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Please... for the love of god.... can you do a video on the MLB Doubles in a Season record? The most underrated and overlooked impossible(yet very possible) to break record in baseball? Sure, DiMaggio, DiMaggio 56, whatever. Triples record? Impossible. The DOUBLES record is amazing and never talked about, rarely approached, and even a Colorado Rockie hasn't done it. You don't even know, offhand, who has it, do you?
That 98 home run chase had an impact on another player: Bonds. That season, Bonds was aiming to become the best all-around baseball player, and had it been any other season, he would've been recognized for his amazing stats: .303 avg, 167 hits, 37 HR, 122 RBI, 44 doubles, 28 stolen bases, 1.047 OPS. Instead, he was relegated to an afterthought. When he realized that home runs were all people cared about, Bonds decided to juice up as well.
Bonds was already juicing at that point. It takes a lot of time to completely transform a body and 1998 Barry Bonds was already transformed...it was just a work in progress.
@@Chupacvabra This is true. People tend to think of PEDs as an immediate thing, like Popeye's spinache, or Super Mario's magic mushroom... Juicing has to be done in regular cycles, and you have to work out on top of it to get the gains. Barry didn't just show up on the gas one day.
@@Danielson1818 From your post, I'm assuming you know exactly how steroids work, which is why I'm going to ask you this: Why did Canseco once bragged that he had built up so much muscle without actually working out?
@@douglas69ification Nolan Ryan is a cattle rancher. I’ve worked with a bunch of guy’s that have worked on farms, and they are built different. Extremely tough and intelligent. No one from Alvin, Texas is on any drugs that will benefit them. Lol Rickey is also just one of those guy’s that grow up with rare talent.
@Mockingslur lol okay dude. He was a farmer so he COULDN'T of been on roids. But then again, most farmers would be known for incest. So maybe fuckin ur sister does the same for your body as roids? Idk, ur a farmer, why don't u tell us. Does fuckin ur sister make u strong? See I don't have a sister so I'd have to use roids like a normal, non incest non ass backwards kinda man.
McGwire was badly counseled, he should have used the chance for testimony before Congress to redirect what was happenning to MLB and instead of ending up as the fall guy he should have emphasized that what he was taking was not illegal while he played.
The real Fall Guy was Barry bonds. That guy was two times the player that McGuire ever thought he was. bonds before 1998, was outperforming in nearly every statistical category, what Mark McGwire was doing. The difference was, Mark was on steroids the entire time, and still couldn't keep up with Barry bonds.... Until 1998... Then Barry bonds got so jealous of Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire getting all the attention, although they were way less skilled than he was, that he started juicing up to hit home runs himself. For all the home run abilities of Mark McGwire, he was not feared anywhere near as much as Barry bonds. He wasn't walked 200 times a season. He wasn't intentionally walked over 60 times a season. That is real power! That is real skill...
Necessary clarification: His 49 HR's were the rookie record at the time. Pete Alonso broke it in 2019 with 53, also making him the only rookie to lead MLB in that category.
I collected during the 70's and love those players still. There r controversies also, such as cocaine and other drugs. All those things will never blemish the memory of Larry Bowa's Grand Slam HR at The Vet with Pete Rose on The Reds at third, stunned by the event.
I was 8 years old in 1998. The McGwire/Sosa home run race was incredible phenomenon to watch. I also moved to San Diego that same year when they went on to the World Series. It was a pretty incredible
I attended the clinching WS game in SanDiego 1998. In attendance, front row 3b side next to the dugout and garnering much attention was none other than Mr Mac himself
It’s a sin him and Sammy are treated the way they are. They single handedly saved baseball in one summer. They made Leyman into fans, they made fans into fanatics and made fanatics into loving their baseball team’s rival. It was the most exciting baseball season ever
They didn’t save baseball. Baseball fanatics like a precise hit and run or a well executed cut off assist. Home runs are cool. But a base clearing triple is more exciting. A strike em out throw out to end the inning. A pick off play or sac bunt to move the runner to third is what baseball is all about. Not two guys that cheated baseball and themselves.
@@larrydanadavid2435 you’re right. No one ever followed box scores everyday. Let’s put it to a gentleman’s test-find a fair weather baseball fan over the age of 40 and ask them to fire off how great Bonds, Griffey Jr, Luis Gonzalez, the killer B’s, Ken Caminiti faired when McGwire and Sosa during the ‘98 season. Unless they were a die hard fan of those players’ team they can give you coherent answer
@@larrydanadavid2435 fanatics are ideologues but won’t bring in the dollars-the general public does. So yes an exciting summer after after many dragging years and a strike worked. Just as second tier lesser known Marvel characters like daredevil or punisher or a weird ass Hulk by a king fu director can’t launch a franchise. You need big exciting likable characters like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor
Of all the infamous steroid users, Mark McGwire is essentially the only one to have a redemption arc through his later career as a hitting coach (and of course by actually admitting to whole steroid thing) Barry Bonds remains persona non grata, Rafael Palmeiro waved his infamous finger, Roger Clemens has never been the most personable guy, A-rod is has been and likely always will be an A-tier diva, and nobody ever liked Jose Canseco; even the formerly beloved Slammin' Sammy Sosa became increasingly surly to the public, alienating his way out of the hearts of Cubs fans and eventually from major league minds altogether The only other infamous steroid user who remains well-liked is Jason Giambi, but outside of the BALCO years he's always been a well-liked figure anyways and the health complications he suffered probably lent him more sympathy
Jason Giambi definitely is more forgiving. After all he was in the Yankees all timers day game a couple of times. Plus he is more likeable than A-rod and Bonds
Honestly Sosa fell out of grace with this Cubs' fan because of the corked bat incident and his utter 🐕 💩 explanation that the bat boy brought him the wrong bat and he didn't realize it. He never did own his own mistakes, cork or steroid, and that's why even his own fans turned on him.
Hot take, in retrospect, not a fall at all. What he and Sosa and Griffey did for baseball is as valuable as anything anyone has done. I still remember the summer of 1998 as my favorite summer of baseball in my life, now 25 years later.
Same here. I’ll never forget it. I remember watch Sosa live that year playing the reds at home. Hit one in the upper deck. That’s the only one I ever seen. Mark was my favorite for years. Griffey has the best swing but marks power was awesome to watch
For someone who is recently diving into the game of baseball, I am thoroughly enjoying your videos and learning about the vast history of the sport. Keep up the great work!
I was in junior high and remember the home run race in 1997 and it was so awesome . People forgot there was a baseball strike . Mark Mcguire and Sammy Sosa brought baseball back to life .
That was a joke! It took away how special Ken Griffey Jr was he was in a league by himself and then the juice boy's showed up if you were a real baseball fan you would have not like it!
@@jamieeaton7839 just me I know . I grow up on Washington state . I remember Edgar , Jay ( t-bone ) Alex Rodriquez . Ken would have had the home run record hadn’t he broken his wrist . Unfortunately It was gonna take two juiced up guys to bring baseball back . Hate it or not .MLB wasn’t even testing for PED back then .
@@garza7676 I have to much respect for the game and the history and all the great players to give them a free pass! If wasn't for the greed we would have never had a strike in the first place. Baseball would have been fine we didn't need juice boy's to save it lol I pretty sure if they didn't take the drugs and make a joke out of the record books we would still have baseball in 2022 lol
@@jamieeaton7839 there’s cheating in every aspect of baseball . From the Houston Astros using cameras to steal pitching calls , to pitchers using foreign substance to get an advantage . This is the hill your going to die on ? Lol come on let’s admit steroids only get you half way there . You still have to hit the baseball . There’s no science that prove you become a better hitter with PED’s .
