Roger Maris for the Hall of Fame?

By Mike Whiteman January 26, 2025 I've noted before that I look at the Hall of Fame a bit differently than some, and fall squarely on the "big Hall" side. The listed BBWAA guideline for voting states "voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played." which can provide room for different interpretations. Yesterday our esteemed leader Paul posted a great article comparing Dale Murphy's and Roger Maris' Hall worthiness. Paul's analysis stated that of the two, Murphy was the better player and more worthy to be enshrined. I have no problem at all with his conclusion. I also think that both players would be fine for the Hall. I'll focus on Maris for this article.

Maris' lifetime stats are indeed underwhelming as compared to most Hall of Famers. He only played 12 seasons and finished with a .260/.345/.476 with 275 home runs - very good but not great. His 127 OPS+ was solid. Maris' WAR of 38.3 is on the low side - though it would not be the lowest among enshrined in Cooperstown. This isn't to say Maris wasn't a fine player. He could hit and hit with power. He was an excellent fielder who could handle center field in addition to his primary position of right field. He didn't steal bases, but by accounts was a good baserunner. Depending on the metric, it can be said that Maris was better than 97-98 percent of the players in MLB history. As I consider Maris' case, I lean heavily on the "Fame" piece to his story. His 1961 season was epic. It was the pursuit and eventual passing of a historic record in what was THE sport of the time. It was Maris chasing a legend of sport and culture, and a lot of folks weren't rooting for him. He endured insult and indignity throughout and came out on top in the end. Counter this with the modern day pursuits of Mark McGwire in 1998 and Aaron Judge in 2022, both of whom were cheered wildly throughout the ballparks they graced and even supported by Maris' family. So, Maris' 1961 season was a very big deal. One of the "biggest deals" in sports history.

Another way to consider Maris' HOF case is through the Keltner list. A Bill James creation, he explained it as "a list of questions that might be used to evaluate where a player stands as a potential Hall of Famer". The list came in response to growing support in the 1970s for the HOF Candidacy of Ken Keltner, a solid third baseman for the Cleveland Indians in the 1930s and 1940s. Let's run Maris through the Keltner list: 1. Was he ever regarded as the best player in baseball? With Most Valuable Player selections in 1960 and 1961, he was certainly in the conversation. 2. Was he the best player on his team? Again, if you're the MVP of the league, then logic says that you're the best player on your team. Analytics of today make the case that Mickey Mantle was the better player of the two, but the awards back then went Maris' direction. 3. Was he the best player in baseball (or in the league) at his position? See answer number one. 4. Did he have an impact on a number of pennant races? Absolutely. The Yankees won five straight AL pennants from 1960-1964, and when he moved to St. Louis the Cardinals were NL champs in 1967 and 1968. 5. Was he a good enough player that he could continue to play regularly after passing his prime? Maris was the primary right fielder and contributed to the Cardinals' flags in the last two seasons of his career. 6. Is he the very best player in baseball history who is not in the Hall of Fame? By many standards, this answer is no. 7. Are most players who have comparable career statistics in the Hall of Fame? As I said before, his career stats are underwhelming. Does 60+ home runs in a season mean anything in the conversation? The only other players who have reached this threshold without PED chatter to their names - Babe Ruth and Aaron Judge - are either in Cooperstown or a good bet to get there. 8. Do the player's numbers meet Hall of Fame standards (Bill James standard)? Maris falls shy here. 9. Is there evidence to suggest that the player was significantly better or worse than is suggested by his statistics? I would say no. 10. Is he the best player at his position who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in? Probably not. Dwight Evans, Bobby Abreu, Jack Clark, and Rocky Colavito are among right fielders who can claim a better career using metrics like WAR and JAWS. 11. How many MVP-type seasons did he have? Did he ever win an MVP award? If not, how many times was he close? Maris took home two MVP awards. 12. How many All-Star-type seasons did he have? How many All-Star games did he play in? Did most of the other players who played in this many go into the Hall of Fame? Maris played in seven all-star games (three seasons in which he played in two). I'd say this is on the low side as compared to most Hall of Famers. 13. If this man were the best player on his team, would it be likely that the team could win the pennant? In his MVP years of 1960 and 1961, the Yankees won the pennant, taking home the World Series title in 1961. Those 1961 Yankees are often mentioned among the greatest teams in baseball history. 14. What impact did the player have on baseball history? Was he responsible for any rule changes? Did he introduce any new equipment? Did he change the game in any way? As I stated above, Maris holds a significant place in the history of the sport with his 61 home runs in 1961. 15. Did the player uphold the standards of sportsmanship and character that the Hall of Fame, in its written guidelines, instructs us to consider? By all accounts, Maris meets the character clause of the Hall of Fame, played the game "the right way", and was respected as a teammate. James stated that there's no score to be had from these questions - that no number can be stated as the "standard" for the HOF. Of the 15 questions, Maris can claim at least nine with positive answers. So, while the Keltner list doesn't make an overwhelming case for Maris, it does reveal some support. In the end, can we add up the historic achievement of his 1961 season, a solid career, and contributions to two of the best teams of the 1960s to make a compelling case for a plaque in Cooperstown? I think so. What do YOU think?