Very nice book, about a very mis-understood, but very nice man, and great ballplayer. How the press kept him out of the Hall of Fame is one of the biggest crimes perpetrated by the frustrated pundits. Though the book drags a bit with the family tree stuff, you do get a solid appreciation for a guy who has unfortuantely passed for over 25 years. The description of his two MVP seasons in '60 and '61 is very good, as are his two Cardinal years. The book focuses on more than his home runs, but the complete ballplayer he was. His bond with Mickey Mantle is well told also. The last 15 or so pages will tug at your heart, as it describes his last days, as well as his bonds with some of the special people in his life (including Mantle). I re-watched "61", the Billy Crystal movie immediately after reading this. If there is a just God, Roger gets his day in the sun at Cooperstown someday. I hope every voter on the Veterens Committee reads this in the future -- its a crime he's not in there with them. Class book on a class guy.

The great Yankee teams of the 50s and 60s, starring Mickey Mantle, have been the subject of countless books. Even the lesser players from that era have had their biographies written or autobiographies ghostwritten. Besides Mantle, the most famous (or infamous) of these was Roger Maris, who broke Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record. Maris has had his fair share of ink, most memorably in Peter Golenbock's //Dynasty//; and his story was faithfully told in the HBO film //61*//. The new //Roger Maris:Reluctant Hero// presents the man in unprecedented detail.

Roger Maris was the first martyr of the media age. His great triumph turned to ashes as he was hounded by newspaper writers. This unsolicited press attention, much of it shockingly defamatory, turned gullible fans against him. Maris changed: a modest, personable, unselfish man - also, it must be said, headstrong and stubborn - turned into a bitter and disillusioned recluse.

Is Roger Maris interesting enough for a full-length book? I am not sure. Die-hard fans will probably enjoy every page, but I could have done without 50 pages of Marach-Maris-Marich-Maras family genealogy. It is a long stretch before Roger gets to the majors, is traded to the Yankees and has his fleeting glory years. The seasons where neither he nor his team fared well are chronicled in almost as much detail as the championships. I hate to criticize an author for being too thorough - especially ones with such obvious passion for their subject - but Maris is just not that compelling a figure. For one thing, his story is as much about what was done to him as it is about what he himself accomplished.

I did appreciate the chapters on Maris' two-year stint with the pennant-winning St. Louis Cardinals, as this story has not been told before. And I enjoyed the clever juxtaposition of real events in Maris' life with their counterparts in his semi-autobiographical novel, //Slugger in Right//.

One of the best players of his era has finally gotten the fair and accurate biography he deserves, and possibly more.

Reviewed by Bruce Marshall

Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero provides a definitive biography of a fine ballplayer who started out as a modest Midwesterner who broke Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record. Despite his many achievements, Roger Maris as ridiculed by fans and vilified by the press: this story tells of how an outsider was unfairly judged, and corrects the record for any who would understand the real story.

This is an exceptionally well researched biography that argues for recognition of Maris as Mantle's equal and, more importantly, for recognition of Maris as a man who was grievously wronged by the New York press and fans.

As for the former, the authors argue, not quite convincingly, that Maris was Mantle's statistical equal during the period 1960-64. This is true so far as RBIs and HRs are concerned, but Mantle absolutely kills Maris in OPS, the statistical measure commonly accepted as the best measure of overall hitting (sums up on base percentage and slugging percentage). More convincing is that Maris had qualities that do not show up in the boxscore. He combined the clutch hitting of Matsui, the power of A-Rod, and the defense, baserunning, and baseball instincts of Jeter. There's a lot to be said for this, and the authors do a great job of marshalling the testimony of teammates in support of Maris' value as an all around unselfish player dedicated to winning. Even as a 8 year-old kid watching Maris in 1965 and 1966 I could see this -- he made impossible sliding catches in right and had the same larger-than-life quality that Mantle had.

