Just not anything in the past we care to talk about.Mark McGwire has basically kept himself out of the limelight ever since leaving baseball in 2001, with his infamous appearance at the Congressional hearings on steroids being the lone exception. Well this coming Monday will be the ten year anniversary of the night that Big Mac hit his 62nd home run of the 1998 season, and broke Roger Maris' longstanding home run record.
So, with that in mind, the man who wasn't here to talk about the past talked about the past with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"That day, Sept. 8," he said, "I had a real calmness about me. It was a very eerie feeling that I didn't ever experience again or hadn't experienced before. I remember driving to the ballpark and, even with all the hoopla going on, it probably was the only day I felt so peaceful. It was a premonition that 'tonight is going to be the night.'
"The whole year was so spiritual, so universal, with so many things that happened," he said. "I don't know if people believe this stuff, but I think that when the stars are aligned right, things happen.
"One of the biggest things was hitting No. 61 on Sept. 7 on my father's 61st birthday.Actually, no, it's not one of those things that only God knows why. In fact, we all know why. Steroids. Lots and lots of steroids, Mark. Don't you remember Jose Canseco injecting them into your butt? Yeah, he told us all about that. What do you think about that?
"Then, No. 62 I hit in the fourth inning, the same inning that (Babe) Ruth hit his record home run. The balls (in 1998) were numbered, you'll remember, and the ball that went over the wall for No. 62 was number 3." Ruth wore No. 3 with the New York Yankees.
"It was one of those things that only God knows why," McGwire said.
"On those things, I just keep my opinions to myself," he said. "People have their opinions, and I have my opinions. People can think what they want."I think you did steroids, and I just wish you'd cop to it, or at the very least deny it. I mean, we all know now that the majority of players then were on them, so it's not like we'll cast you to the furthest corners of the globe or anything.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-06-2008 @ 2:11PM
Jim said...
"On those things, I just keep my opinions to myself," he said. "People have their opinions, and I have my opinions."
You should have something stronger than an opinion if it is an event that happened in your life.
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9-06-2008 @ 2:37PM
joshua said...
what an idiot. McGwire admitted to using muscle gainer which wasn't illegal. That is why they sell it at GNC. And who cares if he used them? So instead of hitting his home runs 450 ft he ended up hitting them 500 ft. Selig enjoyed McGwire bringing baseball back into the limelight.
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9-06-2008 @ 3:04PM
Jake said...
It was widely known at the time that McGwire was using andro which, for whatever reason, was the one steroid Major League Baseball did not outlaw. McGwire did not make a secret of it and few objections were raised at the time. He was a decent guy who gave much to his fans, and his achievements were a tremendous boost to the game. He's essentially damned now for something he did, or did not do, in a congressional hearing room, not on the baseball field. It's grossly unfair.
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9-06-2008 @ 4:39PM
Matt said...
"Actually, no, it's not one of those things that only God knows why. In fact, we all know why. Steroids. Lots and lots of steroids, Mark. "
Hahahaha. Very nice TF.
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9-06-2008 @ 5:00PM
brian said...
i liked the game better, when everyone was doing steroids.
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9-07-2008 @ 7:50PM
JohnnyComeLately said...
How do you have opinions on a major, controversial event in your life? Everyone else has theory's on it...but you know the truth. You either screwed up or didn't, and MY opinion is you did. Now it's your turn to speak the TRUTH. Your opinion is probably "everyone else did it so I think I was alright in 'roiding up."
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9-08-2008 @ 12:30AM
Joe said...
As far as im concerned the summer of 98 was special. Mac and Sammy back and fourth put baseball back as americas past time. Inhancers or not who gives a .... Still have to make contact with the 93mph fastball. The only regret I have is I wish Mac could have stayed healthy for a couple of more years. Would like to have seen "THE GREAT PUJOLS" numbers with "BIG MAC" hitting cleanup.
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10-02-2008 @ 6:56PM
dave said...
CHEATER................ and I'm a Cards fan.
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