@@dylanjames3686 I guess it's really tough if you know everyone else is using it and no one is getting in trouble for it to not do it yourself but the thing that really gets to me is guys like McGwire and Barry Bonds we're Hall of Famers already bonds should never get to the Hall of Fame ever because he destroyed one of the greatest records in history by making it unattainable
I grew up around Mark and his brothers. He was a good, quiet kid. He played Basketball, Golf and Baseball in High School. I wish he never used steroids. He didn’t need them. He was always a big strong kid.
he NEEDED them to extend his career - he was washed up in Oakland. that's why they shipped him out... THEN (with some "medical help") the STL years came on like magic..... hmmmm
@@csnide6702 Talking out your ass. They "shipped" him out because Walter Haas died and the new owners needed a payroll that wasn't bleeding money. They dumped all their high prices players. 🤡
I watched him play for the Modesto A's a year before he went pro. One game he hit a monster shot over the left field fence and you could hear it smash someone's car window. The whole crowd burst into applause at the sound. - Mark still owes me $130 I had pay to replace the windshield on my '68 Volkswagen bus. Not kidding. He got my VW the same week I got my driver's license.
@@bowhunter8532 People have made up stranger for less. You'd be amazed how people will tell the most benign inconsequential stories to connect themselves with people.
I am from India. We don't even play or watch baseball here, but I love your channel and have been watching it regularly. So many interesting characters in the world of baseball.
The Commissioner knew it, the Owners knew, the Managers knew it, the players knew it and they all turned a blind eye to it. Brady Anderson is a great example 50 hrs one season and then 18 the next season.
Oddly, there’s a lot more to the Brady Anderson story. There’s actually a chance he may be a rare example of not being aided by steroids. I’d check it out. He was a health/fitness nut. Even known for it in his younger days. Players have always said you’d think steroids, but he was always ahead of the curve with physical fitness.
@@hehateme71 that could be true, not going to argue the whole he did or didn’t cause you could be right or he could have taken steroids. But if he was a huge weight and workout guy, why would he only have one season hitting above 25 homers? Just took a completely different approach at the plate that season and that season only?
The truth is, most kids born in the 90’s that grew up watching these games where all the rampant steroid use was happening, just don’t care. These players were fun and they made me love baseball, they gave me some of the greatest memories of my life
I still have tons of his baseball cards and will still be a fan. They are worthless now to collectors but are still priceless to me. My childhood involved driving to Oakland with my dad and friends watching McGwire send balls out of the park. All were great memories that will live on forever. Great time to be a kid and a sports fan. Everything was about McGwire, Jordan, Montana and of course Mike Tyson.
Invest in the "Tiffany" versions of Junk Wax era cards. They were printed in much lower runs. The 1987 Topps McGwire card is isted as $84 when it's a Grade 10 PSA. The Tiffany version is $266 for a PSA 10.
I was 10 years old during the 98’ Home Run Race. The race is what revitalized baseball from the 94’ lockout. My dad and I traveled from the east coast to catch the Cubs at Wrigley and then we drove down to St. Louis to see the Cards play. It was an incredible time. It’s sad to see Selig in the hall when he clearly benefited from steroids. It’s a shame to not see Barry, Roger, Mark, and some others in the hall.
I think Barry still has a shot with the Veterans committee but we’ll see. After the awful way the hall handled the steroid era it really doesn’t mean as much anymore, just a bunch of sportswriter moralists holding grudges while forgetting that these men saved baseball.
@Drink Your Whatever fucking THANK YOU!!! I lost all interest in baseball after that season because I knew they were juicing! There’s no reason to take any PED’s in ANY sport. If you ain’t good enough to earn it. You ain’t good enough to take it. These dudes took history away from some of the all time greats. It’s bullshit. We’re what… 24+ years later and I still have a hard time watching PLAYOFF baseball for fuck sake!
@Drink Your Whatever You’re right about that, and to this day, neither McGwire, Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds have been inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame!!!!
Glad they renamed Mark McGwire Highway to Mark Twain Highway. That said, I find it more than a little perplexing it wasn't named for Twain in the first place over McGwire. Strange to live in a country that treats athletes like Gods and its greatest writers like an afterthought.
I mean. America's greatest writers are all dead at this point. And their writings are almost mandatory for all highschools to teach at some point. So IDK about that. Nothing wrong with respecting athletes. Peak physical condition shouldn't be scoffed at if you can appreciate the art of writing. Both are an art-form that takes years to perfect. And most people will fail to make a living from it. Don't be one of those idiots scoffing at how much top athletes are paid while simultaneously praising talented actors. That's just hypocrisy.
@@SuperCatacata Don't get me started on actors. As I've often said, just about any idiot can act. I put painters, writers and musicians in a different category from actors. I never said anything about compensation. The market pays top athletes (and actors) quite well. That is fine by me so long as they pay their taxes. True artists don't "need" fame and riches...the joy of creating art is enough of a reward.
@@condor7810 Actors literally portray themselves as something they are not, in a gifted fashion. When someone deceives us, we never connect that they were just acting...just like an actor does. We also call that lying. It's confusing that actors are put on a pedestal like congressmen...I mean, they do act the same way. Perplexing how Hollywood is so involved with our government.
@@condor7810 100%. That other poster is an idiot who had a man crush on Maguire, don't mind him. Mark Twain should have been the highway namesake in the first place.
Yeah, it's not like they bring millions of dollars of revenue to the cities and states. God forbid a stretch of road gets a sign for a few years, before a bunch of jerks.burn his legacy to the ground while ignoring to other 90% of the league who also juiced. Hypocrisy, thy name is baseball fans...
Today I was at the Salvation Army and I saw the most 1998 things I’ve ever seen. They were called “Bam Beanos” and are baseball themed beanie babies. I got a purple Mark McGwire beano (as well as a Cal Ripken Jr and an Alex Rodriguez in a Santa hat bear) Needless to say that and this video make a great day 🫡
as someone from St Louis who was watching baseball while McGwire was a Cardinal we were sad to see it all go down later on, that 98 season was so hyped all year and the fact that McGwire was battling Sosa who was on the rival Cubs made it that much better, watching McGwire just slamming home runs over and over was a blast, and the MLB might have a stern stance on all of it now but back in 98 MLB was marketing the hell out of McGwire and Sosa racing for the record, MLB made a bunch of money that year because of just those 2 players
I never understood why people get so up in arms about PED use in baseball in this time period. They were all using, what difference does it make? If the league was going to let it go, wouldn't you expect the top performers to all be guys who were using? And the selective enforcement for hof eligibility- they got guys in there who definitely used, but kept out the more conspicuous examples. Pathetic.
If you honestly can’t understand why people get mad then you must be brain dead lol. I think all these guys should be in the HOF too but I’m not confused why people don’t like cheaters
Steroids are bad for your health. If you let some players use, then the other players are at a disadvantage. So your basically forcing the other players to use a substance that is bad for their health, just so they can continue to compete.
@@zenaidagrubb6646 There are TONS of things that are TECHNICALLY against the rules, but the rules are virtually never enforced, so to play the game at a high level you have to adjust to that reality……… Take traveling in the NBA You could literally call turnovers all day every day on every team in the league if you followed a very strict, by the book rules definition for traveling……. But it’s NOT strictly enforced, so you unsurprisingly see players play the game NOT by the ‘letter of the law’ but by how it is enforced (or not) And steroids in the 90s were no different Everyone knew that half the league was juicing, and it wasn’t enforced in any way, so the only way to stand out/get ahead when literally ALL the dominant hitters of your era are juicing, the ONLY way to even give yourself a chance, is to do the same thing they are 🤷🏼♂️
That summer of 98' was crazy AF! It reignited my love for baseball that hasn't faded much... I use to only watch the Braves that home run summer started having to check on other teams/get into fantasy
Our family knew the McGwire's growing up. His dad and my dad were both doctors. Mark was my dad's patient for a couple years. I played baseball with Danny McGwire and my brother played soccer with Mark. They had a big family, all boys. He was a tremendous athlete, but his social skills were very poor. He was shy around girls and didn't party at all.
