A Year in Base 10

Jason Michael Barker

It was his shortest home run of the season, but by far the most memorable.

At 6:18 pm Pacific Time, Mark McGwire sent a 0-0 pitch from Steve Trachsel over the left field wall and in so doing became baseball's single season king. The ball landed "just" 341 feet away from home plate, and was recovered by a member of the Busch Stadium grounds crew.

Sure, it's a cliché, but everyone will remember where they were when hit baseball's most famous home run. You'll remember, whether you were in a car listening on the radio, sitting at home with the kids, or sharing the moment with your fellow fans at a local sports bar. If you were one of the few souls lucky enough to be there in person, carry that ticket stub to your grave as proof, because ten years from now a hundred thousand will claim to have been there.

Instead of blathering on about the record, history and Americana, I'd like to instead look at the statistical side of McGwire's #62, or what I call "McGwire by the numbers."

0   Home runs hit in Cincinnati's Cinergy Field
1 Home run in March
2 Three-homer games
2 Grand slams
4 Home runs hit in extra innings
5 Home runs which traveled 500+ feet
7 Home runs thus far in September
7.27 At-bats per home run, 1998
8 Multi-home run games this season
8 Home runs in July
9 Home runs hit on the first pitch
10 Home runs hit in April, June, and August
11.3 At-bats per home run, career
12 Home runs hit against left-handed pitching
15 Home runs vs. San Diego (most against any club this season)
16 Home runs in May
16 Home runs during the day
28 Intentional walks given McGwire
29 Solo home runs
30 Home runs hit on the road
32 Home runs hit at home
46 Home runs at night
50 Home runs hit against right-handed pitching
53 Home runs which traveled 400+ feet
62 New single-season home run record (so far)
120 Home runs hit by McGwire in 1997-98, a new two year record
137 Games needed to reach 62
149 Walks drawn by McGwire in 1998
449 Career home runs
26,478 Total feet traveled by McGwire's 62 home runs

 

 

about the author

Jason Michael Barker wonders if Mark McGwire misses the Oakland Coliseum nachos. Tell him that not eating that "cheese" sauce is likely why Mac stayed healthy enough to hit 62 at jmb@strikethree.com.

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