McGwire did not get an immediate chance to add to his total, which includes 15 home runs in only 21 days. The Cardinals begin a five-game road trip Wednesday, and McGwire wanted to share the moment with the fans and city he has embraced since Oakland traded him to St. The 34-year-old slugger also did it at home, just like he wanted. The home run, despite its short distance, surely will rank as one of the biggest in history, up there with the ones hit by Bobby Thomson, Bill Mazeroski, Hank Aaron, Carlton Fisk, Kirk Gibson and Joe Carter. It triggered an 11-minute delay, baseball's biggest mid-game celebration since Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record in 1995. McGwire, who appeared anxious in grounding out on a 3-0 pitch in the first inning, hit hisolo shot on the first pitch at 8:18 p.m. "To all my family, my son, the Cubs, Sammy Sosa. He averaged one home run for every 7.27 at-bats.Īfter McGwire finished celebrating with his teammates and the Maris family, he grabbed a microphone to address the sellout crowd of 43,688, which was still standing and cheering. The home run came in McGwire's 451st at-bat of the year.He averaged 0.452 homers per game in reaching 62. McGwire was playing in his 137th game of the year, having missed seven starts.The home run set off a 10-minute on-field celebration.The solo home run barely cleared the wall in left field.
McGwire's 62nd home run was his shortest of the season, six feet shorter than his previous low.
But I was right on the edge and I said, `That ball is mine."' McGWIRE'S HISTORIC HOMER "There was a bunch of ground-crew guys on the wall. "Right when it hit off the bat, I knew it was going out and it went right over the sign," he said. Tim Forneris, a ground-crew worker, picked it up and said he would give it to McGwire. "Roger, I hope you're with me tonight," McGwire said.Īs the ball cleared the left-field fence, there was no scramble to retrieve it because it landed in an area where no fan could get it.
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