A recent episode of Suits had as its “B” plot a defamation suit between an ESPN-type broadcaster and the baseball player he accused of using steroids.
As with most of the episode of this intriguing show, “Asterisk” has a primary plot that shares a connection. One of the weaselly characters is put up for a senior partner position. The show’s “heroes” believe it’s to get him to vote with the villainous managing partner to oust the good guys. Harvey Specter, one of the main characters, uses Roger Maris as a metaphor to explain that if Louis Litt (now there’s a ballplayer’s name) does vote with the villainous character, people will always think his being named senior partner was payment (hence the asterisk as to whether Litt was really worthy of the promotion.
When Specter speaks to Litt in the latter’s office, he brings with him the bat Maris supposedly used to hit his 61st home run in an extended season (hence his asterisk). But how would that be possible? Specter is a big sports fan and has memorabilia in his posh office, but shouldn’t Maris’ bat be in the Hall of Fame? Or in the Maris family? Hard to conceive that Specter would have it for his very own.
But then again, this is a TV show…
UPDATE: A email exchange with Tim Wiles at the Hall of Fame confirms that the bat Maris used for #61 resides therein as do the ones he used to hit numbers 59 and 60. Thanks, Tim.
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