Though not a Hall of Famer, Roger Maris occupies rarified air in the annals of baseball. The Yankee achieved one of the most memorable milestones in baseball history when he broke Babe Ruth’s home run record by one, blasting 61 home runs. Strangely enough, he did so in 1961, which seems like serendipity. Throughout that season, he was in fierce competition with superstar Mickey Mantle. But “The Mick” ended up with 54, while Maris unforgettably broke the record on October 1, 1961, on the last day of the season, against Boston Red Sox rookie Tracy Stallard.
However, there was a sense of disappointment (at least for some) that Maris broke the record. Many felt it was a fluke. Others pointed to his batting .269 batting average and said he did it by sacrificing good old-fashioned hitting. But today, we can be fairer about Roger’s career. He won that record fair and square, with no steroid assistance. And although 1961 was an outlier in quality for Maris, he had two stupendous seasons (among the best ever) in 1960 and 1961. But they were part of a stretch of seven seasons and were well above average as an offensive weapon. Indeed, his advanced career stats (OPS+ 127 and WAR 38.3) put him in the class of Eddie Murray, Moises Alou, and Jim Rice. It was an excellent career and maybe two top-notch seasons short of Cooperstown.
You can add to that the mystical allure of the 1961 record-breaking season and that he did so while playing for the Yankees. Then finally, remember that Maris came into his own during the “Golden Era” of baseball cards. With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why Roger’s card is iconic in the hobby.
Collecting Roger Maris Cards
We don’t usually think of Maris as one of the biggest names of the classic era of baseball cards. And when Mark McGwire and then Barry Bonds broke their record in 1998 and 2001, many people thought Maris would be forgotten. But Roger Maris cards are amongst the most beloved and valuable of the era, just behind the absolute superstars. His one big accomplishment loomed larger than just about any achievement by his peers. And he is undeniably photogenic, with that overly serious look he always wore. Remember, even though he is not a Hall of Famer, there is only a handful of players from the 1950s that every baseball fan knows, and Roger Maris is one of them. And, of course, they aren’t making any more of these classic cards.
1966 Topps Roger Maris #365
A PSA 9 sold for $1,100.
The 1966 Topps Roger Maris #365 captures the player in his last season with the New York Yankees. It had been years since he had an injury-free year, and by now, the organization was actively looking to trade the outfielder. Late in 1966, he was sold for a mediocre player (sorry, Charley Smith). One of the main attractions of Roger Maris cards is how he wears his emotions on his sleeve. And they usually seem to be pretty melancholy. And there is no hiding the unhappiness that was dominant in his career at this point.
1968 Topps Roger Maris #330
A PSA 10 sold for $2,551.
The final card of Roger’s career catches him in St.Louis Cardinals uniform. While we mostly remember Maris for his time with the Yankees, he ended his career strong for the Cards. He helped them win the 1967 World Series with a tremendous performance, and they won the pennant the following year. And you can see how much happier the man is in the picture adorning the 1968 Topps Roger Maris #330 card. And you deserve a happy ending for your career, you absolute legend.
1959 Topps Roger Maris (Grey Back) #202
A PSA 9 sold for $4,670.
The 1959 Topps Maris cards come in two variations. There is the gray back and the white back card. Generally speaking, the gray backs aren’t always rarer. But the 1959 Topps Roger Maris (Grey Back) #202 is significantly scarcer than its 1959 Topps Maris #202 white back equivalents. There are only 454 graded copies of the gray version versus 1,061 white. There are also 15 white back PSA 9s versus 9 of the gray. There are no PSA 10s of either. Other than that numerical difference, there is no notable other difference between the two, just that the backs are different colors.
We should note that the highest sale for a white back is quite a bit higher than for a gray. It stands at $5,918. But the gray ones fetch more value, so they are a better investment. But as you can see, your mileage may vary.
1965 Topps Roger Maris #155
A PSA 10 sold for $8,400.
Every Maris sports card photo makes him look melancholy. But the 1965 Topps Roger Maris #155 is the only one where the man looks like he is amidst an existential crisis. 1965 was a terrible year for the player, with several painful injuries. They included a hamstring injury and a chipped bone. So, the pain you see on the face of the legendary Yankees slugger highly represents where he was in life. But, of course, he wasn’t overflowing with joy at his peak either.
The contrast between this card’s bright colors, especially that wonderful purple, and his expression is eye-catching. Like the other mid-1960s cards, the white borders make it a relatively straightforward grade. So, it’s easier to get high-quality versions of this card than most of Roger’s items.
1961 Topps Roger Maris #2
A PSA 10 sold for $10,157.
Since 1961 is by far the most important year of Roger’s career, you can make a good case that the 1961 Topps Roger Maris #2 is the most important card of the player. And though generally, cards don’t work that way, and earlier cards usually do better, the values of the 1961 Topps Baseball cards reflect that. After all, Maris did not have a normal career. We mostly remember him because of that one tremendous year.
