Roger Maris New York Yankees ‘1961 Home Run Race’ Game Worn Jersey | Home Runs No. 10, 11, 50, 57, 59 | Worn in the 1960 World Series

This extraordinary New York Yankees flannel jersey, worn by Roger Maris during his legendary 1961 season, represents a defining artifact from one of the most significant moments in baseball history. Maris wore this jersey on September 20, 1961, when he hit his 59th home run against the Baltimore Orioles at Memorial Stadium, bringing him within one of Babe Ruth’s revered single-season record.

Importantly, to Sotheby’s knowledge, this is the jersey closest to his record tying 60, or record breaking 61st home run, that has become available to the public. This jersey thus represents an exceedingly rare opportunity to acquire a direct link to one of the most dramatic individual pursuits in sports history.

Further adding to its significance, Maris also wore this very jersey during Game 6 of the 1960 World Series, an emphatic Yankees victory that led to one of the most dramatic World Series finishes in history.

The 1961 Home Run Race & The M&M Boys

The 1961 season was defined by the electrifying home run battle between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, famously known as the “M&M Boys.” The Yankees sluggers captivated the baseball world as they chased Babe Ruth’s iconic 60-home-run mark, a record that had stood unchallenged since 1927.

Maris and Mantle remained neck-and-neck for much of the season, matching each other nearly home run for home run. However, Mantle suffered an abscessed hip late in the season, ultimately finishing with 54 home runs, leaving Maris alone to break Ruth’s record.

The pressure that Maris faced during the chase was immense. Unlike Mantle, who had long been a media darling, Maris was quiet and reserved, often misunderstood by both the press and fans. He endured relentless scrutiny, constant questioning, and outright hostility from certain factions of the Yankees fanbase, who saw Mantle as the rightful heir to Ruth’s record.

By September, the weight of the chase had taken a severe psychological and physical toll on Maris. The strain led to hair loss, and Maris developed facial twitches due to the pressure, a nervous tic that reporters and teammates noticed. He became more withdrawn, exhausted by the pressure of performing under an unrelenting spotlight. He received hate mail and even death threats from fans who resented the idea of Ruth’s record falling to a relative newcomer rather than the beloved Mantle.

On September 20, 1961, wearing this jersey, Maris launched his 59th home run of the season off Baltimore’s Milt Pappas, powering the Yankees to a 4-2 victory. Just over a week later, on October 1, he hit his 61st homer against Tracy Stallard of the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, breaking Ruth’s record. However, Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick had ruled that Maris needed to reach 61 home runs within 154 games—matching the length of Ruth’s 1927 season—for the record to be recognized without question. Since Maris’ 61st homer came in the Yankees’ 162nd game, his feat was met with controversy, and for years, was unofficially marked with an asterisk in the record books.

Game 6 of the 1960 World Series

Beyond its role in the 1961 home run chase, this jersey was also worn by Maris during Game 6 of the 1960 World Series, another key moment in Yankees history. Facing elimination against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Yankees delivered a resounding 12-0 victory at Forbes Field, with Whitey Ford throwing a shutout and Maris contributing offensively.

Though New York ultimately lost the World Series in heartbreaking fashion—Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in Game 7 remains one of the most famous moments in baseball history—Maris’ presence in that Series helped solidify his status as a clutch performer. His back-to-back MVP seasons in 1960 and 1961 cemented his place as one of baseball’s most feared sluggers.

Legacy & Cultural Impact

Maris’ 1961 season has been immortalized in books, documentaries, and films, most notably Billy Crystal’s HBO movie 61, which portrays the tension, stress, and emotional hardship Maris endured. While his record was eventually surpassed by Mark McGwire in 1998, many still considered Maris’ achievement to be the “pure” home run record, given that later challengers were linked to performance-enhancing drugs. Maris’ record was again broken by Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in 2022, when Judge hit 62 home runs. 

Though Maris was never inducted into the Hall of Fame, his number 9 was retired by the Yankees, and a plaque in Monument Park commemorates his achievements. The respect for his legacy has only grown over time, with many pushing for his eventual enshrinement in Cooperstown.

Few artifacts capture the intersection of baseball greatness and human endurance as powerfully as this jersey. A tangible reminder of the pressure, triumph, and complexity of Roger Maris’ journey, it remains one of the most significant pieces of baseball sports memorabilia to ever reach the market.

The jersey has been photomatched by SIA and MeiGray.