The authors know and love baseball and do a terrific job describing Maris' technique in becoming a dead pull hitter to maximize his power, his ability to break up double plays, and his absolute dedication to winning. They rescue Maris from the charge by Bouton and others that he "dogged" it. The only time he did not run all out was when Houk ordered him to so as to preserve his legs. And the authors are convincing is showing that Maris had better baseball instincts than Mantle, who made a lot of mental errors.

Of equal interest is why Maris was so mistreated in New York. Part of it was Maris' own personality. The authors describe a strange family dynamic that made Maris prone to shut out those who he felt wronged him. Maris could be the greatest and most supportive friend there was, but if you crossed him or betrayed him he would cut you off. Given the aggressiveness of the press, everyone was going to cross Maris at some point. Maris took it too personally. But it is clear that the press was unfair in its criticisms of Maris, and at least on of the reporters admits as much to the authors. Also, the Yankee brass gave Maris no protection. And Ralph Houk's reputation really suffers, given his decision to hide the extent of Maris' hand injury from Maris and the press, which were after Maris for malingering.

The description of the 1961 season is excellent. Maris truly excelled against all odds. Everyone wanted him to fail, yet he mustered on and got the job done under incredible pressure.

The authors support Maris for the Hall of Fame. Under conventional measures he does not qualify. But I think these conventional measures are ridiculous and emphasize longevity and stats over all else. For me, if a guy is one of the best 5 or so players in baseball for 5 years, he should be in the Hall. Careers are short -- why do we value a 20 year measure over what someone does at the top of his game? By this measure, Maris, Oliva, Mattingly, and Rice all go the Hall. Last year they put Rice in, so maybe there will be justice for the others.

On the downside, the book is not particularly well written and other than the 1961 chapter, the narrative could use a bit more life.

On the whole, an excellent work that captures the true Maris.

All of the previous reviewers are correct in their assertions that this is an excellent book. The research is flawless and the story is well told. Those of us who are old enough to have witnessed this chase will be thrilled to re-live the day to day struggle that Roger endured. Younger readers, I think, will be amazed that such a simple, honest man was able to fight off the pressures of an out of control media (all the time acting as if breaking Babe's record was a sacrilege) to set what we now know in the post-steroid world was the true single season home run record.

What makes the book for me is the honest portrayal of Roger, a family man from North Dakota who rented an apartment with The Mick and Bob Cerv for $251 a month. Humble to the core, Roger slept on the couch in the apartment. That couch probably felt like sleeping in heaven after Roger, with no protection from the Yankees management, had to contend with the endless questions of reporters who acted as if they were running the show. Maris played baseball well in all facets of the game, and he played hard whether he was injured or not. He was old school and didn't think he was different than any other working American, he wouldn't have fit in well with today's player's who view themselves as royalty and make us reach for credit cards to get into the game. So sad that cancer took Roger at 51, but you'll love reading about his moments of redemption playing for the Cards in the 1967 World Series. The guy the Yankees gave up on batted .385 and helped the Cards defeat the Red Sox. Sweet revenge for a great man. Believe me, there are dozens of other stories like the one's I have outlined, all of which make for a book that is almost as perfect as Roger's short, sweet, powerful swing.

