STL Cardinals: Goldy to Embrace Long History of Cards First Basemen
By Manny Gómez
Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire‘s tenure with the STL Cardinals was relatively short. However, sometimes it only takes five seasons to establish yourself as an all-time great for your organization, even the Cardinals.
After being traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Cardinals during the 1997 season, McGwire went on one of the most dominating runs of all time. In 1998, at age 34, McGwire and rival Sammy Sosa went on a home run chase for the ages, which many experts credit with bringing the sport back after a devastating strike just a couple of years prior.
That season, Mark McGwire crushed Roger Maris‘ single-season HR record of 61. “Big Mac” would stand alone atop the list with a staggering 70 home runs of his own.
What’s more, the next season, he’d smack another 65 dingers, combining to hit a total of 135 homers in two years.
That would, however, be the last time McGwire would hold the spotlight. Over the next two seasons, “Big Mac” would sustain injuries that didn’t allow him to play for extended periods.
Eventually, after the 2001 season, McGwire would hang up his cleats.
Years later, in 2010, Mark McGwire would admit to using performance-enhancing drugs in his career. He still remains a beloved figure in Cardinals history.