FARGO (KFGO) – With a 2-0 count in the fourth inning of game 163 between the Yankees and the Red Sox In 1961, Roger Maris etched his name in baseball history.
It’s been 62 years since his record-breaking trip around the bases. And this week his son, Roger Maris Jr. took a trip down memory lane at the Roger Maris Museum inside the West Acres Mall in Fargo.
“In 1983, Dad was approached by the American Legion Post 2 in Fargo. They had come up with the idea of having a Roger Maris Museum here in Fargo,” Maris Jr. said. “He liked the idea to have his stuff here in Fargo for people to see but was concerned about having it in a place where people would have to pay to see his stuff,” Maris Jr. added. “He wanted it to be in a place where people could come and view it and not have to pay for it. We decided we would put it in the mall here in Fargo and the rest was history and we created the Roger Maris Museum.”
Roger Maris Jr. At The Roger Maris Museum in Fargo (Madison Quinn, KFGO)
This week marks the annual Roger Maris All-Star Week in Fargo with events honoring and celebrating Maris. Maris Jr. also remembers how proud his dad was of his gold glove award in 1960.
Roger Maris Gold Glove (Madison Quinn, KFGO)
Roger Maris & Family (Madison Quinn, KFGO)
“That signified that he was the best right fielder in baseball at that time and he always felt like people wanted to talk about his 61 and his home runs. But he took a lot of pride in being a defensive player and playing the game the right way. Not just the offensive side but the defensive side as well,” Maris Jr. said.
Maris Jr. also touched on Roger’s Hickock Belt and how much it meant to him. The Hickock Belt was given to Roger Maris in 1961 for being the best athlete in all professional sports. It was stolen from the Museum along with his 1960 League MVP trophy in 2016. Recently, Federal authorities announced charges against a ring of nine people for thefts of millions of dollars worth of paintings, sports memorabilia and other valuables including the Hickock Belt & MVP trophy from the Roger Maris Museum.
Roger Maris Hickock Belt, Stolen in 2016 (Madison Quinn, KFGO)
Maris Jr. adds that they’re trying to teach kids about his dad’s work ethic and about the legacy Roger left behind.
“Well, what is a Roger Maris all-star?” Maris Jr. said “We’re trying to have a message. A Roger Maris all-star is somebody who works hard, competes, and is a great teammate. Those are the three things that my dad really talked about all the time, not just in sports, but in business and life in general. Hopefully, that’s something that Dad’s legacy will leave with people,” Maris Jr. smilingly added.
For a full list of events or more information about the Roger Maris All-Star Week. You can go to SanfordHealthFoundation.org.
