1958 Topps #47
1958 Topps #47 (b)
The only rookie card of the former Major League Baseball home run king.
Roger Maris made his major league debut in 1957 with the Cleveland Indians, hitting .235/.344/.405 with 14 HR. The 22-year-old would carry a 105 OPS+ and looked like he was the future of the Cleveland outfield. But like so many Indians of the late-50’s and early-60’s he was traded away before he would reach his prime: in June 1958 the Tribe shipped Maris to the Kansas City A’s with Dick Tomanek and Preston Ward for Woodie Held and Vic Power.
Both Power and Held were very good players, but neither were Maris in his prime. From 1960-1964 Maris hit .271/.363/.539 and averaged 36 HR a season.