Mark McGwire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark McGwire
McGwire with the San Diego Padres in 2017
First baseman
Born: (1963-10-01) October 1, 1963 (age 61) Pomona, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
August 22, 1986, for the Oakland Athletics
Last appearance
October 7, 2001, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.263
Home runs	583
Runs batted in	1,414
Teams
As player Oakland Athletics (1986–1997) St. Louis Cardinals (1997–2001) As coach St. Louis Cardinals (2010–2012) Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–2015) San Diego Padres (2016–2018)
Career highlights and awards
12× All-Star (1987–1992, 1995–2000) 2× World Series champion (1989, 2011) AL Rookie of the Year (1987) Gold Glove Award (1990) 3× Silver Slugger Award (1992, 1996, 1998) 5× MLB home run leader (1987, 1996–1999) NL RBI leader (1999) Athletics Hall of Fame St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Major League Baseball All-Century Team
Medals Representing  United States Men's Baseball Summer Olympics Silver 1984 Los Angeles Team Pan American Games Bronze 1983 Caracas Team Intercontinental Cup Silver 1983 Brussels Team

Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963), known as "Big Mac", is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a first baseman for 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Oakland Athletics from 1986 to 1997 and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1997 to 2001.

McGwire was famous for hitting many home runs. He hit 583 home runs in his career. This was the 5th most in MLB history when he retired. Today, it ranks 11th. He holds the MLB record for hitting a home run most often, with one home run every 10.6 at-bats. He also used to hold the record for most home runs in a single season (70 in 1998). He also set a record for home runs hit by a rookie (49 in 1987).

McGwire led MLB in home runs in five different seasons. He hit 245 home runs from 1996 to 1999, which is a record for a four-season period. He was also good at getting on base, with a career .394 on-base percentage (OBP). He led the league in runs batted in (RBI) once. Injuries sometimes kept him from playing, as he only played 140 games or more in 8 of his 16 seasons.

In 1998, McGwire and Cubs player Sammy Sosa had an exciting race to break the single-season home run record. McGwire finished with 70 home runs, breaking the old record of 61 set by Roger Maris. This record was later broken by Barry Bonds in 2001.

Mark McGwire: Baseball's Home Run King

Early Life and College Baseball

Mark McGwire was born in Pomona, California, a city near Los Angeles. His father was a dentist. Mark went to Damien High School where he played baseball, golf, and basketball. He was picked by the Montreal Expos in the 1981 draft, but he decided not to sign with them.

Instead, McGwire played college baseball at the University of Southern California. He was named the best college baseball player by the Sporting News in 1984. He also played for the U.S. Olympic team in 1984. The U.S. team won the silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Starting His Professional Career

After college and the Olympics, the Oakland Athletics drafted McGwire in 1984. He played in the minor leagues for a few years. He made his MLB debut on August 22, 1986. In his first 18 games, he hit three home runs.

Rookie Home Run Record (1987)

In 1987, McGwire had an amazing rookie season. He hit 15 home runs in May and 9 in June. Before the All-Star break, he had already hit 33 home runs. He broke the American League rookie record of 37 home runs on August 11. A few days later, he broke the major-league rookie record of 38 home runs.

McGwire finished the 1987 season with 49 home runs. This was a major league record for a rookie until 2017. He also had 118 runs batted in (RBI) and a .289 batting average. He was chosen as the American League Rookie of the Year.

All-Star Years with the Athletics (1988–1991)

McGwire with the A's in 1989

From 1988 to 1990, McGwire continued to hit many home runs, with 32, 33, and 39 respectively. He was the first player to hit 30 or more home runs in his first four full seasons.

One of his most famous home runs with the A's was a game-winning hit in the 1988 World Series. In 1989, McGwire and his teammate José Canseco, known as the "Bash Brothers", helped the A's win the 1989 World Series.

McGwire also worked hard on his defense at first base. He won a Gold Glove Award in 1990 for his excellent fielding. In 1991, he had a tough year, batting only .201. However, he worked hard to improve.

Career Comeback (1992–1997)

In 1992, McGwire had a great comeback season. He hit 42 home runs and batted .268. He also won the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break. His strong play helped the A's win their division.