I saw Maris hit 1961's No. 49 off Jim Perry in Cleveland; saw No. 59 on national television; remember the Detroit incident when a fan threw part of a seat at him; and was at the 1978 Old-Timer's Game in Yankee Stadium, the first time Maris agreed to make an appearance at the annual event. As a result, I thought I knew something of his story, but Roger Maris: The Reluctant Hero proves I knew next to nothing.
The twisted family dynamics that were the backdrop to Maris's upbringing, which as far as I know, have not been previously divulged, could sustain a mini-series. The fact that Maris could suppress what had to be daily tension in his formative years or at least find a way to deal with it - yet could not do the same during the '61 season when his hair fell out and he took on the "surly" rap from an unconscionable press - is some of the most dramatic evidence yet of what he had to endure. When someone dies prematurely in life, you have to wonder about the physiological toll this kind of punishment can take.
The authors have gotten to a lot of family members and a lot of the Yankee teammates were there in the '61 season (including super-sub Johnny Blanchard, not long before he died). Maris's final two seasons with the Cardinals - when he finally enjoyed some peace amid fan/press appreciation - bring the playing-days saga to a satisfying close, but the book most rises to the occasion exactly where it should: a moving account of how an extremely reluctant Maris was cajoled into coming back to annual ceremonial festivities in Yankee Stadium when he was certain the fans would reject him.
This is the definitive bio of not merely a one-season wonder but a two-time MVP winner, arguably the best defensive right fielder of his day, an outstanding base runner and a player revered by his teammates. The authors don't specifically soapbox their case but let the accumulation of evidence make it for them: Roger Maris should be in the Hall of Fame. And by the way, that was a huge home run he hit late in pivotal game 3 of the 1961 World Series.

Roger Maris got a bum rap. He was quiet, shy, humble, and honest. So naturally the press labeled him a surly malcontent. This he was not. The authors of this fine biography set the record straight and present the truest version of Maris that we have yet seen. Roger Maris was a very good man: friendly, warm, kind, loyal, and dedicated to his wife and children.

But the authors also believe Maris belongs in the Hall of Fame, and this claim is a bit extreme. Certainly Maris' 61 homeruns in 1961 were miraculous. But one season does not a Hall of Famer make. Nor do two or three. Maris really had three super seasons in a twelve-year career. He won the American League MVP in two of them. But his other nine seasons were either injury-plagued or sub par.

The other thing that struck me in this book was how poorly the Yankee organization treated Maris. They didn't protect him when reporters hounded him constantly before and after every game during his pursuit of Babe Ruth's record 60 homers in 1961. They also lied to him about the seriousness of an injury to his hand. It seems the Yankees were the "Evil Empire" long before we thought.

This is a solid biography and well worth the effort.

Just finished reading this great, new book Roger Maris: Baseball's Reluctant Hero by Tom Clavin & Danny Peary. No baseball fan will be the same or view Roger Maris in the same way after reading this excellent summary of his career and life. To the authors' credit they have detailed in an unsentimental fashion Roger's career, its ups and downs, and the world around him. To this day, Roger's greatness is not fully appreciated. Read this book and then write a letter to the Veteran's Committee at the Cooperstown Hall of Fame to elect Roger. There is also an online petition:

An online petition to the Veteran's Hall of Fame Committee:

(...)

Nothing will bring back Roger from his untimely death and nothing can make up for the mistreatment that he endured. But George Steinbrenner and the Yankees did some things in the late 1970s and early 1980s to make amends and now the whole Baseball Community could benefit from Roger's election to the Hall of Fame.

Nearly 50 years have passed since that glorious (for the fans) and torturous (for Roger Maris) season when baseball's reluctant hero broke Babe Ruth's record with 61* home runs. To this day, the record still stands, despite the tainted steroids induced numbers...73-70-66...registered by players who will probably never be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame, despite their impressive numbers.

Does Roger Maris belong in Cooperstown? Certainly. Will he ever get there? Eventually. Hopefully, this wonderful biography, written by Tom Clavin & Danny Peary, will hasten the process. This is a man who had to endure more stress than few could bear during that amazing season, when it seemed the whole world was against him. Certainly, a hostile New York media made life miserable for the intoverted Maris, who could have made things easier on himself by being more apporoachable and easy going; but that wasn't in his make-up. He was quiet and he was proud; and he was his own worst enemy. Still, he accomplished his heroic feat: 61* in '61. The asterisk has long since been removed, but the fact that it was imposed to begin with is a travesty; all the more reason to celebrate what Maris did for baseball. This is the true single season record, and it was established under the harshest of circumstances for this great player.

