Roger Maris’ 59th home run Yankees jersey from 1961 heads to auction

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Baseball history will soon change hands as the road jersey worn by Yankees legend Roger Maris when he blasted his 59th home run during the historic 1961 season heads to auction this month.

Sotheby’s has announced the iconic Roger Maris No. 9 jersey from 1961 will be available to bidders starting April 21, with the auction concluding May 2. Currently drawing crowds of baseball enthusiasts and memorabilia collectors, the jersey is on public display at Sotheby’s York Avenue gallery in Manhattan, offering visitors a rare glimpse of this celebrated artifact from baseball’s golden era.

Another No. 9 pinstriped shirt of Maris from the Yankees’ 1961 campaign made waves during an auction in February 2025.

A season for the ages

The 1961 campaign stands as one of baseball’s most celebrated individual achievements, with Maris ultimately surpassing Babe Ruth‘s long-standing single-season home run record by connecting for 61 homers. The jersey heading to auction was worn when Maris launched his 59th round-tripper against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Milt Pappas on September 20, 1961 — a crucial milestone as the slugger closed in on Ruth’s hallowed mark.

Beyond the 59th homer, this particular uniform witnessed several other remarkable moments in Maris’ historic season, including his 10th, 11th, 50th, and 57th home runs. Adding further historical significance, Maris also wore this jersey during Game 6 of the 1960 World Series, making it a multi-season treasure of baseball history.

Projected bidding war for Maris jersey

Sotheby’s has established a pre-auction estimate of $1 million to $2 million for the jersey. This projection follows February’s sale of another Maris jersey — a home pinstripe version worn during 13 games of that same legendary season — which commanded $1.586 million earlier in 2025.

This road gray, however, carries exceptional value among collectors. It represents the closest jersey in private circulation to the one Maris wore when hitting his record-setting 61st home run, making it perhaps the most accessible direct link to that momentous achievement.

While the jerseys Maris wore for home runs 60 and 61 reside permanently in the Yankees Museum as team treasures, the No. 59 road jersey offers collectors a rare opportunity to own a garment intimately connected to the climactic stages of that chase.

A comparable jersey previously sold for $244,240 in 2022, but market appreciation for premium Yankees memorabilia and milestone artifacts has surged dramatically since then, setting the stage for potentially record-breaking bidding.

The ‘Asterisk’ home run

This jersey carries added historical weight due to the controversial “asterisk” chapter of baseball lore. Maris hit his 59th home run during the Yankees‘ 154th game — significant because that represented the traditional season length during Babe Ruth’s era.

In June 1961, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick declared that any home run record established beyond the 154-game threshold would carry an asterisk in the record books, widely interpreted as an attempt to protect Ruth’s legacy. Maris ultimately connected for his 60th and 61st homers after the 154-game mark, triggering decades of debate about the legitimacy of his achievement.

This jersey, therefore, represents the final home run Maris hit within what purists of the era considered the legitimate timeframe for breaking Ruth’s record. This context adds a layer of historical significance expected to enhance its appeal among serious collectors who appreciate the nuanced controversy surrounding Maris’ chase.

Yankees piece of history in private hands for nearly half a century

The jersey has remained privately owned for almost five decades. While Sotheby’s hasn’t revealed the seller’s identity, the auction house confirms the garment has been meticulously preserved and authenticated. The pre-auction display provides fans the opportunity to examine this piece of baseball history firsthand and revisit an era when Maris, under extraordinary public pressure, permanently altered baseball’s record books.

The 1961 Yankees season, featuring the celebrated “M&M Boys” home run race between Maris and teammate Mickey Mantle, remains one of baseball’s most chronicled campaigns. Maris’ pursuit faced intense scrutiny from media, baseball officials, and fans alike, becoming a defining narrative of baseball’s modern era.

Baseball history at auction

Maris’ 1961 achievement has gained renewed appreciation in recent years amid ongoing debates about steroid-era home run records. While Barry Bonds officially holds the single-season record with 73 home runs in 2001, many baseball traditionalists continue to view Maris’ accomplishment as the authentic benchmark.

The auction’s timing coincides with a remarkable resurgence in sports memorabilia values. Recent years have seen game-worn items from iconic figures like Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, and Babe Ruth command multi-million-dollar prices at auction.

Lou Gehrig’s game-worn jersey from the 1937 World Series fetched an astonishing $4 million at an auction. Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series road jersey sold for an unprecedented $24.12 million, making it the most expensive sports collectible ever sold in 2024. A Mickey Mantle jersey that he wore during a 1958 game fetched $4.68 million in 2023.

This Maris jersey, representing a pivotal moment in Yankees lore, appears poised to join that elite category of collectibles.

Final thoughts

When bidding opens on April 21, the collecting community will closely monitor what could become one of baseball’s most significant memorabilia sales of 2025. For Yankees enthusiasts, the jersey transcends mere collectible status—it embodies a tangible connection to a transformative figure in franchise and baseball history.

Though Roger Maris endured the controversial asterisk in record books for years after his achievement, his impact on baseball remains indelible. Soon, the jersey worn during one of the final chapters of his historic chase will find a new steward, offering one fortunate buyer the chance to possess an authentic piece of baseball immortality.

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