62
On September 8th, 1998, Mark McGwire set the world ablaze by launching his 62nd home run of the season just over the boards in the left field corner of Busch Stadium. The Cardinals slugger was en route to an end tally for the year of 70 home runs-- a new single-season standard for Major League Baseball. In 1961, Roger Maris had toppled Babe Ruth's 32-year-old record with his 61st home run in early October on the last day of the Yankees' season. In 1998, McGwire broke Maris' 37-year-old record with #62 the day after Labor Day.Lifted on the shoulders of millions of passionate Cardinals fans, who shared Mac's intensity and concentration on each pitch from opening day through the season finale, McGwire was catapulted into the highest stratosphere of sport on that extraordinary Tuesday night.
I was thrilled to be even a tiny speck in the portrait of the historic spectacle that culminated on a single night but that lasted an entire glorious season. I listened live to 35 of those 70 home runs on the radio, watched 26 more on television, and was there to witness six at that old beautiful ballpark in downtown St. Louis. A big man with a big heart-- and an extraordinary work ethic and commitment to his craft-- claimed baseball's most hallowed record 10 years ago tonight, and he did it with great spirit, humility, and character.
posted by CM @ 8:41 PM
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