Displayed is a Roger Maris single-signed Official American League Ball (MacPhail), with Maris scripting his neat signature on the sweet spot. The most candid way to sum up the Major League career of Maris is to quote George Vecsey in writing for The New York Times in 2011 when he said, "(Maris) was a terrific player for a few brief years." Maris had a 12-year span the Major Leagues: Cleveland Indians (1957-58), Kansas City Athletics (1958-59), New York Yankees (1960-66), St. Louis Cardinals (1967-68). The right fielder's best two seasons were in 1960-61. He led the American League in RBIs in each of those seasons and was named the AL MVP in both '60 and '61. The 7-time All-Star competed with teammate Mickey Mantle in 1961 to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. Mantle fell behind in the race because of an abscessed hip. Because of expansion, the American League schedule had been increased from its traditional 154 games to 162 in 1961, and the Baseball Commissioner, Ford Frick, made a so-called ruling that record books would place a mark (later referred to as an asterisk) next to Maris' home run record total because of the longer schedule than Ruth had. Since Major League Baseball at that time did not actually control any baseball record books, the Frick statement was in reality merely a suggestion that was not followed by major record book producers after Maris hit his 61st homer against Boston Red Sox pitcher Tracey Stallard in the Yankees' final regular season game on Oct. 1, 1961, at Yankee Stadium. Maris had a lifetime .260 batting average, with 271 home runs. He was a fine defensive outfielder who won a Gold Glove Award in 1960. The later baseball years of Maris were impacted by injuries and illness, but at his brief peak in the early 1960s, he was an outstanding player. Maris signed the ball on the sweet spot, in blue ballpoint. The displayed baseball comes with a PSA/DNA Letter of Grading and Authenticity. The overall grade is a NM 7, with an autograph grade of 8, and a baseball grade of 6.