Roger Maris is one of the most iconic players in baseball history thanks to his single-season home run record of 61 home runs in 1961. Maris’ record-breaking season is one of the most memorable individual accomplishments in the sport. As a result, Maris’ baseball cards from his playing career are highly sought after by collectors.
Maris made his professional debut in 1957 with the Cleveland Indians organization and appeared in his first MLB game that season. His rookie card is considered one of the key cards from his collection period. The 1957 Topps Roger Maris rookie card is one of the most well-known and valuable baseball cards ever produced. In gem mint condition, ungraded examples have sold for over $200,000. Even low-grade copies in poor condition still fetch thousands due to the card’s significance.
The design of Maris’ 1957 Topps rookie is straightforward, featuring a solid dark blue background with his name and team name across the top. The photo shows Maris from his time in the Indians’ farm system before debuting in the majors. It was common for Topps to use minor league photos on rookie cards in the 1950s when players hadn’t accumulated MLB stats and photos yet. This makes the 1957 Topps Roger Maris one of the earliest documented cards of his career.
After being traded to the New York Yankees prior to the 1960 season, Maris’ cards from his seasons in pinstripes gained immense popularity and value. In 1960, Maris hit 39 home runs to finish fourth in the American League. His 1960 Topps card shows him in a Yankees uniform for the first time. High-grade examples with good centering currently sell for over $1,000.
Of course, Maris’ 1961 season where he broke Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record is the stuff of sports legend. After hitting his 61st homer on the final day of the season, Maris’ 1961 Topps card became one of the most iconic in the entire set. The photo captures Maris in mid-swing during his record-breaking year. Graded mint condition copies have reached astronomical prices upwards of $100,000 at auction. Even well-worn lower-grade copies still command thousands due to the historical significance of Maris’ 1961 campaign.
Beyond Topps, other card companies also produced memorable Roger Maris cards during this peak period. In 1960, the Fleer company issued their first modern baseball card set. Maris’ rookie card in the Fleer set that year is also highly valued today. Another standout is Maris’ card from the 1961 Post cereal issue, which was one of the earliest and most popular non-Topps baseball card releases. Both Maris’ 1960 Fleer and 1961 Post cards can sell for well over $1,000 in top condition.
After leaving the Yankees following the 1966 season, Maris continued playing for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cleveland Indians organizations. His cards from this later period in the 1960s hold value as well, though not quite on the level of his Yankees/home run record years. Still, graded mint copies of Maris’ cards from 1967 Topps, 1968 Topps, and 1970 Topps are worth hundreds to over $1,000 each. They document the tail end of the career of one of the game’s most acclaimed sluggers.
In retirement, Maris remained a revered figure in baseball history for what he accomplished in 1961. Tragically, Maris was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 1982 and passed away at the young age of 51. His untimely death only added to his legend in the sport. To this day, Maris holds a hallowed place in the minds of fans and in the record books. As a result, his vintage baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s remain some of the most historically significant and valuable in the hobby. For collectors, owning a Maris rookie or one of his record-breaking Yankees cards is a true prize. Over 60 years later, Roger Maris’ single-season home run achievement and his iconic Topps cards from that 1961 season continue to captivate collectors and fans alike.
