ROGER MARIS vs AARON JUDGE

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by packs

The only player to hit 400 after 1900 and not be elected to the HOF is Joe Jackson.

If either player hit 400 I think the ticket was punched. It's that big of an accomplishment in the game.

Artie Wilson hit .435 for the Birmingham Black Barons in 1948. Here he is in San Diego in the early 1950s



O'Doul fell two hits short. D'oh!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

The video of Hank rounding the bases with the two fans at his side is an incredible moment not just for sports but also for the time. I'm sure Hank had no greater fear than some maniac doing something crazy at the ballpark and to see him instantly recognize the moment he was in when those fans approached him is inspiring.

It's pretty remarkable to me there aren't far more incidents of fans rushing the field and making trouble.

[egri]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's pretty remarkable to me there aren't far more incidents of fans rushing the field and making trouble.

I've noticed they don't rush the field at all lately. Back in the day, they did after Mazeroski's home run, the Impossible Dream Red Sox beating the Twins, Hank Aaron's 715th, Carlton Fisk waving the ball fair, but off the top of my head I can't think of any more recently than that.

[bb66]

This has been a very good discussion about Maris,Wilson,and all the other players that had a huge statistical season that gets them noticed by everyone that watches the HOF. Thanks

[gonefishin]

Judge is now at 55 - can he do it?

[rats60]

Originally Posted by egri

I've noticed they don't rush the field at all lately. Back in the day, they did after Mazeroski's home run, the Impossible Dream Red Sox beating the Twins, Hank Aaron's 715th, Carlton Fisk waving the ball fair, but off the top of my head I can't think of any more recently than that.

Chris Chambliss HR to win the 1976 ALCS.

[drmondobueno]

I always thought Baseball had a Hall of Fame. FAME. Maris meets that definition. Just my humble biased opinion.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by drmondobueno

I always thought Baseball had a Hall of Fame. FAME. Maris meets that definition. Just my humble biased opinion.

I believe that back then, the term 'hall of fame' had a different contextual meaning. It was to bestow fame on the inductees. There weren't many actual Halls of Fame in the sense of a formalized list in a building and museum before Cooperstown, but the term was fairly common in the late 19th century to refer to the most accomplished in a particular field, more than purely famous; the sense that the accomplishments and the recognition of them would create the fame element, in a positive rather than infamous light. I've encountered it a few times in the late 19th century and early 20th century classicists and historians and they all seem to use this context, more than how we think of fame now, where fame itself is essentially divorced from merit.

I don't read much from the 1920's and 1930's, perhaps it had evolved between then and Cooperstown itself.

Apologies if this is overly pedantic, but I find it interesting how words and turns of phrase shift with time.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

After coming over from the dark side

Hmmmm. I'm wondering whether that card was a legitimate photo or whether there was some air brushing and over painting done to the photo.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I can't see putting someone in for one year no matter how remarkable.

Roger Maris was a 2x MVP though. Only a small minority of HOFers can make that claim. Plus he set a MLB record that stood for 61 years. Of course it was only for home runs but still....

Originally Posted by Seven

Makes you feel bad for Roger Maris, the more you learn about his story. His hair was falling out from the stress of the record, plus the fact that most people wanted Mantle to break it rather than him. The press hounded him, people bothered his family.

That plus the fact that his home team fans were cheering against him when he set his record. Those are Yankee fans for you but being derided for excellence by your own team's fans would have been tough on any player.

The bottom line though is that it's the Baseball Hall of Fame and Maris is still more famous than most of the inductees. And he fits the current meaning of the word "famous".

[gonefishin]

Hey, I thought for a long time that I was the only person that's always thought that Roger Maris should be in the Hall of Fame. Glad to see that I'm not the only one!

The reality is - if not by now he will never be in the Hall.

However, I've always-always-always been a Maris fan. Attached are a couple of items that are pretty rare, maybe other fans of Maris will appreciate. Those that are not Maris fans, maybe you can appreciate the items: (1) Minor League scorecard from April 25, 1956, Indianapolis Indians vs St. Paul Saints. (2) Autographed 1957 Sohio Indians photo album. (3) Roger Maris debut game scorecard April 16 1957.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Hmmmm. I'm wondering whether that card was a legitimate photo or whether there was some air brushing and over painting done to the photo

Are you maybe referring to Roger's head appearing to be oversized in the photo compared to the body? That is simply an illusion created by the perspective in the photo of the card, which was taken from an angle above the holder. Here is a straight on shot of the card in which his head appears at normal size.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

...That plus the fact that his home team fans were cheering against him when he set his record. Those are Yankee fans for you but being derided for excellence by your own team's fans would have been tough on any player. The bottom line though is that it's the Baseball Hall of Fame and Maris is still more famous than most of the inductees. And he fits the current meaning of the word "famous".

I can't see putting someone in for one year no matter how remarkable.

Maybe it's "apples to oranges," but Ed Barrow was elected to the HOF for having one great season - 1919, when he sold Ruth to the Yankees.