Big Mac 70

Mark McGwire hits 70 Home Runs

The 1994 strike hurt the game, as fans did not return to the stands very quickly. The next couple years were subdued.

In 1997, as I flew from St. Louis to visit friends in Oakland (STL-DFW-OAK), Mark McGwire was traded from the Oakland A’s to the St. Louis Cardinals. His presence excited the team, and he hit 23 home runs in the latter two months of the season.

In the offseason many wondered if he’d break the single season HR record. 1998 was an exciting year for baseball.

My friend Tim & I shared season tickets with a group from work. We got seats early and late in the season. We couldn’t get the last game of the year, so we bought separate tickets so we could be at each of last three games.

And mid-summer, we took a road trip to Denver. We saw much of the town, Estes National Park, and all three games.

The Friday night game was rain-delayed; they didn’t want a weekend double-header so they re-started around 1am, and finished around 3am; with Cards third baseman (3B) Gary Gaetti pitched a scoreless 8th inning.

The Cards lost the first two, but Sunday evening’s game had a different energy. Before it was over, Big Mac had hit #44... so far out over the left field fence that it landed in the player’s parking lot. We heard since that the player replaced the hood of his car and had the one dented by the HR hanging somewhere in his house.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL199807240.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL199807250.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/COL/COL199807260.shtml

By time September rolled around, the excitement was quite high. On Tuesday night, September 8, 1998 Big Mac hit #62, just over the wagon gate and broke Roger Marris’ records (as a Yank; he did later become a Cardinal!)... and he hit if off Cubs‘ pitcher Steve Trachsel.

I was working at Gateway computers, in N. Sioux City, SD, and we were also still sleeping on that side of the border. I was sadly slow to check in, so by time we walked into the restaurant, we opened the door to see McGwire rounding third... he hit the ball as we were walking in from the car.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/games/standings.cgi?date=1998-09-08

The entire nation was abuzz!

By the last weekend of the season Tim & I knew we would see history one of those three games.

Of all the work flights, only Friday night’s was more than a couple minutes late... and it was about two hours late... and we McGwire hit #66 while Tim & I were driving past Union Station... to right field, the section to the right of our seats (lone bleacher seats that summer). Then we got out of the car as the next batter, Ray Lankford (most HRs of anybody in Busch Stadium #2) hit his HR. We took our seats and the scoring was over for the night.

The next day, # 67 & 68.

Two co-workers had an apartment-warming party, and that’s where I met Ann Marie. While the HRs were great, I knew immediately that meeting her was even more special - Ann Marie was, and is the ONE.

This is a picture someone took of us that magical night.

Sunday afternoon, September 27, 1998... #70... “The Swing...”

The ball is just noticeable between home and 3B in the actual photo!

Sunday afternoon... #70... “The Celebration at Home...”

Sunday afternoon... #70... ”It’s Official - Old Scoreboard”

Sunday afternoon... #70... ”It’s Official - New Scoreboard”

Sunday afternoon... #70... ”It’s Official - Curtain Call”

“Mt. Everest Comparison”

a VanVooren Digital Original,

created in MS Paint, late 1998.

We knew then that McGwire was using Androstenedione - it was usually right there for all to see in his locker. He later admitted to using other strength-enhancing substances. That tainted his records and those of the other late-90s HR hitters.

Still, there’s no denying he’s one of the all-time great HR hitters. And, the length of hist 1998 HRs were well over the outfield fences... all save #62 and #70, which both just barely cleared the fences.

Time will tell how history remembers him.

I remember him fondly because of the excitement.

That I met my loving wife that final weekend only gives the season, and his record a stronger halo.

For those who may challenge the how memories can/do impact of our memories and perceptions...

HR #62 was pitched by Cubs starter Steve Trachsel.

Fast forward to the 2006 NLCS... Cards - Mets.

The Cardinals barely made the playoffs with 83 wins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_St._Louis_Cardinals_season ).

We handedly defeated the Padres in the NLDS.

The NLCS was amazing.

In game 3,

in the same stadium,

and on the same mound where he served up #62,

Trachsel lost his stuff and the Cards won 5-0...

... you could sense it as he pitched

... the memory and deflation from eight years earlier

... but that was the end of a season neither team could win

... this was a key Cards win that led us to

... the big game 6 in STL - “we will see you tomorrow niiiight” by Joe Buck (echoing his dad from years earlier),

... and the amazing Game 7 win with Wainwright’s 12-6 curve ball turning then Met Carlos Beltran into a statue.

Thanks, in part, to a monumentally memorable night on September 8, 1998... one the entire nation will forever remember... the night of #62.