Sept. 14, 1964 - Roger Maris, swinging a big bat in the pennant dogfight, is posing a difficult case for New York’s high command. The Yankees have bandied the slugging outfielder’s name around as choice bait for any prospective winter swaps. But the rumors have simmered down. Roger’s .338 stretch since July 25 has been the reason.
Have the stories charged him up?
“No,” Maris declares. “After eight years, it doesn’t bother me. If they want to trade me, they can. I know that. If they’re going to make changes, they’ve got to start somewhere. And if they’re going to get anything good,” says the man who once hit 61 homers, “they’ve got to give up something.”
“I’m hitting more line drives. That means I’m getting more of the ball. Earlier in the year, I was hitting hard but on the ground. I’m also watching the ball better now. You can tell that by the number of walks I’ve been getting lately. Up to a few weeks ago, I just wasn’t getting those walks.
“That meant I was swinging at too many bad balls. I’m not doing that now. There’s no question in my mind that the walks are the answer. I haven’t done anything to change my batting style. I’m still the same old swinger — I’m just fussier.”
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