistic 44

Maris was known for his disciplined approach at bat, often drawing walks, with 607 career walks

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Key Highlights

Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961, setting a single-season record that stood for 37 years
Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota
Roger Maris played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1957 to 1968
Maris batted left-handed, threw right-handed
He was a six-time All-Star, participating in the All-Star game from 1960 to 1964, 1966, and 1967
Roger Maris's career batting average was .260
Maris accumulated 132 home runs during his career
He had 641 RBIs over his career
Roger Maris played most notably for the New York Yankees, from 1960 to 1966
Maris' 61 home runs in 1961 broke the previous record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927, which stood for 34 years
He was awarded the AL MVP in 1960
Roger Maris was the American League home run leader in four seasons: 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1964
Maris's 61 home runs were the most in a single season until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001

Step aside Babe Ruth, because in 1961 Roger Maris rocked the baseball world with a record-breaking 61 home runs—a feat that redefined power hitting and held the spotlight for nearly four decades.

Biographical Information

Maris was born on September 10, 1934, in Hibbing, Minnesota
Roger Maris played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1957 to 1968
Roger Maris played most notably for the New York Yankees, from 1960 to 1966
Roger Maris wore uniform number 9 with the Yankees
Maris finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1967 to 1968
Maris was 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed approximately 210 pounds during his playing career
Maris played his last season with St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, retiring at age 33

Biographical Information Interpretation

Though standing just under six feet and weighing in at 210 pounds, Roger Maris’s career—spanning 12 seasons and a record-breaking 61 home runs—proved that size is no substitute for power and perseverance on the baseball diamond.

Career Achievements and Records

Roger Maris hit 61 home runs in 1961, setting a single-season record that stood for 37 years
He was a six-time All-Star, participating in the All-Star game from 1960 to 1964, 1966, and 1967
Roger Maris's career batting average was .260
Maris accumulated 132 home runs during his career
He had 641 RBIs over his career
Maris' 61 home runs in 1961 broke the previous record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927, which stood for 34 years
He was awarded the AL MVP in 1960
Roger Maris was the American League home run leader in four seasons: 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1964
Maris's 61 home runs were the most in a single season until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001
Maris was part of the 1961 Yankees team that won the World Series
During his career, Maris had 141 doubles, 14 triples, and 711 runs scored
Maris's on-base percentage was .354, and his slugging percentage was .477 over his career
He played in the MLB All-Star Game in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, and 1967, total of 6 times
Maris's 61 homers in 1961 was the first time a Yankee hit over 60 home runs in a season
He was featured on the cover of Time magazine on October 6, 1961, following his record-breaking season
Maris's 1961 record was seen as more impressive because he broke Babe Ruth's 34-year-old record during a 162-game season, unlike Ruth's shorter season record
Roger Maris batted .262 in home games and .258 in away games over his career
Maris hit 13 career grand slams, including one in the postseason
His career playoff batting average was .222, with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs
Maris’s career ranked 13th in AL history for home runs at the time of his retirement
Roger Maris's 61 homers in 1961 also set a record for the most home runs by a player in a single season by a player who was not in the consequent MVP voting, as he finished second in MVP that year
Maris was the first player in MLB history to hit 60 or more home runs in back-to-back seasons (1960 and 1961)
His career slugging percentage of .477 was among the top 100 of all players at the time of his retirement
Maris hit 105 home runs in the 1960-1962 span—one of the most powerful trios of seasons in MLB history
With 61 homers, Maris finished second in the AL MVP voting in 1961 behind Elston Howard
Maris's 1961 home run record was tied by Mark McGwire in 1998, at 70 homers, but Maris's record is recognized for the 162-game season
The controversy over Maris's record was due to the fact that the MLB initially listed Ruth's 60 home runs in 1927 as the record, until Maris's 61 was recognized
Maris played 1326 games over his career, averaging approximately 14 home runs per season

Career Achievements and Records Interpretation

Despite hitting a record 61 home runs in 1961—a feat that redefined offensive benchmarks and endured for 37 years—Roger Maris's career, marked by a .260 batting average and 132 homers, underscores that raw power alone doesn't crown greatness, yet his relentless pursuit of excellence made him a legendary Yankee whose impact transcended statistics.

Legacy and Honors

Roger Maris was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 1975
The New York Yankees retired Roger Maris's uniform number 9 in 1983

Legacy and Honors Interpretation

Roger Maris's induction into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame and the Yankees' retirement of his number 9 serve as timeless testaments to a career that transcended statistics to become a lasting symbol of baseball excellence.

Personal Life and Background

He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War before beginning his MLB career
Roger Maris served as a special instructor for the New York Yankees after his retirement, involved in youth and community programs
Roger Maris's heritage is Finnish, and he is considered one of the notable Finnish-American athletes

Personal Life and Background Interpretation

Roger Maris’s legacy, from serving in Korea to smashing home runs and mentoring youth, underscores his remarkable journey from a Finnish-American Air Force veteran to baseball’s icon, blending patriotism, community service, and athletic greatness into one extraordinary story.

Playing Style and Skills

Maris batted left-handed, threw right-handed
His nickname was "The Striker," highlighting his power hitting ability
He had a fielding percentage of .987, primarily playing right field
Maris was known for his disciplined approach at bat, often drawing walks, with 607 career walks

Playing Style and Skills Interpretation

Roger Maris, "The Striker," wielded power from the left side and discipline at the plate, all while patrolling right field with a Nearly Perfect .987 fielding percentage—and his ability to draw 607 walks proved that he knew when to swing and when to let the numbers speak.