Mark David McGwire

Mark David McGwire was born on October 1, 1963 in Pomona, California. He played professional major league baseball from 1986 through 2001. Initially he was signed by the Montreal Expos in 1981, but he ultimately joined the USC since the scholarship offered by the University was relatively more than the amount paid by the Expos. McGwire won a silver medal with the USA amateur baseball team in the 1984 Summer Olympics. He began his Major League baseball career on August 22, 1986, with the Oakland Athletics after spending three seasons at South California. As a professional he became a productive home run hitter. He broke Babe Ruth’s record after hitting the ball out of the park once in every 9.42 at bats. He began his career as an outstanding pitcher. His balls sometimes cleared the fences with 100 feet to spare. As a rookie in 1987 he exploded homers before the All-Star break. He became the unanimous selection for AL Rookie of the Year award after recording 49 homers, 118 RBIs and a .289 average. He exhibited a genuine concern for his wife when she delivered their first baby. He sat out in the season's final two games. He also shared the MLB lead in home runs in 1987. In 1990 though his average skid into .230s but still he managed to average virtually 35 home runs and over 100 RBIs. He split time with slugging right fielder Jose Canseco to form the famous Bash Brothers. They became the focus of the Oakland’s threatening line up who would slam their forearms into each other at home plate after each home run.

From 1996 through 1999, he hit 50 or more home runs in a streak. In 1997 he was procured by the St. Louis Cardinals since it was assumed that impoverished A's could not afford to re-sign the highly sought-after slugger. McGwire tried to improve his defensive skills at the first base because he always desired to be recognized as a multi-dimensional player. He also had a sense of baseball history that is rare among modern players. He finished the 1998 season with 70 homers. He became the first player to buckle at least 50 home runs in three back-to-back seasons. He broke Hack Wilson's 1930 NL record of 56 with two homers at Florida's Pro Player Stadium. McGwire also became the first player to drive in at least 100 runs and finish a season with more RBIs (147) than hits (145). McGwire hit the 500th home run of his career on August 5th off San Diego's Andy Ashby.

After witnessing years of sparse crowds at Oakland, he gladly signed a three-year deal, including an option for the 2001 season, to stay with the Cardinals. Fans appreciated his decision. McGwire announced he will bequeath $1 million of his salary to aid sexually and physically abused children in St. Louis and California. McGwire also escaped a minor indignation a reporter discovered a muscle enhancer called androstenedione in his locker.