FARGO – Jay Smith has been telling his friends for years that former New York Yankees slugger Roger Maris belongs in the Hall of Fame.
But this year was the perfect time to attempt to do something about it.
You see, this is the 50th anniversary of Maris historic 61 home run season of 1961.
That was the year Maris had the baseball world riveted to his every swing as he eclipsed Yankees legend Babe Ruths single-season record.
Smith, who grew up in Boston and is now the CEO of a public relations firm in Virginia, is 61 years old.
Oh, sweet synergy.
Im just a guy who happened to be a fan through all these years, and I thought Roger was shortchanged and deserved to be in the Hall of Fame for a variety of reasons, said Smith, who served as the press secretary for former House Republican Leader John J. Rhodes of Arizona from 1973-77.
Smith says he cant remember seeing Maris play in person. But hes sure he must have watched the former Fargo Shanley High School star athlete play against the Boston Red Sox when the Yankees visited Fenway Park in the 1960s.
That doesnt matter.
What matters, Smith says, is that Maris career stacks up with many players already in the Hall of Fame.
And time is running out to get the two-time MVP into Cooperstown.
I dug deep and went into all the stats, Smith said.
He compares quite favorably. I still talk to a lot of baseball fans, ardent baseball fans, who just assume he is already in the Hall of Fame. I guess they didnt get the memo.
Smith recently created the Facebook fan page Get Roger Maris in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Hes collected almost 600 signatures on an online petition that he plans to forward to the Baseball Hall of Fames Veterans Committee.
The Veterans Committee is in charge of adding players to the ballot that are no longer eligible through the regular Baseball Writers Association of American vote.
In his petition, Smith outlines Maris case by comparing the Yankees sluggers career with Hall of Famers Bill Mazeroski, Phil Rizzuto, Red Schoendienst and Richie Ashburn.
They were all great ball players who had their own style that has made baseball what it is today, Smith writes in the petition. The only difference is they are in the Hall of Fame and Roger is not. Isnt it time after 41 years that Roger get the credit he deserves and he gets in too?
Smith, whose PR firm has worked on several successful political campaigns throughout the country, said hes unsure if Maris will get into the Hall if he doesnt get in on the steam of the 50th anniversary of one of baseballs greatest feats.
In an effort to build momentum, Smith recently sent out a news release indicating that current baseball commissioner Bud Selig backed Maris bid for the Hall of Fame at a meeting with the Phoenix Area Chamber of Commerce during Major League Baseballs All-Star weekend.
Smith quotes Selig: I certainly agree that Roger Maris should be in the Hall of Fame.
Selig could not be reached for comment.
Smith said he will likely attempt to contact the members of the Veterans Committee about putting Maris on the ballot.
You come across these detractors who say he only broke the home run record once, Smith said. Thats like saying Jonas Salk only invented the polio vaccine once, or that Columbus only discovered America once. I think he should be in. Thats all I can say.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562.
Hotzlers blogs can be found at www.areavoices.com
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