Injuries limited McGwire's playing time in 1993 and 1994. But in 1995, he hit 39 home runs in fewer games. In 1996, he led the major leagues with 52 home runs. He also had a career-high batting average of .312.

McGwire hit 363 home runs with the Athletics, which was a team record. He was selected to nine All-Star teams while playing for Oakland.

Joining the St. Louis Cardinals (1997–2001)

On July 31, 1997, McGwire was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. He had already hit 34 home runs that season. He finished the 1997 season with 24 home runs for the Cardinals, bringing his total for the year to 58 home runs, which led all of MLB.

The Great Home Run Chase of 1998

McGwire batting during a May 1998 game

The 1998 season was very exciting for baseball fans. Mark McGwire, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., and Chicago Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa were all trying to break Roger Maris's single-season home run record of 61. The lead for home runs changed often between McGwire and Sosa.

On September 8, 1998, McGwire hit his 62nd home run against the Cubs. This broke Maris's record and caused huge celebrations at Busch Memorial Stadium. Sammy Sosa was there and congratulated McGwire. Members of Maris's family were also at the game.

McGwire circling the field at Busch Memorial Stadium in a Chevrolet Corvette after hitting his 62nd home run of the season.

McGwire finished the 1998 season with 70 home runs. This was four more than Sosa's 66. This record was later broken by Barry Bonds in 2001. Many people believe that the home run chase between McGwire and Sosa helped make baseball popular again after a player strike.

Final Playing Years (1999–2001)

McGwire continued to hit many home runs in 1999, with 65. This was his fourth straight season with at least 50 home runs, which is a major league record. He and Sammy Sosa also became the only players to hit 60 or more home runs in two seasons in a row.

McGwire hitting a home run in St. Louis against the Tigers on July 14, 2001

In 2000 and 2001, McGwire struggled with injuries, especially to his knee. He played fewer games and his home run totals went down. He played only 89 games in 2000 and 97 games in 2001.

On November 11, 2001, McGwire announced his retirement from baseball. He said he could no longer play at the high level he expected of himself.

Coaching Career (2010–2018)

After retiring as a player, McGwire became a coach. On October 26, 2009, he became the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. Fans gave him a standing ovation when he returned to St. Louis in 2010. During his three seasons as hitting coach, the Cardinals' offense was very strong.

In 2012, McGwire left the Cardinals to become the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He wanted to be closer to his family. He later became the bench coach for the San Diego Padres in 2015. He left the Padres after the 2018 season.

Honors and Achievements

Mark McGwire is known as one of the best home run hitters in baseball history. He finished his career with 583 home runs. When he hit his 500th home run in 1999, he did it in the fewest at-bats of any player. He led MLB in home runs five times. He also holds the MLB record for hitting a home run most often, with one every 10.61 at-bats.

In 1999, The Sporting News ranked McGwire as one of the 100 greatest baseball players. He was also chosen for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

Hall of Fame Consideration

McGwire became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2007. To be elected, a player needs 75% of the votes. McGwire did not receive enough votes to be elected. His connection to using certain substances during his career has been a factor in the voting. He was last considered by a special committee in December 2022 but did not get enough votes.

Records

† – tied with Sammy Sosa †† – tied with Babe Ruth and Sammy Sosa

Playing Career Totals

Here are Mark McGwire's career statistics from his 16 seasons in Major League Baseball:

Personal Life

Mark McGwire's brother, Dan McGwire, played as a quarterback in the NFL.

Mark is married to Stephanie Slemer. They have triplet daughters born in 2010: Monet Rose, Marlo Rose, and Monroe Rose. He also has two sons, Max and Mason. Mason was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2022 MLB draft. The family lives in Irvine, California. Mark and Stephanie created the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children. This foundation helps organizations that support children who have faced difficult challenges.

McGwire also provided his voice for an episode of The Simpsons in 1999.

Images for kids

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  McGwire with the San Diego Padres in 2017

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  McGwire with the A's in 1989

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  McGwire batting during a May 1998 game

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  McGwire circling the field at Busch Memorial Stadium after hitting his 62nd home run of the season.

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  McGwire hitting a home run in St. Louis against the Tigers on July 14, 2001

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  McGwire as coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011

See also

In Spanish: Mark McGwire para niños