This book is a wonderful tribute to a reluctant hero; you don't have to be a fan of the game to appreciate its significance. I only hope the members of baseball's Hall of Fame's Veteran's Committee re-evaluate the accomplishments of Roger Maris on the field and give him his rightful place among the game's other legendary heroes.

Roger Maris belongs in Cooperstown, and this book supplies the evidence to support that claim.

Back before the home run chase of 1998, featuring steroid-enhanced players Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, two Yankee teammates staged an epic chase of their own against Babe Ruth's hallowed 60 home runs in a season. These two men were Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. Mickey was loved and adored by Yankee fans, while Maris was viewed as an outcast because he wasn't an "original" Yankee like Mantle was. In this one defining season, Maris would endure more hatred, ridicule, and threats than any other player in recent memory.

Maris and his older brother Rudy were born in Minnesota and moved to Fargo, North Dakota while they were still young. Upon entering junior high and high school, the boys excelled at sports. Both played baseball, football, and basketball. Rudy was the one that others thought would become a professional athlete, but polio took away his chance. Roger continued to excel, and eventually was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. Roger spent a couple of years in Cleveland and was eventually traded to Kansas City, where he played for the A's. During these early years, Roger became known as an aggressive base runner, superior fielder, and strong hitter. He didn't get a real chance to show his power until he was traded to the Yankees before the 1960 season.

Upon arriving in new York, Roger was inserted into a powerful line up consisting of Mickey Mantle, Moose Skowron, and Yogi Berra. Roger had an MVP season in 1960, belting 39 home runs. Despite his achievements on the field, the New York press corps found Roger to be somewhat aloof and surly. This unfair perception would follow Roger throughout his Yankee career, but it was at its worst in 1961.

1961 saw the greatest home run chase ever, as Mantle and Maris staged a season-long assault on Ruth's magical 60 home runs. Throughout the season, Mantle and Maris remained neck in neck as they both approached 60. However, Mantle missed the final weeks of the season and ended up with 54 home runs. Roger dealt with reporters who would misinterpret interviews and write whatever they wanted about him. He received death threats, his hair began to fall out, and he was treated miserably by the Yankees organization. Commissioner Ford Frick, realizing that Ruth's record was in jeopardy, made the stunning statement that any record broken in more than 154 games would have an asterisk placed next to it (1961 was the first year of the 162-game schedule). Maris ended up with 59 home runs after 154 games. But, he hit his 61st on the last day of the season.

Roger endured several more years of torment from the New York press before getting traded to St. Louis, where he won 2 more pennants and a World Series. He retired in 1968. After retiring, he and his brother operated a successful Budweiser distributorship. Roger died of complications from cancer in 1985 at the age of 51.

This is an outstanding book. I've been a baseball fan my whole life, and I've never read as an informative and revealing book as this one. Authors Clavin and Peary do a masterful job of describing Roger's rise to stardom and the unbelievable pressure he faced while in New York. The coverage of the 1961 season is exceptional. I especially liked how Maris' and Mantle's friendship was covered throughout the book. No person was more saddened by Roger's death than Mickey was.

I give this excellent book my highest recommendation. Roger Maris is the true home run champion, and his record should be restored. Baseball fans will love this masterful book.

Maury Allen wrote a prior biography of Roger Maris in 1986, and now Tom Clavin and Danny Peary have written the definitive biography of baseball's "reluctant hero." Like several other individuals Maris has become more appreciated with the passage of time. Maris had people who would be remembered favorably and unfavorably in his career. Minor league manager Dutch Meyer punished Maris for a poor throw to third base by having him repeatedly make long distance throws to third base until Maris told him enough was enough. Kirby Farrell and Harry Craft would be remembered favorably along with Jo Jo White who taught him to pull the ball.

