The Stevo at *61....

He was born in Hibbing, Minnesota and Raised in Fargo, North Dakota. A gifted athlete and unassuming kind of a guy. He never had a clue that one day there would come a time that other athletes would cheat in order to surpass the Holy Grail that was his.

*61..a number that changed the face and..well...sanctity, if you will, of baseball as we know it forever.

Back in the day, he wasn't supposed to be the guy that would surpass Babe Ruth as the man that would overtake Ruth in baseball's most hallowed record. Life decided differently and against all odds, he did just that on the last day of the season against Tracy Stallard of the Boston Red Sox.

Mickey Mantle was supposed to be the right man for that job and in the summer of 1961, he made a most gallant run (54) and injury stopped his chase...a glorious summer if there ever was one.

Maybe Roger Maris, doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. On the surface, I might agree. However... Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire, etal., might beg to differ. They knew that Maris' record was the key to fame and fortune. No matter what it took..*61 was their target...and doing an illegal drug to do so was apparantly fine with the Commissioner (Bud Selig) and the owners...Lotsa fame and fortune in the long ball...

Maris changed baseball forever because he surpassed the most revered figure in Major League baseball history and he did it right. It was the assholes that elected to not play the game right that destroyed it...I salute you, Mr. Maris...Real fans know the deal....

And this guy is NOT in the Hall of Fame!??!!!?...Gimme a break!!