Mark McGwire

Mark McGwire was a Major League baseball player from 1986 through 2001. In his prime, he was perhaps the closest thing to Babe Ruth that modern baseball has seen. Like Ruth, he was a big man, and a prolific home run hitter; he hit the ball out of the park once in every 9.42 at bats. Like Ruth, he had begun as an outstanding pitcher. And like Ruth, he was a superb low ball hitter who learned to golf the ball for titanic home runs, balls that sometimes cleared the fences with 100 feet to spare.

McGwire ended his career with 583 home runs, which is fifth on the all-time list. He hit 50 or more home runs for four seasons in a row (1996-1999), was a league leader 4 times, and broke the long-standing single season home run record in 1998 when he hit 70 (since broken by Barry Bonds).

McGwire worked hard on his defense, and resisted being seen as a one-dimensional player.

McGwire also had a sense of baseball history that is rare among modern players. He graciously involved the family of Roger Maris in the year that he broke Maris's single season home run record.

McGwire played for the Oakland A's from 1986 until 1997, and finished his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won the [World Series]? just once, with the Oakland A's in 1988.

In 1984, McGwire won a silver medal with the USA baseball team in the Olympics.

McGwire's career totals:

 Games played 1874
 At Bats 6187
 Runs? 1167
 Hits 1626
 Doubles 252
 Triples 6
 Home runs 583
 [Run Batted In]? 1414
 Walks 1317
 Strike Outs 1596
 Stolen Bases 12
 Caught Stealing 8
 On Base Percentage .394
 Slugging Percentage .588
 Batting Average .263