I graduated from high school in June of 1961 and vividly remember that memorable season when Maris challenged Ruth's home run record. Unlike today when players hold post-game press conferences the Yankees provided no protection for Maris as he was inundated with questions from all sides regarding his opinions on baseball and non-baseball related matters. Yankee publicist Bob Fishel said he never thought of having a press conference at the time following a game. It was baseball commissioner Ford Frick who taught the youth of America the meaning of the word "asterisk" when he proclaimed that Ruth's record must be broken in 154 games. Frick was a close friend of Ruth's and acted as a ghost writer for him. The authors correctly mention the unfortunate incident that took place in 1960 in Detroit involving someone who threw the back of a chair from the right field stands at Maris following a controversial home run by Bill Skowron. The movie 61* incorrectly mentions it as happening in 1961. I know it was in 1960 because I was sitting in the second deck above the Yankees' bullpen for that game.

Roger Maris spent two happy years with the St. Louis Cardinals during the seasons of 1967-1968 which brought the team two pennants and one World Championship. Following his career Maris was reluctant to return to Yankee Stadium because he felt the Yankees had lied to him prior to his departure from New York. George Steinbrenner convinced him to return to Yankee Stadium on Opening Day of the 1978 season when both Maris and Mantle would be introduced together. It proved to be a rewarding experience for Maris and he returned regularly after that as long as his health permitted. Maris said he suffered from physical ailments later in life due to playing with reckless abandon during his playing career by breaking up double plays and running into outfield walls. He said if he had to do it over again he would have been more careful with his health. Unfortunately years of smoking five packs of Camel cigarettes a day for several years did their damage ultimately causing damage to his throat. He quit smoking during the mid-1970s and passed away from cancer on December 14, 1985.

Maris won consecutive MVP awards in 1960 and 1961 and his defensive play is often overlooked in evaluating his qualifications for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, politics often plays a part as to who is elected and Maris was never one to be a self-promoter. It irritates me to know that when Mark McGuire broke Maris's home run record when he knew he was on steroids he still had the audacity to go to the box seats in St. Louis to hug members of the Maris family knowing he had passed Maris illegally.

I especially enjoyed reading this book because the year 1961 has special memories for me since my Detroit Tigers were a significant part of the pennant race that year. Maris never intended to denigrate Babe Ruth, but obviously he would want the record. The problem among Yankee fans was if anyone was to break the Babe's record (and they weren't sure anyone should) the wrong man was breaking it. They believed it should have been Mantle and not this interloper from North Dakota.

Whether you remember these historic years from the 1960s or not any self-respecting baseball fan needs this book in their library.

Roger Maras (pronounced like Morris) was born in Hibbing, Minnesota. His parents Rudy Sr. and Connie never got along and Connie created nothing but problems within the entire Maras family. Connie was a good looking woman whose infidelity and dislike of other Marases is believed to have been the main reason Roger's family moved to Fargo, North Dakota and later changed their name. The bad blood left behind in Hibbing (also the birth place of Bob Dylan and Kevin McHale) is the reason Roger tried to lead the public to believe he had been born in Fargo. Roger's older brother Rudy Jr. like Roger was a gifted athlete and together they lead their high school football team to the top of the state rankings. Roger even got a scholarship offer and started to attend national powerhouse University of Oklahoma. After high school Rudy Jr. got polio and for the rest of Roger's life he always felt... and told everyone he met... that Rudy Jr. was a better ballplayer than he was. Even when he became a record breaking New York Yankee he would tell that to his teammates.