McGwire was my absolute hero as a kid. Got me into baseball and weight lifting. It absolutely gutted me to see what he went through over the years with the media. I still feel bad for the guy. It is interesting that so many PED users are in the Hall now, but the ones with the most prolific stats are not.
Mark McGwire erred in his use of performance enhancing drugs, and he paid the price of not gaining entry in the HOF. Bud Selig was in charge of MLB during that era, and erred by turning a blind eye to players using performance enhancing drugs, and was awarded entry into the HOF. Selig in the HOF is wrong in my opinion.
Arrogant a**. McGwire ignored some young kids asking for autographs during pregame warmups when the Cardinals visited the Rockies in about 2002. In the meanwhile, several Rockies players gave those kids baseballs and other assorted items. My stepson was one of kids who was ignored, and while he’s still a Cardinal’s fan, he still despises McGwire.
I remember the race between McGwire and Sosa, and the rise of Bonds shortly afterwards. Never before in my life had baseball become such a centralized topic in casual conversation. You could actually argue that for those few years, it was more popular than the NFL, which is a massive statement. And with so much positive attention being drawn to Baseball because of steroid use, it's no wonder that Bud Selig and the administration tried their best to ignore it, or sweep it under the rug.
McGwire is what made me fall in love with baseball as a small kid. Because of what he did and introducing me to the game. I will always have love for the guy. I could care less he did what 80-90% of the players were doing.
I don’t want to be that person, but I think you mean you couldn’t care less. By saying you “could care less” means that on some level you do care about Marks steroid problem.
It just amazes me that American sports fans will boo Altuve & the Astros over "sign stealing" and they'll boo the Patriots over "Spygate" and "Deflategate"... But they'll give a pass to cheaters like Lance Armstrong, Mark McGwire, Julian Edelman and Deandre Hopkins because "everyone else is doing it". Americans are fucken pathetic with their double standards and with their PEDs.
Bagged his Groceries a few times back in 97' at the Marina Safeway in SF. Attempted to greet him with a "Hey how you doing Mr.Mcgwire" and he dogged me out. The Roids ;or is he just a total Prick? I'm going to take the latter.
"Those of you who are old enough to remember the '98 season..." Not only do I remember the '98 season, I remember the '89 season. I was watching with my dad when an earthquake hit San Francisco right before one of the World Series games.
Baseball was dying when McGuire, Sosa, Bonds, Palmero and a host of others started lighting up pitchers. The homerun race literally saved baseball for TV. Major League Baseball knew what was going on and turned a blind eye to it because these guys were saving their asses. They were filling seats and increasing TV viewership to where Baseball was cool again and not so damn boring. When MLB got what it needed it turned its back on the players and went after those who saved it with a vengeance. It's a sad and disgusting saga and it's one reason I have given up on Baseball and no longer watch any games and canceled my mlb TV subscriptions. Who care anymore, nownits just a bunch of overpaid whiners playing a kids game and ruining it. Are there still good ones out there? Yes, but not as many as Baseball needs. RIP.
Who cares if it was dying? And for who was it dying? For the networks? For the fans it wasn’t. MLB allowed the steroids to go on because it was threatened by the NFL. By people screaming “baseball is boring”. MLB sold its soul in the 90s and has never been the same since.
He was a monster. A major threat at the plate early in his career. The Bash Brother years.... epic seasons in St Loius. That big season with Sammy. So many great baseball moments and it was exciting... fun. Everybody loves the home run. Now... all these years later, I cant help but to think of the roids. He gave himself such a black mark on his career and legacy. Roids.
Babe Ruth once said “let’s see some sob break that record.” I think that Babe Ruth was right about that about that with McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, and Clemens.
True, MLB did nothing about it, their attitude was like, say, Go Ahead, do it, we don’t care if you get caught, we’re going to let you get away with it, and that’s exactly what happened!!!!
I lived through this as a baseball fan that every game. Bonds was the biggest face on this topic. Even Clemens was a bigger topic. And when they found out Palmero was juiced... Crazy how some fans see things differently.
I didn't even follow baseball at that time in my life (15 years old in 1998), but I was certainly tuning into ESPN every night to follow Sosa and McGwire.
I was living in St. Louis in 1998. Everyone in the city was giddy. They even got Roger Maris' kids to attend a game. I was NOT giddy. I knew what was going on and I was pissed off. I called into a radio show to complain and was cut off. Bonds and McGwire's records should have asterisks.
McGwire came clean about it. Bonds lied under oath when questioned by higher authorities(Congress) and hid from the truth, yet Mark's the bad guy? Nah, ya'll just salty McGwire tried to own up to it. Sosa dipped and Sammy flat out LIED to people
I remember this well, it pissed me off and still does that the government got involved in this..none of their business IMO, especially when the entire NFL was jacked and nobody said a word.
I remember that magical summer. Mark was my favorite player. But I could watch Sammy on a daily basis because of WGN being nationwide. I never missed a Cubs game that season after Sammy started blasting all those home runs in June. It's like he would hit a home run every time he came up to bat.
Canseco has been the ONLY honest one in telling the steroid Era story. Read his books - he pulls no punches and tells it like it was - only to get bad mouthed for it.
Him and Sammy Sosa what made me love baseball in the 90’s the way they raced to hit 70 hrs in 98 was the stuff of legends damn shame they was all on steroids
Remember when Sammy Sosa' cork bat exploded in a MLB game?? Bahaha. He said he accidentally left it in his bag. It was a practice bat. He walked away scott free
When you really look at 2 situations involving steroids, it's odd but laughable how the federal government went for the jugular when they went at WWF over steroids, but they just slapped the wrist of MLB.
Mark McGwire is a big reason, probably the biggest why I I don't make heros anymore. I sold or burnt all of the stuff I had of his. The amount of defending I did of him to Bonds fans was criminal. I am kind of glad some one broke his rookie record as that was the biggest reason I liked him anyway.
Well done man! I’m remember watching the HR race when I was a kid. I was 6. Baseball seemed larger than life. McGuire, Sosa, Canseco, Ken Griffey Jr. Palmerio, Bonds, A-Rod, Gonzalez, Vaughn, Belle…bro it’s insane to think that actually happened. And it was the best time to be a Yankees Fan..World Series in 96’, 98’, 99’, 00’. Crazy stuff. Maris still has the record 61 as of now….
Mark Langston was a starting pitcher, not a reliever. I even checked if this was a one-time thing or something and his 1988 stats - 35 games, 35 games started.
I still remember the Sportscenter coverage in that 98’ season: “And McGwirrrrre…GAWT EEEEMM. 485 foot bomb! His 53rd on the year!” He looked like a Terminator armed with a Louisville slugger. And I remember many people for a moment wanted Sosa to have the HR crown since it hadn’t come out yet that he was also using PEDs.
@@agoo7581 everyone says it's a children's game, but go back to the start and it's grown men smoking cigars, drinking, chewing tobacco. All little league is the incubation in the farm system that grows the next generation of replacement players to keep a billion dollar business stocked with fan drawers. It's hardly a kids game. It's an adult buisness and has always been one.
How is it cheating when there's no rules against it? Cheating means breaking the rules set by the heads of the sport, no rule, no cheat. The real cheat is the current home run "record holder" who blatantly violated the new rules that were implemented as a direct result of this Home Run derby season.