The card also happens to be a masterpiece. It captures the slugger’s personality and a surprising depth behind those green eyes. He looks like a guy who would destroy your season home run record. The Yankee uniform and cap emphasize that Maris was the heir to the destructive power of the “Murderers Row” generation of Yankees. There is little doubt that this is one of the most beautiful and historically important cards of the 1960s. Considering its pedigree and importance, the price for a PSA 7 (around $400) is surprisingly low. These values will NOT be going down.
1963 Topps Roger Maris #120
A PSA 10 $10,500.
It isn’t often that a picture on a baseball card is genuinely harrowing. But the image on the 1963 Topps Roger Maris #120 is that. Deep sadness is etched on that handsome face, and we can only speculate why. But perhaps Maris was haunted by his inability to live up to that legendary season. And the weight of the unfulfilled expectation certainly weighed heavier with each passing year. Or maybe he had a flat tire on the way to the photo shoot. Who knows? But the Roger Maris card really works and is one of his most attractive. It also grades relatively well due to the white borders, and there are 3 PSA 10s as a result.
It was indeed a bad year for Roger in 1963. He experienced a bad back injury that would continue to hound the player. He only played 90 games that year, hitting 23 homers, a pretty weak number for this fearsome slugger. The organization was unhappy with the outfielder’s inability to play his best in the World Series, where the Yanks lost to their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1960 Topps Roger Maris #377
A PSA 10 sold for $11,881.
The high value on this one is mostly the result of the (surprising) existence of a PSA 10 and a confirmed sale of this item. Indeed, there are 2 of them. I get suspicious when I see a gem mint of a card that old, but maybe it’s just me.
But the 1960 Topps Roger Maris #377 is still a special card. It showed great foresight for Topps to use a truly 1960s-style design for the 1960 Topps Baseball card release. After all, the beginning of a decade is often just a hangover from the previous decade. I love the close-up pic, which shows Roger looking like a fearsome marine. There is even that intimidating vein popping out of the player’s head. And it’s the first card depicting our guy the way we all remember him, in pin-stripes. However, the black-and-white photo showing the player in full Yankees gear looks a bit too staged for my taste. And 1960 was an important year in his career, seeing Maris become a star. He hit 39 home runs, drove 112, made his first All-Star team, and won his debut Golden Glove award.
1964 Topps Roger Maris #225
A PSA 10 sold for $15,990.
Is anyone better than Roger at those introspective poses? He is the baseball card equivalent of all those noir Frank Sinatra albums covers from the 1940s and 1950s, and I mean that in the best possible sense. Check out Wee Small Hours for what I mean. Indeed, the 1964 Topps Roger Maris #225 captures Roger at his drama queen best. Although this time, there is a plaintive quality to his expression. Why the long face? As Roger had another 20-something homer season, it was increasingly clear that his star was fading. Repeated injuries had a lot to do with it. The card grades relatively well, as do a lot of 1964 Topps Baseball Cards, and there are 3 PSA 10s and 63 PSA 9s on the market.
1958 Topps Roger Maris #47
A PSA 9 sold for $27,600.
We are used to seeing Maris in the Yankee’s uniform, at least in our minds. And that was the team where he spent the most time. But the outfielder came up with the Cleveland Indians and debuted for them on April 16, 1957. However, after 51 games, they traded Roger to the Kansas City Athletics for Vic Power and Woodie Held.
The card is one of the highlights of what is the least beloved of the classic 1950s Topps releases. Indeed, there is no question that this is the premier rookie card in that release. The 1958 Topps Roger Maris #47 is indisputably the only rookie card featuring the slugger, thus guaranteeing its long-term value. I could do without the urine-yellow background, but the picture is undeniably excellent. It shows the young Maris in profound repose. Few players wore that thinking man’s expression better.
1962 Topps Roger Maris #1
A PSA 9 sold for $105,000.
That special price is of a confirmed sale, which took place under the auspice of Heritage Auctions on January 28, 2022. But it is a pretty extreme outlier. There has only ever been one other sale for over $50,000. But it does show that the 1962 Topps Roger Maris #1 is probably the most popular of all his cards. Remarkably, a mid-career card is worth much more than the Maris rookie card. Suppose you get one of these raw; it’s best to slab them quickly. The brown borders on these cards are very prone to show damage, almost as much as those 1971 Topps Baseball cards.
And the fact that Roger got the #1 card is a real sign of the stature the Yankees outfielder had attained. That spot was traditionally saved for the Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle types. And many believed that is where Maris was headed. But it didn’t turn out that way. 1962 was a good year for the player, but he would never recapture the heights of 1960-1961. Nonetheless, people love this card because it captures Roger at the height of his power and plays on his slugger image with that powerful all-conquering stance.
Final Word On The Most Expensive Roger Maris Baseball Cards
The great thing about Roger Maris cards is that they are absolute classics of the “golden era” of baseball cards while coming at a more affordable price than Hank Aaron or Mickey Mantle’s comparable items. And on an aesthetic level, these cards are fascinating. You can trace how well Roger’s career is going from his expression, as it ranges from stoic to tortured.
