After 55 years, The Asterisk That Never Existed continues to haunt the legend and family of Roger Maris, the first player to hit more home runs than Babe Ruth in a single season.
“That asterisk has traveled around like crazy,'' Roger Maris Jr. said in early September from Gainesville, Florida. “It was never in the books but just because it was always talked about, people presumed it was. Even today, all the time, some people will say there's an asterisk.'' Perception somehow became fact.
Quick history refresher: In 1961, the American League expanded its schedule from 154 games to the current 162. As Roger Maris closed in on Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60, commisioner Ford Frick declared that Ruth's record would stand if not broken by the Yankees' 154th game and should Maris break the mark or tie Ruth after that, the records would be treated separately.
Read Full Article »