As the story follows Roger's professional baseball career from the minor leagues to his numerous stops in the major leagues including Cleveland, Kansas City, New York and St. Louis... one thing about Roger becomes apparent very early... if he believes in something... or wants something... he's going to get his way or there will be trouble. Right from the get go he threatened not to play for certain teams if he didn't get enough playing time... in the days before agents... he got what he wanted in a contract or he would literally rip it up and mail it back. Despite his temperament towards management he was always admired by his teammates. He always gave one-hundred-per-cent... played through injuries... and became famous for using his football talents on the base paths... breaking up double plays and knocking over catchers. What most fans will anticipate reading about in this book of course is Roger's time with the Yankees... and especially the infamous and historic 1961 when he chased the ghost of the most storied player in history... and approached the most hallowed record in all of sports... the Babe's sixty home runs in one season 1927. (He would hit sixty-one... but not in the 154 game schedule as Ruth did... but in the expanded schedule of 162 plus 1 tie totaling 163 games.) Being that I was a very young, fanatical, child baseball fan during those years... even at that age... I remember that along with the numerical countdown of homeruns... the world was also discussing the mental anguish... the stress... the human toll... on this young man. (My gosh... Maris only turned twenty-seven-years-old that year.) In addition to reporters everywhere he went... despite the fact that he was hitting all these home runs for the Yankees... many Yankee fans were against him. Actually booing him. Why? Because first of all he wasn't Mickey Mantle a career Yankee... and he wasn't Babe Ruth. Roger was above and beyond everything else... a small town boy who didn't like the glare of the biggest city in the world... even before he started hitting home runs in record numbers. Later on in his career he said: "IF I COULD MAKE MORE MONEY DOWN IN THE ZINC MINES. I'D BE MINING ZINC."

The most finely crafted part of this book is the way the authors slowly and methodically... relentlessly... as assuredly... as the waves of the ocean continue to pound the shore... present the facts... of how shy, young, Maris is engulfed more and more... every single day... by the not so adoring public and media representatives. I of course... already knew from living through it almost fifty-years ago that Roger started losing his hair in clumps due to the unimaginable stress... but when the culmination of this physical and mental vise... creates what is first thought of as a bad haircut... but then is recognized for what it is... the reader... whether you already knew it or not... will genuinely feel empathy for Roger Maris.

Physically and mentally Roger would never be the same. The average baseball fan will only remember Roger for this year (1961). Other fans will remember other championships including one quietly (after New York) won in St. Louis. The real lingering effect of this book will be to educate fans that didn't really know... that Maris was respected by all his teammates... always gave one-hundred-per-cent... played hurt... came into second base and home plate like an all-state football player... was a great fielder... was one of the fastest runners in baseball... only had a .260 lifetime batting average... loved his family... AND DIDN'T HAVE A BAD HAIRCUT... he was dying from the inside out.

This is the Roger book. They finally got it right. The Greatest story never told (Before). There is nothing more to say- Enjoy! W. Maras

I thought I knew everything there was to know about one of my favorite players; not even close. Like spellbinding fiction, Clavin and Peary weave a powerful baseball narrative that hooked me from page one with its rich characterizations. I feel like I know the man -- and both his triumphs and his demons -- personally. Takes a place between Mays and Lombardi in my sports library.

Finally, a long overdue book on the great Roger Maris. This man should be in the Hall of Fame, and he most definitely still should be officially recognized as the REAL one season home run record holder. McGuire`s recent admission that he cheated in 1998 surprised absolutely no one. We all know that Sammy "speak no english" Sosa and the adorable, loveable, honest, under federal government investigation for the past ten years Barry Bonds are just as big a fraud as McGuire. Roger Maris was a decent family man who never asked for the public attention thrust on him starting in 1961 and continuing the remainder of his career. The maggots calling themselves sportswriters that populated New York newspapers in the sixties, not to mention the buzzards and vultures that called themselves "fans" during that time, made this mans life a living hell his last five years with the Yankees and it was good to see Roger get the last laugh. He went to St. Louis, helped the Cardinals to two pennants and one World Championship while the Yankees and their wonderful writers and fans sank into the cellar or very near to it in 1967 and 1968. How ironic that baseball once thought of placing an asterisk on Maris` 61 homers because he played 8 more games than the Babe, now, he has been passed by three dirty, rotten , no-good cheaters. Bonds, Sosa`s and McGuire`s accomplishments should not have an asterisk placed next to them. They should be erased from baseball`s record book as if they never happened.