Bonds stopped using at the same time everyone else did. The difference between him and the others was that he was still the best hitter in the game with or without steroids. There's no way anyone can say he continued usage after the ban when he was literally used as the scape goat, would have been caught red handed with all the testing the rest of his career, and would have been banned from the sport for life. Bonds is still the best hitter to ever play the game in my eyes, and is still king.
the part that is most absurd is that the Hall of Fame voters knew and ignored the steroid use while McGwire and Sosa brought their subject back to life in 1998.
@@falcon1378 Sosa and McGwire saved baseball before Bonds had his career moments. They were likable and fans loved them. Bonds… not so much even at the time.
I appreciate you putting this together. I'm a lifelong Cubs fan, and that '98 season was more exciting than I can put into words. In fact, my brother and I got to go to a Cardinals/Cubs game in the middle of that homerun chase. It was in St. Louis, we sat in right field (so Sammy Sosa was in front of us), and in that game we got to see Sosa hit 1 homerun and McGwire hit 2. On top of that, the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the 9th for a VERY dramatic comeback. I was disappointed that my Cubs lost, but you couldn't ask for a more exciting baseball game to see in person. It was amazing! Then later I found out both of them had cheated. It completely took away the magic of it all.
no one came here to find out which team you are afan of, no one cares in the elast that you and your brother got to go to a certain game... this isn't the "LEt's talk all about Josh" channel it isn't remotely interesting to anyone but you
@@slowery43 "Love your neighbor as yourself." - Jesus "Do to others what you want them to do to you." - Jesus "Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is useful for building others up according to their needs." - Jesus
This time period saved baseball and brought it back to life ! Cheating has been going on all along . Growth hormone , fans in stadium blowing in out to affect ball travel on fly balls . Trash can thumping , drones stealing signs, pitchers with emery boards , Vaseline , sand paper , etc . It was a great time and was exciting to watch .
I remember that hearing like it just happened. It was opening day of March Madness, and I didn't bother to watch a single dribble while that hearing was going on. I even watched George Mitchell's testimony.
The Bash Brothers were what made me love baseball as a kid. I thought the Star Spangled Banner started with "Jose can you see" instead of "Oh say can you see". I am not joking. I actually thought that lol.
Took my kids to a Cardinals game at Wrigley Field that summer. McGuire hit home runs number 48 and 49 and Sosa hit home run number 48. It was pretty cool to see them going Head to Head like that
@@pmcclaren1 You think my 8 and 9-year-old Sons gave a shit? They got to see a game that was part of one of the most historic home run chases of all time in one of the most iconic ballparks in baseball. During that rivalry at that time both players were using performance enhancing substances. Neither one had an advantage over the other so, technically, they weren't cheating were they? My kids never had to cheat to become successful. My father of the year award came from teaching my kids to treat all people with dignity and respect, to be kind and have empathy for others, and to take responsibility for their actions. I deserve an award for raising my kids to not be greedy, selfish, ignorant people. In other words, Republicans. I wonder if you have the same criticism for people who took their kids to go see the New England Patriots play football.
@@charlesandrews2360 I do commend you for teaching your kids with dignity and respect. Thank you for admonishing me. I am aware of my failures. I have hurt you and am truly sorry. It will not happen again. I am glad the LORD has so blessed you with 2 wonderful sons.
@@pmcclaren1 Don't be too hard on yourself. Another thing I taught my children, and many other young people who I have mentored over the years, is that it's important for us to learn how to forgive ourselves and not get mired down dwelling on poor decisions, missed opportunities and stupid, hurtful comments. You don't need my forgiveness for hurting my feelings. If you are truly sorry you have my permission to forgive yourself but that also means that you won't do that anymore. We're good. You can get on with your life now.
@@charlesandrews2360 Thank you Mr Charles for your continuing kind words. I have been really struggling lately with self-forgiveness for past sins. Your words are very encouraging. GOD bless you and family, sir. I will now carry on.
Honestly when him and sosa were going at it and everyone was all juiced up it was hands down the best time for baseball i don’t care what anyone says baseball was fun!!!
Andro is not even a steroid. It's a completely natural substance. Steroids are a very different thing. Today athletes take HGH (Human growth hormones) which are easily masked by test. Andro was taken with milkshakes by many athletes and still is. Unlike steroids one can by Andro at a health food store...it didn't magically make McGwire a home run hitter.
@@vinrusso821 buddy he was on more then andro and so was other players. I’m not saying that that’s the only reason he was good but take bonds he went from maybe HOF to maybe the best ever so if your saying it doesn’t effect their ability witch I hope that’s not what ur saying, u have no clue what ur talking about and by the way i was just saying I liked when it was the steroid era I wasn’t making a statement about anything other then that so
At least the physical decrepitude of old NFL players can usually be connected with their role in a team effort. When these guys wee-wees fall off, or bones just snap, or all joints utterly fail while they are still in their 60s, it will be their own fault.
Mark McGwire is a legend and should be in the hall of fame. I don’t give a shit about the steroids. MLB was juicing the ball in the 90’s which he more of an effect than steroids As a rookie he hit 49 homers pre steroids breaking the rookie record by 30% He always had the power steroids were because he was afraid of losing his career to injuries He should be lauded for his contributions to reviving baseball. Bud Selig turned a blind eye to steroids He’s in the hall of fame. Put Mark and Sammy in now
Loved McGwire!! If there was any player that I wanted to see break Maris' record it was him and he still one of my favorite home run hitter ever. Should he be in the Hall? NO! Now I will say there are probably a few players in the Hall that most likely took roids at some point in their career. Roids just don't make you big...depends how you train on them. lol Hated the A's since I was a Rangers fan but always loved watching McGwire at bat...but not as much as I loved seeing Nolan Ryan make him look like a fool. lol
As I sit here and lovingly gaze at my Mark McGwire Wheaties box, and bobblehead.... I want to continue to beat this team of dead horses, by saying, steroids don't make a baseball any easier to hit. You can juice up anyone you want, and put them up against a major league pitcher, and they'd be lucky to foul one off. Secondly, Mac and Sammy saved baseball, and probably caused my own obsession with it, at least partially. The man was my hero at that time, and I get a warm nostalgic hug every time I think about that season. My mind won't ever change that it was a spectacular experience, and it saved baseball as we know it. I will die upon this mole hill.
Still one of my favorite players. Top 5 cardinal. I lived in STL during the 98 season. We cared more about the home run race than the playoffs or world series. It was great.
You cared more about a individual then your team winning games man that is sad. The objective is to win games & records fall as they happen & Championships are won, not a person who hit the ball 500 feet. How many kids today go to that relatives house hey I hit a HR today but we lost???? It’s about winning games Best record in baseball Pete Rose played in 1,972 winning baseball games by far the most.
He wasn't fun to watch if you were a fan of pitching like me (probably because I never could hit). A pitcher would make McGuire pop up but the ball would end up in the seats; that's how strong he was. Bonds was even worse because he didn't pop up, he hit liners off of good pitches that went into San Francisco Bay.
I bought a ton a McGuire memorabilia in 1998. I had his rookie card in 1991 and still do. I sometimes wonder what all of these items would be worth today had someone just did the world a favor and had Canseco disappear. How the ball bouncing off his head in right field didn’t do the trick just baffles and angers me. All joking aside, That summer of 1998 was as exciting of a baseball season as I have ever seen. I remember seeing, many times, channels switch over to the ball game when one or both was at bat.
Steroids really helped McGwire with injury avoidance more than anything. Early in his career he was always injured, and the steroids helped him recover and weather the beating of playing games everyday. Think about it-when he was a skinny rookie he hit 49 home runs. The part he was missing without steroids was the ability to show up everyday.
I was a huge A's fan. One thing I remember about McGuire is that he was always on the injured reserve list because his big toe hurt. He also couldn't hit anything in the playoffs at least not for the A's.
