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Baseball signed: "Roger Maris" Rawlings Official

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Baseball signed: "Roger Maris" Rawlings Official Ball 1978 World Series. 75th World Series Ball. Signed on the Sweet-Spot by Maris in Black. An excellent football player, Roger was recruited to play football for the University of Oklahoma out of high school, but decided to sign a $15,000 contract with the Cleveland Indians organization instead. After 4 years in the minor leagues, Roger was called up to the big leagues in 1957 at the age of 22. Midway through his second year, 1958, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics. He was elected to the All-Star team in 1959 and was traded to the New York Yankees the following year. That season, 1960, was a good one for Maris. He was elected the American League Most Valuable Player with 39 home runs and 112 RBIs. This performance was not able to predict the season that he would have in 1961. It was then that he and Mickey Mantle chased Babe Ruth's single-season home run record. It was an expansion season and the length of the season was lengthened from 154 games to 162 games. During the season, Commissioner Frick ruled that any record broken in more than 154 games, the length of Ruth's season, would be held as a distinct and separate record. Maris broke the record on the final game of the season, hitting the ball 340 feet in Yankee stadium against the Boston Red Sox. He finished the season with 61 home runs and 142 RBIs. The Yankees continued on to the World Series and beat the Cincinnati Reds in five games. In 1962, Roger Maris hit 33 home runs with 100 RBIs and was selected to his 4th straight All-Star Team. Roger continued to play well with the Yankees in 1963 and 1964, but injuries affected him in '65 and '66 and he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for the '67 season. He returned to the World Series two more times with the Cardinals, thus playing in seven World Series in the 1960s. He retired after the 1968 season with 275 career home runs.Very Good Condition. The Ball is Celephane Wrapped and Hermetically Sealed. Mounted in a Wood and Plastic Ball Holder with a Plaque Reading "Roger Maris, 61 Home Runs in 1961, New York Yankees" Shipping $10.00 (estimate $50-$100)

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