The 1998 baseball season featured an amazing home run race by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. Since his rookie season, McGwire had always been a prolific home run hitter. But 1998 was the year that he changed the record books as the whole country watched with anticipation.
As the season progressed, McGwire was blasting one home run after another at a record pace. On September 7th he tied Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs. Maris had held this record for 37 years, but in the first inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs, McGwire hit a 430 foot home run off of pitcher Mike Morgan.
The next night he broke the record with a 341 shot off of Steve Trachsel. He connected on an 88 mile per hour fastball, hitting a line drive shot that just barely cleared the left field fence. It was actually his shortest home run of the season. In his excitement McGwire forgot to touch first base, but first base coach Dave McKay led him back to touch it.
After this record breaking shot, there were still 18 games left and McGwire was not finished. He continued to hit the ball out of the park, expanding his lead in the record books. On September 26th he hit two homeruns, his 67th and 68th.
The next day was the last day of the season, and the stadium buzzed with electricity. Every McGwire at bat was a major event. In the third inning rookie pitcher Mike Thurman threw a fastball and McGwire put it 377 feet over the left field fence. After coming around the bases he stomped on home plate and saluted the standing crowd. The crowd continued to cheer and he made two curtain calls.
And then in the seventh inning, with his last swing of the season, McGwire drilled Carl Pavano’s pitch on a line drive. It travelled 370 feet before clearing the left field fence. The crowd went wild once again as baseball history was made with 70 home runs in a single season.
Sitting in the left field stands was Philip Ozersky, a 26 year old scientist who was attending the game with Washington University co workers. He saw the ball fly over the fence and then it ricocheted and landed just 6 feet from his seat. He dove onto the concrete and snagged the ball. A bunch of his co workers dove on to him in a mad scramble, but Ozersky had a tight clutch on the ball and did not let go. The crowd was crazy with excitement as McGwire stomped on home plate once again. The stadium police quickly escorted Ozersky to the Cardinal’s press room, and he sat next to Mark McGwire answering questions from the press. McGwire wanted the ball, but Ozersky knew its value and was not about to give it away.
Three months later he put the ball up for auction. Bidding started at $400,000 but quickly shot past the 1 million dollar price that was expected. The ball finally sold for a shocking price of 3 million dollars. It was an amazing end to an amazing season of baseball.
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Visit http://www.markmcgwirerookie.com for a great selection of McGwire rookie cards including the Mark McGwire Topps Rookie Card.
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