I feel bad for Mark. Being a kid born in the first half of the 90s, being so young it was exciting to watch baseball and see everyone else so excited for the HR race. Everyone knows other guys were juicing back then, and it seems like the backlash was disproportionately worse for Mark just because he was at the pinnacle of the game. He will always be a legend and a hall of fame talent to me.
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Lyc nzam
I assume the 70th HR ball also lost value when Bonds passed it. So that might be correlation and not causation.
McGwire and roid era ruined baseball for entire generation. F$*k him
Wasn’t no tragedy he was a steroid cheat!
Please... for the love of god.... can you do a video on the MLB Doubles in a Season record? The most underrated and overlooked impossible(yet very possible) to break record in baseball? Sure, DiMaggio, DiMaggio 56, whatever. Triples record? Impossible. The DOUBLES record is amazing and never talked about, rarely approached, and even a Colorado Rockie hasn't done it. You don't even know, offhand, who has it, do you?
That 98 home run chase had an impact on another player: Bonds. That season, Bonds was aiming to become the best all-around baseball player, and had it been any other season, he would've been recognized for his amazing stats: .303 avg, 167 hits, 37 HR, 122 RBI, 44 doubles, 28 stolen bases, 1.047 OPS. Instead, he was relegated to an afterthought. When he realized that home runs were all people cared about, Bonds decided to juice up as well.
200%
Bonds was already juicing at that point. It takes a lot of time to completely transform a body and 1998 Barry Bonds was already transformed...it was just a work in progress.
@@Chupacvabra This is true. People tend to think of PEDs as an immediate thing, like Popeye's spinache, or Super Mario's magic mushroom... Juicing has to be done in regular cycles, and you have to work out on top of it to get the gains. Barry didn't just show up on the gas one day.
@@Danielson1818 From your post, I'm assuming you know exactly how steroids work, which is why I'm going to ask you this: Why did Canseco once bragged that he had built up so much muscle without actually working out?
I watched Ken Burns' Baseball too
the funniest part is that Jose Canseco was absolutely truthful when he called out everyone who it was later proven were all on steroids
They never proved Ricky Henderson.
@@JoeBloww762 I don't believe Rickey Henderson needed it, he was an unbelievable athlete
Rickey Henderson and Nolan Ryan were both on it.
@@douglas69ification Nolan Ryan is a cattle rancher. I’ve worked with a bunch of guy’s that have worked on farms, and they are built different. Extremely tough and intelligent. No one from Alvin, Texas is on any drugs that will benefit them. Lol
Rickey is also just one of those guy’s that grow up with rare talent.
@Mockingslur lol okay dude. He was a farmer so he COULDN'T of been on roids. But then again, most farmers would be known for incest. So maybe fuckin ur sister does the same for your body as roids? Idk, ur a farmer, why don't u tell us. Does fuckin ur sister make u strong? See I don't have a sister so I'd have to use roids like a normal, non incest non ass backwards kinda man.
McGwire was badly counseled, he should have used the chance for testimony before Congress to redirect what was happenning to MLB and instead of ending up as the fall guy he should have emphasized that what he was taking was not illegal while he played.
He was never the fall guy.
@@brianporter447He has been, and always will be, unless he is elected to the HOF, he should have had a plaque already.
The real Fall Guy was Barry bonds. That guy was two times the player that McGuire ever thought he was. bonds before 1998, was outperforming in nearly every statistical category, what Mark McGwire was doing. The difference was, Mark was on steroids the entire time, and still couldn't keep up with Barry bonds.... Until 1998...
Then Barry bonds got so jealous of Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire getting all the attention, although they were way less skilled than he was, that he started juicing up to hit home runs himself. For all the home run abilities of Mark McGwire, he was not feared anywhere near as much as Barry bonds. He wasn't walked 200 times a season. He wasn't intentionally walked over 60 times a season. That is real power! That is real skill...
@@paysonfox88 bonds was on steroids much longer than you think. He was on flak seed oil. Which had steroids in it. He just didn't want to admit it.
@@paysonfox88 Hi Barry
I remember the homerun race vividly. But what I also remember is Ken Griffey Jr hitting 56 HR twice in a clean fashion. Baseball in the 90s was wild.
Necessary clarification: His 49 HR's were the rookie record at the time. Pete Alonso broke it in 2019 with 53, also making him the only rookie to lead MLB in that category.
Judge broke the record in 2017 before Alonso did. Just saying…
So Alfonso is juicing too?
In how many games?
@@brianporter447 they may all be juicing it wouldn’t surprise me!
pete did it drug free that’s the big difference
These were my baseball years.... i loved all these guys... collected their cards. Its kind of depressing to see it all burned down by scandal.
@Shannon Waterhouse who cares! just enjoy the game. You sound so dramatic dude.
I collected during the 70's and love those players still. There r controversies also, such as cocaine and other drugs. All those things will never blemish the memory of Larry Bowa's Grand Slam HR at The Vet with Pete Rose on The Reds at third, stunned by the event.
Yeah ruined the game for me ….
I feel like a part of my youth has been stolen from me.
Steroids didn’t hit those home runs; they aren’t magic. People are such babies about the Steroid Era. It was the finest age of baseball yet
I was 8 years old in 1998. The McGwire/Sosa home run race was incredible phenomenon to watch. I also moved to San Diego that same year when they went on to the World Series. It was a pretty incredible
I attended the clinching WS game in SanDiego 1998.
In attendance, front row 3b side next to the dugout and garnering much attention was none other than Mr Mac himself
It’s a sin him and Sammy are treated the way they are. They single handedly saved baseball in one summer. They made Leyman into fans, they made fans into fanatics and made fanatics into loving their baseball team’s rival. It was the most exciting baseball season ever
Yeah. And did you miss the part that is was all a big lie? A fake and a coverup?
They didn’t save baseball. Baseball fanatics like a precise hit and run or a well executed cut off assist. Home runs are cool. But a base clearing triple is more exciting. A strike em out throw out to end the inning. A pick off play or sac bunt to move the runner to third is what baseball is all about. Not two guys that cheated baseball and themselves.
My guess is you're either from Chicago or St. Louis. It's the same with Barry Bonds fanboys -- all of them just happen to live in the Bay Area.
@@larrydanadavid2435 you’re right. No one ever followed box scores everyday. Let’s put it to a gentleman’s test-find a fair weather baseball fan over the age of 40 and ask them to fire off how great Bonds, Griffey Jr, Luis Gonzalez, the killer B’s, Ken Caminiti faired when McGwire and Sosa during the ‘98 season. Unless they were a die hard fan of those players’ team they can give you coherent answer
@@larrydanadavid2435 fanatics are ideologues but won’t bring in the dollars-the general public does. So yes an exciting summer after after many dragging years and a strike worked. Just as second tier lesser known Marvel characters like daredevil or punisher or a weird ass Hulk by a king fu director can’t launch a franchise. You need big exciting likable characters like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor
Of all the infamous steroid users, Mark McGwire is essentially the only one to have a redemption arc through his later career as a hitting coach (and of course by actually admitting to whole steroid thing)
Barry Bonds remains persona non grata, Rafael Palmeiro waved his infamous finger, Roger Clemens has never been the most personable guy, A-rod is has been and likely always will be an A-tier diva, and nobody ever liked Jose Canseco; even the formerly beloved Slammin' Sammy Sosa became increasingly surly to the public, alienating his way out of the hearts of Cubs fans and eventually from major league minds altogether
The only other infamous steroid user who remains well-liked is Jason Giambi, but outside of the BALCO years he's always been a well-liked figure anyways and the health complications he suffered probably lent him more sympathy
Jason Giambi definitely is more forgiving. After all he was in the Yankees all timers day game a couple of times. Plus he is more likeable than A-rod and Bonds
Honestly Sosa fell out of grace with this Cubs' fan because of the corked bat incident and his utter 🐕 💩 explanation that the bat boy brought him the wrong bat and he didn't realize it. He never did own his own mistakes, cork or steroid, and that's why even his own fans turned on him.
