As a
rookie in 1987, Mark McGwire blasted 49 homers, setting a record for
freshman. After battling injuries and struggling to find his swing,
he burst onto the national stage when he broke Roger Maris's single-season
mark for homers in 1998. In the process he rejuvenated his career
and opened the way for a spot in the Hall of Fame. Over a four-year
stretch in his mid-30s, McGwire clubbed an amazing 245 home runs.
Nicknames
"Big Mac"
Played For
Oakland A's (1986-1997),
St. Louis Cardinals (1997-2001)
Post-Season
1988 ALCS, 1988 World Series, 1989 ALCS, 1989 World Series, 1990 ALCS,
1990 World Series, 1992 ALCS, 1999 NLDS, 2000 NLDS, 2000 NLCS
World Champion?
Yes, 1989 Oakland A's
Honors
All-Star (11): 1987-1992, 1995-1999; Rookie of the Year 1987; Gold
Glove 1990
Position
McGwire played 1,763 games at first base. He was DH 37 times, played
3B (24 games) and some outfield (four games in 1987-1988).
The Home Run Race of 1998
The chase was hardly a chase at all as late as May. On May 24, 1998,
Mark McGwire had 24 home runs, while Sammy
Sosa was at nine. But soon, Sammy made his move and the race was
on. From May 25-June 23, Sosa belted 21 home runs in 30 days. He set
a record with 20 home runs in June, which was also the most homers
ever hit in any month. It became clear that both McGwire and Sosa
were drawing a bead on roger Maris's single-season home run record.
The question was: who would get there first? On
August 19, Sosa hit his 48th home run and passed McGwire for the
first time. But later in that game, McGwire answered with a pair
of homers and reclaimed the lead. "Big Mac" would stay
relinquish the lead just once more.
Over Labor Day
weekend the Cardinals and Cubs played
each other in St. Louis and the media circus surrounding the home
run chase collided in one location. The two sluggers embraced the
publicity, helping put baseball back on the front pages and in the
news. On September 8, McGwire finally passed Maris, lining a shot
over the left field wall at Busch Stadium. Sosa watched from right
field and applauded. McGwire made an emotional trip around the bases,
pointing to the sky as he crossed home plate to honor Maris, whose
sons were in attendance. Soon, Sosa arrived and hugged McGwire,
who lifted Sammy off his feet. Baseball had a golden moment. But
three weeks still remained in the season and the chase was still
far from over.
Five days later,
Sosa hit two home runs in Wrigley Field to tie McGwire at 62. Adding
to the tension of the McGwire/Sosa race was the fact that the Cubs
were in a fight for a playoff spot. On September 25 in Houston,
Sosa hit #66, creeping ahead of McGwire for the final time. McGwire
responded by hitting a homer of his own a few innings later in St.
Louis to bring the chase to a tie once more. Sosa failed to any
more homers, while McGwire belted four in his final two games to
finish with an astonishing 70 for the new single-season record.
Three years
later, Barry Bonds broke McGwire's
record, which many thought would last longer than Maris's had. Bonds
blasted 73 homers to establish the new standard. One of the players
given the best chance to break Bonds record is Sosa, who hit 63
in 1999, 50 in 2000, and 64 in 2001.
Feats
Set single-season home run record with 70 in 1998. Became first
man to hit 50 homers in three straight seasons (1997-1999). Both
of those records were later matched or topped by Sammy Sosa and/or
Barry Bonds... McGwire hit three homers in a game five times. He
did it in 1987, 1995, twice in 1998, and once in 2000.
Best Season, 1998
Set an NL record with 32 homers on the road. He hit three homers
in one game twice. Hit 21 homers in his first 41 games, 40 in 90
games, 50 in 125 games, and shattered the ML record with 70 for
the season. In the process he set a Cardinal record with 145 RBI
and a NL record for 162 walks. McGwire hit 33 solo homers, 28 two-run
homers, seven three-run homers and two grand slams. Hit homers against
65 different pitchers. He led baseball in slugging, OBP, and total
average. For some reason sportswriters selected Sammy Sosa as MVP.
Milestones
Hit his 500th career homer on August 5, 1999, off Andy Ashby of the
San Diego Padres. |
