Letter of the day: It's time baseball makes room for Maris in its Hall of Fame

Last update: June 25, 2009 - 10:25 AM

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While the sportswriters of the world ponder whether Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, etc., will ever make baseball's Hall of Fame, I would like to see similar questioning as to why a star from the past isn't there. Namely Roger Maris.

With the recent revelation about Sosa, there are only two players in history who have hit 60 home runs in a season without the specter of steroids hanging over their heads. One is Hall of Famer Babe Ruth, and Maris is the other.

Maris was a spectacular fielder, an outstanding baserunner, a two-time MVP and played in six World Series, winning four. You also have to remember he broke Ruth's record at Yankee Stadium, despite hatred from even his own fans -- through no fault of Maris.

Skeptics always point to his lifetime batting average, but to me that would be like denying Greg Maddux a spot in Cooperstown because he wasn't a great strikeout pitcher.

Plus, isn't the Hall of Fame at least partly about achieving fame? I would venture that Maris' name is more familiar than at least half the current members of the hall. Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig must find a way for this blatant injustice to be corrected.

DAVID FREDERICK, COON RAPIDS

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