Roger Maris - Legacy

Legacy

The Roger Maris Museum opened at the West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1984. The museum is dedicated to the life and career of Roger Maris. The museum is open during mall hours with free admission.

Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota, has a cancer unit named the Roger Maris Cancer Center. Each year various businesses host the "61 for 61" fundraiser for an entire week, and all money raised goes toward the center. Events include a Home Run/Walk, Radiothon, silent auctions, and more.

In 2001, the film 61* about Maris and Mantle's pursuit of the major league's single season home run record was first broadcast. Many of the unpleasant aspects of Maris' season were addressed, including the hate mail, death threats, and his stress-induced hair loss. In addition, the film delved into the relationship between Maris and Mantle, portraying them as friends more than rivals. Mantle was depicted defending Maris to the New York media, and Maris was shown trying to influence the hard-living Mantle to look after himself better. Maris was played by Barry Pepper, while Thomas Jane played Mantle.

In 2005, in light of accusations of steroid use against the three players who had, by then, hit more than 61 home runs in a season (Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds), the North Dakota Senate wrote to Major League Baseball and "urged" that Roger Maris' 61 home runs be recognized as the single season record. Newman Signs Inc., which holds the naming rights to Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, continues to use billboard signage to declare Maris is the "legitimate home run king."