Roger Maris (born in Hibbing, MN in 1934) is Fargo's sports hero. Maris graduated from Fargo's Shanley High School and earned local fame with athletic feats like returning four kickoffs for touchdowns in a single game and leading the local American Legion team to a state championship. Maris went on to the "bigs" whre he played for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. While he was a Yankee, Maris hit 61 home runs in one season in 1961 breaking Babe Ruth's longstanding record of 60 in 1927. Maris was also the American League's Most Valuable Player for two consecutive seasons (1960 & 1961); he led League in RBI for two consecutive years (1960 and 1961) and he was selected to, and played in, 7 All-Star Games (1959 - 1962).

Despite his achievements, Maris was under-appreciated and never elected to the baseball hall of fame. He died in 1985.

The Roger Maris Museum is located in Fargo's West Acres Mall. The glassed-in exhibit features several of his major awards, including the 1960 Sultan of Swat crown, along with several of the home run balls from 1961, and uniforms Maris wore.

Photograph courtesy of Lee and Mary Juillerat.