@@dustinglasier6417 I have to be honest him admittedly bleaching his skin did not help ppls perception of him either
@@Flowerz__ he looks creepy as hell
FUCK A-ROID
Sincerely,
Lifelong Mariners fan
Hot take, in retrospect, not a fall at all. What he and Sosa and Griffey did for baseball is as valuable as anything anyone has done. I still remember the summer of 1998 as my favorite summer of baseball in my life, now 25 years later.
Same here. I’ll never forget it. I remember watch Sosa live that year playing the reds at home. Hit one in the upper deck. That’s the only one I ever seen. Mark was my favorite for years. Griffey has the best swing but marks power was awesome to watch
For someone who is recently diving into the game of baseball, I am thoroughly enjoying your videos and learning about the vast history of the sport. Keep up the great work!
Watch Ken Burns' Baseball. It's something like 26 hours long in total but the stories in there are amazing.
LOL, get a life. Baseball is a huge money scam.
@@soisaidtogod4248 What a dumbass comment!
@@soisaidtogod4248 lol get a life he says, you're here on a baseball comments thread trashing baseball, looks like it's you that needs a hobby.
If Selig is in Hall then the players from the steroids era should be
I was in junior high and remember the home run race in 1997 and it was so awesome . People forgot there was a baseball strike . Mark Mcguire and Sammy Sosa brought baseball back to life .
Steroids were great and everyone knew they were on them.
That was a joke! It took away how special Ken Griffey Jr was he was in a league by himself and then the juice boy's showed up if you were a real baseball fan you would have not like it!
@@jamieeaton7839 just me I know . I grow up on Washington state . I remember Edgar , Jay ( t-bone ) Alex Rodriquez . Ken would have had the home run record hadn’t he broken his wrist . Unfortunately It was gonna take two juiced up guys to bring baseball back . Hate it or not .MLB wasn’t even testing for PED back then .
@@garza7676 I have to much respect for the game and the history and all the great players to give them a free pass!
If wasn't for the greed we would have never had a strike in the first place. Baseball would have been fine we didn't need juice boy's to save it lol I pretty sure if they didn't take the drugs and make a joke out of the record books we would still have baseball in 2022 lol
@@jamieeaton7839 there’s cheating in every aspect of baseball . From the Houston Astros using cameras to steal pitching calls , to pitchers using foreign substance to get an advantage . This is the hill your going to die on ? Lol come on let’s admit steroids only get you half way there . You still have to hit the baseball . There’s no science that prove you become a better hitter with PED’s .
It's kinda funny how a cartoonishly juiced up man would just dodge questions about steroid use and nobody would bat an eye
You bat the ball. 🤔
You dont know what it takes to win.
@@dylanjames3686 I guess it's really tough if you know everyone else is using it and no one is getting in trouble for it to not do it yourself but the thing that really gets to me is guys like McGwire and Barry Bonds we're Hall of Famers already bonds should never get to the Hall of Fame ever because he destroyed one of the greatest records in history by making it unattainable
@@luvmenow33 99% of pro athletes juice. They know how to beat the system.
Mac made baseball exciting. He put butts and baseballs in those seats. Home runs means ticket sales. MLB isn’t going to interrupt that.
I grew up around Mark and his brothers. He was a good, quiet kid. He played Basketball, Golf and Baseball in High School.
I wish he never used steroids. He didn’t need them. He was always a big strong kid.
he NEEDED them to extend his career - he was washed up in Oakland. that's why they shipped him out... THEN (with some "medical help") the STL years came on like magic..... hmmmm
@@csnide6702 Talking out your ass. They "shipped" him out because Walter Haas died and the new owners needed a payroll that wasn't bleeding money. They dumped all their high prices players. 🤡
Why does no one ever talk about mark? Thank you!
I watched him play for the Modesto A's a year before he went pro. One game he hit a monster shot over the left field fence and you could hear it smash someone's car window. The whole crowd burst into applause at the sound. - Mark still owes me $130 I had pay to replace the windshield on my '68 Volkswagen bus. Not kidding. He got my VW the same week I got my driver's license.
You still got that bus? They worth a small fortune now
@@vanillagorilla6091 - I sold it in 1992 and regret it to this day.
Source-“I made it up.”
@@just4justincase LOL. That would be a hell of a thing to make up....
@@bowhunter8532 People have made up stranger for less. You'd be amazed how people will tell the most benign inconsequential stories to connect themselves with people.
That last part, renaming Mark McGwire Highway to Mark Twain Highway was the biggest slap on the balls imo!
I am from India. We don't even play or watch baseball here, but I love your channel and have been watching it regularly. So many interesting characters in the world of baseball.
What about the "Million Dollar Arm"?
@@kendallevans4079 too much curruy
The Commissioner knew it, the Owners knew, the Managers knew it, the players knew it and they all turned a blind eye to it. Brady Anderson is a great example 50 hrs one season and then 18 the next season.
Anderson only hit 50 but yes he’s a great example
Brett Boone is another example. The Mariners 2nd baseman went from like a 15-20 HR guy to like around 40 one year lol
Oddly, there’s a lot more to the Brady Anderson story. There’s actually a chance he may be a rare example of not being aided by steroids. I’d check it out. He was a health/fitness nut. Even known for it in his younger days. Players have always said you’d think steroids, but he was always ahead of the curve with physical fitness.
@@hehateme71 that could be true, not going to argue the whole he did or didn’t cause you could be right or he could have taken steroids. But if he was a huge weight and workout guy, why would he only have one season hitting above 25 homers? Just took a completely different approach at the plate that season and that season only?
@@hehateme71 I note Brady Anderson when talking Cardinals giving Tyler O’Neal a shot to pop off a 50HR season. TON is a breast with a GG.
The truth is, most kids born in the 90’s that grew up watching these games where all the rampant steroid use was happening, just don’t care. These players were fun and they made me love baseball, they gave me some of the greatest memories of my life
Not only that, the men running baseball at the time didn't care until Congress got involved
I still have tons of his baseball cards and will still be a fan. They are worthless now to collectors but are still priceless to me. My childhood involved driving to Oakland with my dad and friends watching McGwire send balls out of the park. All were great memories that will live on forever. Great time to be a kid and a sports fan. Everything was about McGwire, Jordan, Montana and of course Mike Tyson.
Same..to Baseball fans like us..the game is everything
Couldn't have said it better myself. Good times man, good times..
Invest in the "Tiffany" versions of Junk Wax era cards. They were printed in much lower runs. The 1987 Topps McGwire card is isted as $84 when it's a Grade 10 PSA. The Tiffany version is $266 for a PSA 10.
It's kind of hilarious how guys like McGwire and Bonds went from being scrawny and lanky to looking like they should be in the freaking WWE.
I was 10 years old during the 98’ Home Run Race. The race is what revitalized baseball from the 94’ lockout. My dad and I traveled from the east coast to catch the Cubs at Wrigley and then we drove down to St. Louis to see the Cards play. It was an incredible time.
It’s sad to see Selig in the hall when he clearly benefited from steroids. It’s a shame to not see Barry, Roger, Mark, and some others in the hall.
Wrong all 3 cheated.Thats why they will never get in.Good.
I think Barry still has a shot with the Veterans committee but we’ll see. After the awful way the hall handled the steroid era it really doesn’t mean as much anymore, just a bunch of sportswriter moralists holding grudges while forgetting that these men saved baseball.
