Bill Von Sternberg writes this morning about something so simple you may think it silly, but it is a nice piece of Americana.  In Fargo, ND- You Betcha Land- Newman Outdoor Advertising has put up a couple of billboards honoring Fargo’s favorite son, and his home run record of 61 home runs in 1961.   Russ Newman gets his facts wrong, suggesting that an asterisk that was attached to the Maris record in 1961 still remains.  The asterisk was placed there because Maris broke Babe Ruth’s record in a 162 game season, while Babe Ruth hit 60 in only 154 game season.

Still the article has some nice shots of Maris, and of the billboards and his tombstone- a way of making a point after the revelations of Mark McGwire.

The billboard owners are hoping this gets the ball rolling to get Roger Maris into the Hall of Fame.  His numbers don’t quite earn him enshrinement, unless of course you count that one season alone. Still, with all the mess surrounding the home run record, it might be nice to see his picture hanging in there- if not on a plaque, then on a wall elsewhere.