Family roots run deep

On the wall in Joriane and Kelsi Maris' home in Hanford, there is a framed picture of one of greatest achievements of sporting history.

In that black frame, with his bat post swing and watching a baseball fly, is the late Roger Maris, who in 1961 broke Babe Ruth's regular season home run record of 60 by hitting his 61st homer on the final day of the regular season.

In his career, he won three World Series and was named the American League Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons.

There are more than a few branches of the family tree between the Maris sisters and their famous relative.

Roger Maris was a distant cousin of their grandfather, who he met once at a family reunion but the roots run deep for Joriane and Kelsi.

It's easy to see at any Hanford High softball game.

Both sisters wear jersey numbers that are easily recognizable to be associated with Roger Maris.

Kelsi, a senior, wears No. 61 in ode to Roger's record which ws broken in 1998 by Mark McGwire.

Joriane, a sophomore, wears No. 9, Roger's jersey number which he wore while he was a New York Yankee, which has been retired.

"Being around softball, people ask if we're related to him," Joriane says. "They see our jersey numbers and our last name, it's pretty cool.

Our grandfather would talk about it all the time with me when we went over to his house."

The sisters didn't know of the relation until their father told them.

It was about the time of the release of the movie "61" that was directed by Billy Crystal and starred Barry Pepper as Roger Maris.

It centered around the 1961 season and Maris' run at Babe Ruth's record, him receiving death threats and hate mail and his relationship with teammate Mickey Mantle.

"He's an idol of mine," Kelsi says of Roger Maris, who died in 1985. "He had a lot to overcome. I can relate to being picked on."

After watching the movie on HBO, the sisters went to Wal-Mart and bought it.

"We've watched it so many times, we have it memorized," Kelsi says.

The Maris sisters have been playing softball since before they knew of the family history.

It's mostly older people that grew up playing and watching baseball that ask if they're related to Maris.

On the field, the sisters have more in common with Roger Maris.

Joriane, a reserve on the Hanford softball team, will play any position in he outfield. She plays mostly right field, the same position as Roger Maris.

Kelsi, the starting first baseman and pitcher, led the team in home runs last season with four.

It's hard for her to think what it would take to hit 61 home runs in a single season.

"It's hard to imagine," she says.

With the famous last name, the Marises find no added pressure to succeed on the diamond.

Kelsi says it doesn't affect her.

"People expect you to be a better player because we're related to him," Kelsi says.

Both would like to play in college.

For Kelsi, arm injuries will probably make this her final season playing. She says she'd like to come back and help coach some day. She would like to go to the Roger Maris museum in his home town of Fargo, North Dakota.

Joriane would like to see a Yankees game at Yankee stadium and see the monument New York has of Roger Maris with all the other Yankee players with retired jersey numbers.

"People say we it's an honor to have the same last name as him," Joriane says. "It makes you feel special."

(May 20, 2009)