@@nervousordo maybe u should stick to uploading awful youtube videos instead of trying to find a reason for why ur life sucks
@Drink Your Whatever fucking THANK YOU!!! I lost all interest in baseball after that season because I knew they were juicing! There’s no reason to take any PED’s in ANY sport. If you ain’t good enough to earn it. You ain’t good enough to take it. These dudes took history away from some of the all time greats. It’s bullshit. We’re what… 24+ years later and I still have a hard time watching PLAYOFF baseball for fuck sake!
@Drink Your Whatever You’re right about that, and to this day, neither McGwire, Sosa, Clemens, and Bonds have been inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame!!!!
Glad they renamed Mark McGwire Highway to Mark Twain Highway. That said, I find it more than a little perplexing it wasn't named for Twain in the first place over McGwire. Strange to live in a country that treats athletes like Gods and its greatest writers like an afterthought.
I mean. America's greatest writers are all dead at this point.
And their writings are almost mandatory for all highschools to teach at some point. So IDK about that.
Nothing wrong with respecting athletes. Peak physical condition shouldn't be scoffed at if you can appreciate the art of writing.
Both are an art-form that takes years to perfect. And most people will fail to make a living from it.
Don't be one of those idiots scoffing at how much top athletes are paid while simultaneously praising talented actors. That's just hypocrisy.
@@SuperCatacata Don't get me started on actors. As I've often said, just about any idiot can act. I put painters, writers and musicians in a different category from actors. I never said anything about compensation. The market pays top athletes (and actors) quite well. That is fine by me so long as they pay their taxes. True artists don't "need" fame and riches...the joy of creating art is enough of a reward.
@@condor7810 Actors literally portray themselves as something they are not, in a gifted fashion. When someone deceives us, we never connect that they were just acting...just like an actor does. We also call that lying.
It's confusing that actors are put on a pedestal like congressmen...I mean, they do act the same way. Perplexing how Hollywood is so involved with our government.
@@condor7810 100%. That other poster is an idiot who had a man crush on Maguire, don't mind him. Mark Twain should have been the highway namesake in the first place.
Yeah, it's not like they bring millions of dollars of revenue to the cities and states. God forbid a stretch of road gets a sign for a few years, before a bunch of jerks.burn his legacy to the ground while ignoring to other 90% of the league who also juiced. Hypocrisy, thy name is baseball fans...
Today I was at the Salvation Army and I saw the most 1998 things I’ve ever seen. They were called “Bam Beanos” and are baseball themed beanie babies. I got a purple Mark McGwire beano (as well as a Cal Ripken Jr and an Alex Rodriguez in a Santa hat bear)
Needless to say that and this video make a great day 🫡
as someone from St Louis who was watching baseball while McGwire was a Cardinal we were sad to see it all go down later on, that 98 season was so hyped all year and the fact that McGwire was battling Sosa who was on the rival Cubs made it that much better, watching McGwire just slamming home runs over and over was a blast, and the MLB might have a stern stance on all of it now but back in 98 MLB was marketing the hell out of McGwire and Sosa racing for the record, MLB made a bunch of money that year because of just those 2 players
I just found this channel, your voice sounds so similar to The Gaming Historian, same person? Great video!
Let's not forget Palmeiro embarrassing himself and Sosa forgetting how to speak English. LOL
I never understood why people get so up in arms about PED use in baseball in this time period. They were all using, what difference does it make? If the league was going to let it go, wouldn't you expect the top performers to all be guys who were using? And the selective enforcement for hof eligibility- they got guys in there who definitely used, but kept out the more conspicuous examples. Pathetic.
Not everyone was using, and because it's cheating.
If you honestly can’t understand why people get mad then you must be brain dead lol. I think all these guys should be in the HOF too but I’m not confused why people don’t like cheaters
Steroids are bad for your health. If you let some players use, then the other players are at a disadvantage. So your basically forcing the other players to use a substance that is bad for their health, just so they can continue to compete.
@@zenaidagrubb6646 It wasn't against the rules in the 90s
@@zenaidagrubb6646 There are TONS of things that are TECHNICALLY against the rules, but the rules are virtually never enforced, so to play the game at a high level you have to adjust to that reality………
Take traveling in the NBA
You could literally call turnovers all day every day on every team in the league if you followed a very strict, by the book rules definition for traveling……. But it’s NOT strictly enforced, so you unsurprisingly see players play the game NOT by the ‘letter of the law’ but by how it is enforced (or not)
And steroids in the 90s were no different
Everyone knew that half the league was juicing, and it wasn’t enforced in any way, so the only way to stand out/get ahead when literally ALL the dominant hitters of your era are juicing, the ONLY way to even give yourself a chance, is to do the same thing they are 🤷🏼♂️
That summer of 98' was crazy AF! It reignited my love for baseball that hasn't faded much... I use to only watch the Braves that home run summer started having to check on other teams/get into fantasy
Our family knew the McGwire's growing up. His dad and my dad were both doctors. Mark was my dad's patient for a couple years. I played baseball with Danny McGwire and my brother played soccer with Mark. They had a big family, all boys. He was a tremendous athlete, but his social skills were very poor. He was shy around girls and didn't party at all.
Big Ole Irish family
Whats your dad’s name?
@@SammySnead Not here, dude. Provide a separate email.
Dan was a QB at San Diego st.
@@All-Inn-Fun He also had one forgettable season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Ironic that Jose Canseco comes out of all of this as the man with honor.
McGwire was my absolute hero as a kid. Got me into baseball and weight lifting. It absolutely gutted me to see what he went through over the years with the media. I still feel bad for the guy. It is interesting that so many PED users are in the Hall now, but the ones with the most prolific stats are not.
I'm sorry you missed the 1998 season and 90's baseball in general. The game was so much more exciting back then.
Im so old, I remember when Sammy Sosa was black.
Bonds hitting 73 just a couple of seasons later really made this whole era a joke
Mark McGwire erred in his use of performance enhancing drugs, and he paid the price of not gaining entry in the HOF.
Bud Selig was in charge of MLB during that era, and erred by turning a blind eye to players using performance enhancing drugs, and was awarded entry into the HOF. Selig in the HOF is wrong in my opinion.
Why should Selig be in the HOF for any reason?
@@6699230 I was wondering the same thing!!!
Arrogant a**. McGwire ignored some young kids asking for autographs during pregame warmups when the Cardinals visited the Rockies in about 2002. In the meanwhile, several Rockies players gave those kids baseballs and other assorted items. My stepson was one of kids who was ignored, and while he’s still a Cardinal’s fan, he still despises McGwire.
I remember the race between McGwire and Sosa, and the rise of Bonds shortly afterwards. Never before in my life had baseball become such a centralized topic in casual conversation. You could actually argue that for those few years, it was more popular than the NFL, which is a massive statement. And with so much positive attention being drawn to Baseball because of steroid use, it's no wonder that Bud Selig and the administration tried their best to ignore it, or sweep it under the rug.
It wasn’t just Selig. Everyone knew … but no one wanted to believe. A season long HR derby was too good to ruin with reality.
I was always partial to Griffey myself. Hate all the injuries but inhis prime he was amazing. Still proud to support him.
Why? All 🦵
McGwire is what made me fall in love with baseball as a small kid. Because of what he did and introducing me to the game. I will always have love for the guy. I could care less he did what 80-90% of the players were doing.
I don’t want to be that person, but I think you mean you couldn’t care less. By saying you “could care less” means that on some level you do care about Marks steroid problem.
It just amazes me that American sports fans will boo Altuve & the Astros over "sign stealing" and they'll boo the Patriots over "Spygate" and "Deflategate"... But they'll give a pass to cheaters like Lance Armstrong, Mark McGwire, Julian Edelman and Deandre Hopkins because "everyone else is doing it". Americans are fucken pathetic with their double standards and with their PEDs.
Bagged his Groceries a few times back in 97' at the Marina Safeway in SF.
