OT: You Can't Make This Stuff Up...Richard Maris
 

You simply can't make this stuff. The auction speaks for itself. Presented to you by Ebay Seller starter0204.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Richard-Mari...6#ht_500wt_968

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Wtf???? Wow!!!

The seller does make a good point though. You can't find his stuff any "wear" else on ebay...

Well, it is an awful tough sig......

Also, why do people assume that Maris is a "Hall of Famer"... I see that mistake made quite often..Or are these sellers just preying on the uninformed..

It's actually a little known fact that Roger's given name was Richard, but he had it legally changed along the way. ;):p

Given this fact, this ball is extremely scarce. Lock and load all!! :D

It's jsut one those things. A lot of people just assume it, like a lot of people think Rocket Ismail won the Heisman trophy.

novakjr.

Roger Maris DID change his name. His real last name was Maras but he changed it while playing here in Indianapolis. An attorney friend of mine tried to find the paperwork in the courthouse at least 20 (probably more) years ago but he couldn't.

He doesn't know if the employees put it someplace safe so that people like him who knew about it couldn't get to it and look at it (or try to steal it) or if somebody had already stolen it before he started looking.

Either way, there is legal paperwork somewhere that shows Maris changed his name.

David

Yes, I knew of the name change...He changed it in '55. His name was listed as "Maras" on the '53 Fargo Moorhead card..

novakjr,

Did he change it in Indianapolis or before? My friend, the attorney, said he changed it here in Indy. But, if he did it before he reached Indianapolis then that would explain about the lack of paperwork....

David

As far as I know, he changed it in '55. He didn't play for Indianapolis until '56. So I'd go with before. In '55 he played for Tulsa and Reading. I don't know for sure where he changed his name, but I'd assume that it's not something he would've done during the season(in case of distraction), so I'd lean toward wherever he was living at the time during the offseason.. This all purely speculation though.

Son of a gun, that is what happened to me too, my legal name was Roger and I changed it to Richard, thanks for the info Scott, :D:D. Maris and I now have something sort of in common :D.
Roger Simon autographed balls will be available in the lobby during intermission. :)
ps. the idiot seller was so ashamed of this listing that he cancelled it.

It's a little known fact that Roger played around with name changes during the 61 season. I have rare single signed balls with the first names Randy, Rance, Riley, Rocky, and Mickey. If you add these to the sellers Richard ball, you can have a whole set. Very rare, and can be your's for $250,000..OBO. You just can't find this stuff ANYWHERE!!!!!

His given name was Rogers Hornsby Maras. He had to change it because Rogers Hornsby copyrighted the plural form of "roger" in 1956. Thats's why there are no more Rogers-es.

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I heard
 

I heard he changed his name to a shortened, "RAM"....short for Roger Archive Maris.....

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That would have looked good next to my Marty Mantle ball!

I suppose I could google it and find out, but does anyone know why Maris changed the spelling of his last name?

The Maris' Family actually changed the name in Spring of 1955. I heard once, but can't remember why.

Anyway.... here are a couple of interesting and legit "Maras" signed pieces from his earliest days as a professional...

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=20492

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=41749

Supposedly, fans were heckling him with mis-pronunciations. Mar-"ASS"..

How true! ;)