McGwire connects for a single back in 2000 (Bill Greenblatt, UPI)
As if we didn’t know, Mark McGwire finally admitted that he used steroids when he broke baseball’s home run record in 1998 in that epic battle with Sammy Sosa of the Cubs when McGwire broke Roger Maris’ record of 61 homers.
In a statement, McGwire said. “I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.” Click here for McGwire’s full statement.
McGwire was hired this past off-season by the Cardinals to become their hitting coach. At the time of the announcement which was made by GM John Mozeliak and manager Tony LaRussa, the media asked when McGwire would talk to the public and answer the doubt surrounding that 1998 season.
Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire during the 1998 season (Bill Greenblatt, UPI)
I actually give McGwire some credit. Perhaps it was long overdue for some of us, but he came clean, admitted his mistakes. It was bad era in baseball in one aspect, but yet his chase with Sammy Sosa after Maris’ mark brought us back as fans. We as fans, still talk about 1998 as a great year, so aren’t we in a way hypocrites? We were excited with what we saw but now want to say shame on you to the guys who provided us that entertainment.
Here is a clip of McGwire’s visit with Bob Costas on MLB.com.