Roger Maris had one of the most iconic single seasons in baseball history when he hit 61 home runs in 1961 to break Babe Ruth’s long-standing home run record. This historic feat captured the attention of the entire country and etched Maris into the minds of baseball fans forever. Not surprisingly, Maris’ popularity and notoriety led to an increase in production and availability of his baseball cards throughout his playing career in the 1950s and 1960s. Due to his memorable home run chase and home run record holding season in 1961, Maris’ rookie and career cards from that time period are some of the most sought after and valuable vintage baseball cards that can be found on auction websites like eBay today.
While Maris made his MLB debut in 1957 with the Kansas City A’s, it was the 1961 season when his card values and collectibility took off. Topps was the dominant baseball card producer throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. They captured Maris’ historic 1961 season with cards featuring photos from that year. His 1961 Topps card is seen as one of the key rookie and early career cards for any player and remains very popular with collectors. On eBay in gem mint condition, examples of Maris’ 1961 Topps card in a PSA 10 or BGS 9.5 grade often sell in the $1,000+ range. In lower grades such as PSA 7 or 8 condition, this iconic rookie card can still fetch $250-500.
Beyond his Topps rookie, Maris’ other 1961 Topps issue cards depicting him with the Yankees and commemorating his pursuit of the home run record that season are also highly sought after. Examples of Maris’ 1961 Yankees team card, 1961 Topps home run leaders card, and 1961 Topps All-Star card consistently sell in the $100-500 price range across various condition grades when auctioned on eBay. The storylines and photos on these particular 1961 inserts, which chronicled Maris’ chase for baseball immortality that year, keep collector demand strong.
Continuing his home run power surge in 1962, Maris smashed 33 homers that season to finish second in the league. His 1962 Topps issue cards are seen as some of his most aesthetically pleasing issues due to the bright and colorful Yankees photo used. In high grades like PSA 9 or BGS 8.5, 1962 Maris Topps rookies can sell between $200-400. Lower graded copies in PSA 6 or 7 condition are available for $50-150. Outside of Topps, there were also regional Gum Inc issues of Maris available in 1962 which feature colorful action photos. An example would be Maris’ 1962 Gum Inc Yankees card, which grades of PSA 7 bring $100-250 on the current vintage card market.
The 1961 season would end up being the peak of Maris’ home run production across his twelve-year MLB career. He never quite matched the heights of his 61 homer year afterwards, remaining a solid yet unspectacular power threat. From 1963 onward, Maris’ card values dropped off relative to his rookie and record-breaker seasons. Nonetheless, other noteworthy Maris cards that appear routinely on eBay auctions include his 1964 and 1966 Topps issues which mark his final seasons with the Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals respectively. High graded copies of Maris’ 1964 and 1966 Topps cards in PSA 8-9 range can sell in the $50-150 range depending on team photo and condition.
His 1967 Topps card from his final year with the Cardinals also shows up with some regularity on eBay, often attracting bids of $20-75 due to the historical value tied to an all-time great’s final baseball card issue before retirement. While not as iconic or valuable as his early 1960s cards, examples of other vintage Maris card releases like 1965 Design Plastics, 1966 Design Plastics, 1967 Kellogg’s, and 1968 Kellogg’s turn up periodically and can net collectors $10-60 depending on grade and circumstances. Finally, Maris’ 1972 Topps high number card issued posthumously also remains popular as the last baseball card produced featuring him, regularly hitting the $30-75 sales range.
For Maris autograph collectors, signed examples of his iconic 1961 Topps and 1962 Topps rookie cards are holy grails that rarely come to market. When they do surface on group breaks or individual auctions, prices often exceed $1,000-5,000 based on the specimen’s accompanying Certificate of Authenticity and grading. Signed baseballs attributed to Maris in gold marker also command $300-1,500 depending on verification. For more affordable signed collectibles, auto success items like signed photos, letters, balls, or smaller memorabilia starting around $100 can satisfy fans looking to own an element of Maris’ legacy at reasonable cost points.
In summary, Roger Maris’ single season home run record and legendary 1961 campaign have cemented him as one of the most recognizable and collected names in all of baseball card history. High graded copies of his seminal 1950s and 1960s issues, especially Topps releases from 1961-1962, remain some of the prized vintage pieces in any collection. With the sustained nostalgia and demand for Maris’ famous season of 61 home runs enduring decades later, auctions for his historic rookie cards and contemporary releases continue to thrive on platforms such as eBay. Alongside icons like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, Roger Maris endures as one of the faces of the golden age of baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s.
