Beschreibung:

THE BATTING HELMET WORN BY ROGER MARIS DURING THE 1961 HOME RUN CHASE For years, Babe Ruth's 1927 record of 60 home runs withstood the challenge of many a mighty slugger. Hack Wilson, Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, Johnny Mize, Ralph Kiner, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle each finished seasons within ten or fewer home runs of breaking Ruth's record. None of them could equal the Babe's mark. In 1961, however, things would change. As had occurred back in 1927, two Yankees pushed each other in the home run race. The 1961 version of Ruth and Gehrig was the duo of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, a pairing that had already won three of the last five American League MVP awards. Injuries to Mantle curtailed his pursuit of the record, but Maris tied the Babe's record by hitting his 60th homer of the season on September 26, and had four games left in which to best Ruth's mark. However, it was not until October 1st, the final game of the season, that Roger would hit the record-breaking home run, pulling a 2-0 fastball from Boston's Tracy Stallard into the right field stands and thus pushing the single-season home run record to 61. But the race was not without controversy, and what should have been a glorious pursuit, was one often earmarked by strife and bitterness. The divergence in character and personality of the two Yankees played a part in the controversy. Ruth loved the crowd, he loved to live it up -- on and off the field. Maris was a quiet man who was willing to be a team player to move baserunners into scoring position. Breaking Ruth's record was not an easy task for a normal man. For Maris, the chase for Ruth's record was almost unbearable. Maris started to lose his hair as the chase wore on. He was fond of quiet moments and he liked to show little emotion. His integrity and his willingness to fight for what he thought was right irritated reporters. The fans never seemed to catch on to the type of person that Maris was. For Maris, the day he hit the 61st home run of the season must have been the beginning of some of the emptiest days of his life. Some claimed that his achievement was tainted because Maris had played in 161 games in the 1961 season. Ruth had only played in 151 games. Commissioner Ford Frick made the ruling that an asterisk would be attached to Maris' record. The asterisk was eventually removed from Maris' accomplishment. The 61 home runs were only a part of Maris' incredible season in 1961. Maris led the American League with 142 runs batted in and 132 runs scored. He won his second consecutive American League MVP honor and he helped the Yankees capture a championship with a World Series win over the Reds. Many years after his death, Maris finally did get much of the recognition he had sought in life. As Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa battled for the home run record in 1998, Maris' accomplishment received renewed coverage and attention. On the day that McGwire hit his 62nd home run, he stopped in the midst of his celebration to acknowledge the Maris family sitting near home plate at Busch Stadium. "Buddy" In his life and Major League Baseball career, little known player and manager Buddy Hassett enjoyed a front row seat in watching the Yankee dynasty build over several eras, from Ruth and Gehrig, to DiMaggio to Mantle and Maris. This culminated in the 1961 season, where Hassett, as a coach, was a close friend and eye witness to Maris as he chased and ultimately broke Babe Ruth's "untouchable" single season home run record. Hassett befriended the quiet, sensitive Maris, during what was a trying season for Roger, forging a close friendship. At the end of that magical and stressful 1961 season, Roger gave Buddy this batting helmet, which he had used throughout that historic campaign. Prior to his death in 1997, Buddy Hassett decided to pass on this historic artifact to Kevin Lester, the young son of his personal friend. Lester, the helmets new keeper, would later go on to experience success as an actor in Hollywood. Ironic