After much speculation, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire yesterday told ESPN he will indeed be retiring from Major League Baseball. In a statement, Mcgwire said he was “worn out” and that he would be “unable to perform at a level equal to the salary the organization would be paying him”. McGwire had agreed to a two-year, thirty million dollar extension in spring training, but he never signed the deal. The slugger finishes his career with 583 home runs, that’s good for fifth on the all-time list. This past season, McGwire hit 29 home runs, but he batted just .187 as he continued to struggle with a right knee problem. Mcgwire’s best season came in 1998 when he hit 70 home runs to shatter Roger Maris then single-season record of 61. Barry Bonds broke McGwire’s mark this past season by hitting 73 home runs.
