Roswell Rockets

Joe Baumann set the professional baseball league record for home runs, with 72 in 1954 (he had hit 53 the previous year with Artesia). This mark stood until it was broken by Barry Bonds of the Giants in 2001. We had the pleasure of visiting with Mr. Baumann many years ago at his home in Roswell. When we asked what he was doing differently in '54 he said "if I knew, I would have bottled it." Despite his staggering home run total, Joe never got a shot in the majors.