Roger Maris

 Steroid users don't count. Roger Maris had remained the single season home run king for the last 61 years with his 61 home runs in 1961. This season, however, he was finally beat by a clean player, so he can legitimately step aside. It just so happens that the true home run record will be once again be held by a Yankee right fielder. From Babe Ruth, to Maris and now to Aaron Judge.

So now that Maris will take his final bow from history, it seems just to acknowledge his career in showdown cards.

Might as well start with the only card most people will care about. The '99 season McGwire card (65 homers in '99) featured the same homer roll of 16+ but with only a 10 on-base. And since Maris wasn't on steroids, the Maris card is more attractive.

Additionally, let's compare this card to the '27 Babe Ruth card...

A much, MUCH higher on-base but a more compromised 18+ homers. Both Ruth and Maris hit 60 homers in 154 games so either way you're getting power. Ruth did hit almost 100 points better for average, but chicks dig the long ball, so in that regard both men are equal.

Rookie Roger Maris (eat your heart out, revisionist history people, Maris was an Indian). A simple 20+ home run chart was a far cry from the greatness he would achieve before long.

1958 began in Cleveland...

...but by the trade deadline he required an update for his new home in Kansas City. Both cards remain essentially the same. Home run power is creeping up to 19+

1959 sees a drop back down to 20+ for homers, but a jump to a 12 on-base, which still leads to good home run opportunity.

1960 brings Maris to his most notable uniform. Here he registers a nice on-base with an 18+ homer potential. This was the first of back-to-back MVP awards

Skipping to 1962, Maris drops back to earth with a 19+ homer chart but remains a huge threat with a 12 on-base.

Home runs, despite what 1961 showed, were never really Maris' game plan. 1963 shows that while a 10 on-base and 17+ chart are incredibly valuable in the lineup, Maris wasn't threatening any more records.

These pictures have no rhyme or reason in their order, by the way.
1964 was very pedestrian. 11 on-base is nice, but the chart is a little too bare bones to justify just a 19+ homer potential.

1966 brings a 10 on-base Maris that isn't afraid to draw a walk, but you don't carry Roger Maris for his walking ability.

Last Yankee card was pretty forgettable. 9 on-base and just a singles hitter with the occasional pop.

Maris ended his playing career in St. Louis where in 1967 he won his third and final World Series (1961,62) and brings in his first perfect defense card.

1968 was the end of the line for Maris. Just a 9 on-base and no natural roll homers. Maris retired with 275 career home runs and only once hit 40 or more in a season. Despite a respectable resume, he never received the call for Cooperstown, at least in his lifetime. A Ruth-lover in the commissioners office who rooted against Maris insisted that the record have an asterisk attached to it that wasn't removed until after Roger's death.

McGwire, Sosa and Bonds all cheated their way beyond 61, but true fans never forgot that the true single season king was Maris (just as they still recognize Hank Aaron as the true career home run king) until Aaron Judge took the record for himself the right way.