Mark McGwire
| Mark McGwire | |
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| Los Angeles Dodgers - No. 25 | |
| First baseman / hitting coach | |
| Born: October 1st, 1963 in Pomona , United States 
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| Strikes: Right | Throws: Right |
| Debut in Major League Baseball | |
| August 22, 1986 for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB assignment | |
| October 7, 2001 with the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics (until end of career) |
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| Batting average | , 263 |
| Home runs | 583 |
| RBI | 1,414 |
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As a player
As a coach
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| Awards | |
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Mark David McGwire (born October 1, 1963 in Pomona , California ) is a retired American baseball player with the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals in the MLB . The twelve-time all-star played the position of first baseman , won the World Series with the Athletics in 1989 and was known as one of the best “power hitters” in MLB history with 583 career home runs . In 1998 he hit 70 home runs and broke a decade-old record set by Roger Maris . He also won a Gold Glove for best defensive player in 1990 . In 2010 he confessed that he had been doping with steroids.
Career as a player
Oakland Athletics
In 1986, McGwire made his debut with the Oakland Athletics. With Designated Hitter José Canseco he formed one half of the power hitter duo that became known as the "Bash Brothers" and won the American League Finals three times in a row. McGwire hit 35 or more home runs consistently during this time, which compensated for his relatively weak batting average (constant around .240). In 1989 the Athletics won the World Series against the San Francisco Giants . In the following years, however, McGwire's performance stagnated and he swore after the end of the 1991 season to fight hard for his goals.
During the summer break McGwire extra layers put in the weight room, jogging and in front of the ball machine and grew a beard and a mullet hairstyle grow, look at terrifying. His batting average rose to over 30% in the following years, and with the newfound security he hit home runs more and more often. In 1996 he hit 52 home runs at a respectable batting average (.312).
St. Louis Cardinals
In the middle of the 1997 season, McGwire moved to the St. Louis Cardinals. In the 1998 season, he and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs chased Roger Maris' all-time 61 home run record . Against the Cubs of all people, McGwire hit his 62nd home run, whereupon Sosa (who stood at 58) personally congratulated him. McGwire ended at 70 and was the acclaimed star of the season, even if the Cardinals missed the playoffs. McGwire was named Athlete of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine and the Associated Press for his record performance . McGwire hit another 65 home runs the next season, but dropped his career in the fall and played his last game in 2001. McGwire lost the record three years later to Barry Bonds , who screwed the brand to 73 home runs in one year.
doping
McGwire admitted in 1998 that she had been taking muscle building supplements for years. Because these preparations were banned by the IOC and WADA , but not in the MLB, he was not prosecuted. The controversy increased in 2005 when José Canseco published his biography Juiced (a slang word for "doped"), admitted intense steroid doping and accused McGwire and other baseball stars of being involved. When asked by state anti-doping agencies, McGwire said that the mood was so charged that no one would believe a "no" but he loved his family too much to put them in the press line of fire with a "yes" .
McGwire was not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 or 2006 . The extremely low approval rate of less than 25% (75% is necessary) was widely interpreted as a consequence of these vague statements. McGwire was never found guilty of any wrongdoing, but in 2010 he confessed to having been doping with steroids.
Coaching
In 2009 it was announced that McGwire would start working as a hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2010 season. He was appointed for this by his manager at the time as a Cardinals player and future supervisor, Tony La Russa . After the 2010 season , his contract was extended for another year.
Private life
In 2002, McGwire married Stephanie Slemer. He plays a lot of golf in his free time and has avoided the press since the doping suspicion emerged.
Web links
- Player information and statistics from MLB or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or The Baseball Cube or Baseball Reference (Minor League) (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Matthew Leach: McGwire opens up about steroid use . MLB Advanced Media, LP. January 11, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ↑ Schumacher ruling postponed, Riesch takes second place . Spiegel Online . January 12, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ^ Matthew Leach: La Russa returning; McGwire joining him . In: MLB.com . MLB Advanced Media, LP. October 26, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
- ^ Duncan, McGwire part of returning Cards staff . In: mlb.mlb.com . Retrieved November 3, 2010.
| personal data | |
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| SURNAME | McGwire, Mark |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | McGwire, Mark David (full name); Big Mac (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American baseball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 1, 1963 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pomona , California, United States |