Attempted to greet him with a "Hey how you doing Mr.Mcgwire" and he dogged me out.
The Roids ;or is he just a total Prick?
I'm going to take the latter.
I was so disappointed when I found out it was all a lie...
"Those of you who are old enough to remember the '98 season..."
Not only do I remember the '98 season, I remember the '89 season. I was watching with my dad when an earthquake hit San Francisco right before one of the World Series games.
Pretty much all of McGwire's answers to Congress' questions were "I'm not here to talk about the past" It was a pathetic performance.
You’re right about that, and to this day, he has never been Inducted into the Baseball Hall Of Fame!!!!
McGuire, Canseco, Sosa and Bonds, as well as others, will never ever sniff the Hall of Fame. Maybe the Hall if Shame?
Baseball was dying when McGuire, Sosa, Bonds, Palmero and a host of others started lighting up pitchers. The homerun race literally saved baseball for TV. Major League Baseball knew what was going on and turned a blind eye to it because these guys were saving their asses. They were filling seats and increasing TV viewership to where Baseball was cool again and not so damn boring. When MLB got what it needed it turned its back on the players and went after those who saved it with a vengeance. It's a sad and disgusting saga and it's one reason I have given up on Baseball and no longer watch any games and canceled my mlb TV subscriptions. Who care anymore, nownits just a bunch of overpaid whiners playing a kids game and ruining it. Are there still good ones out there? Yes, but not as many as Baseball needs. RIP.
Funny thing is it's still dying
Who cares if it was dying? And for who was it dying? For the networks? For the fans it wasn’t. MLB allowed the steroids to go on because it was threatened by the NFL. By people screaming “baseball is boring”.
MLB sold its soul in the 90s and has never been the same since.
I have a mark Mcgwire Christmas ornament I got from my grandpa as a child. I don't watch baseball but it's still my favorite ornament.
RIP Grandpa
He was a monster. A major threat at the plate early in his career. The Bash Brother years.... epic seasons in St Loius. That big season with Sammy. So many great baseball moments and it was exciting... fun. Everybody loves the home run. Now... all these years later, I cant help but to think of the roids. He gave himself such a black mark on his career and legacy. Roids.
Babe Ruth once said “let’s see some sob break that record.” I think that Babe Ruth was right about that about that with McGwire, Sosa, Bonds, and Clemens.
The worst part I remember is how he had the widow Roger Maris and their kid's following him all over the country during this thing. Disgusting.
True!!!
I still remember that season. So crazy. Everyone new he was on steroids but nobody made a big deal until it was too late.
True, MLB did nothing about it, their attitude was like, say, Go Ahead, do it, we don’t care if you get caught, we’re going to let you get away with it, and that’s exactly what happened!!!!
That’s how all pro leagues are. And any good college programs.
I lived through this as a baseball fan that every game. Bonds was the biggest face on this topic. Even Clemens was a bigger topic. And when they found out Palmero was juiced... Crazy how some fans see things differently.
What changed with Palmero?
I didn't even follow baseball at that time in my life (15 years old in 1998), but I was certainly tuning into ESPN every night to follow Sosa and McGwire.
I was living in St. Louis in 1998. Everyone in the city was giddy. They even got Roger Maris' kids to attend a game. I was NOT giddy. I knew what was going on and I was pissed off. I called into a radio show to complain and was cut off. Bonds and McGwire's records should have asterisks.
McGwire came clean about it. Bonds lied under oath when questioned by higher authorities(Congress) and hid from the truth, yet Mark's the bad guy?
Nah, ya'll just salty McGwire tried to own up to it. Sosa dipped and Sammy flat out LIED to people
They shouldn't have asterisks... they shouldn't be records... period. It's called cheating.
I remember this well, it pissed me off and still does that the government got involved in this..none of their business IMO, especially when the entire NFL was jacked and nobody said a word.
That book changed baseball forever
Thank you Jose Canseco and Tim Donaghy
Really silly that Bonds, Clemens, Sosa & McGwire aren't in the baseball Hall of Fame. And Bud Selling is.
I remember that magical summer. Mark was my favorite player. But I could watch Sammy on a daily basis because of WGN being nationwide. I never missed a Cubs game that season after Sammy started blasting all those home runs in June. It's like he would hit a home run every time he came up to bat.
Super work. A pleasure to watch.
Canseco strikes me as one of those guys you're friendly to in groups, but when it's just you two, you really don't have anything to talk about
He comes off as bitter
Canseco has been the ONLY honest one in telling the steroid Era story. Read his books - he pulls no punches and tells it like it was - only to get bad mouthed for it.
Perhaps that's an indictment on you ....
@@isaacwojo3273 why shouldn't he be --- he was blackballed once MLB saw he was going to make 500 HRs and the Hall of Fame.
@@csnide6702 Like him or not, to your point, Canseco's story has never changed. He's a no bullshit honest guy.
I grew up in the Bay Area. That 88 A’s team was so awesome that also included 2 other Oakland legends in Dave Stewart and Dennis Eckersley.
Oh man, and RICKY!
Him and Sammy Sosa what made me love baseball in the 90’s the way they raced to hit 70 hrs in 98 was the stuff of legends damn shame they was all on steroids
Maybe spend less time wathcing baseball and posting and more time reading a 2nd grade English writing book.. ugh
@@slowery43 LMFAO
@Shannon Waterhouse he needs to take his own advice your right wudda hypocrite 🤣🤣
Remember when Sammy Sosa' cork bat exploded in a MLB game?? Bahaha.
He said he accidentally left it in his bag. It was a practice bat. He walked away scott free
I remember that too !
When you really look at 2 situations involving steroids, it's odd but laughable how the federal government went for the jugular when they went at WWF over steroids, but they just slapped the wrist of MLB.
Mark McGwire is a big reason, probably the biggest why I I don't make heros anymore. I sold or burnt all of the stuff I had of his. The amount of defending I did of him to Bonds fans was criminal. I am kind of glad some one broke his rookie record as that was the biggest reason I liked him anyway.
Well done man! I’m remember watching the HR race when I was a kid. I was 6. Baseball seemed larger than life. McGuire, Sosa, Canseco, Ken Griffey Jr. Palmerio, Bonds, A-Rod, Gonzalez, Vaughn, Belle…bro it’s insane to think that actually happened. And it was the best time to be a Yankees Fan..World Series in 96’, 98’, 99’, 00’. Crazy stuff. Maris still has the record 61 as of now….
I Wouldn't Be Surprised If Aaron Judge Breaks It This Year
Mark Langston was a starting pitcher, not a reliever. I even checked if this was a one-time thing or something and his 1988 stats - 35 games, 35 games started.
I still remember the Sportscenter coverage in that 98’ season: “And McGwirrrrre…GAWT EEEEMM. 485 foot bomb! His 53rd on the year!” He looked like a Terminator armed with a Louisville slugger. And I remember many people for a moment wanted Sosa to have the HR crown since it hadn’t come out yet that he was also using PEDs.
Great transition into hello fresh
This was the start and down fall of quality role models for young kids. Also giving a signal to young kids that cheating pays
True!!!!
In the 80's players used cocaine, in the 70s and prior to that, they were alcoholics. Are those the "quality role models" you refer to?
@@agoo7581 everyone says it's a children's game, but go back to the start and it's grown men smoking cigars, drinking, chewing tobacco. All little league is the incubation in the farm system that grows the next generation of replacement players to keep a billion dollar business stocked with fan drawers. It's hardly a kids game. It's an adult buisness and has always been one.
there are plenty of quality role models out there, and they don't happen to be athletes.
@@bradleybrown8399 Agreed on that!!!!
I'm not here to watch videos about the past. I'm here to be positive.
How is it cheating when there's no rules against it? Cheating means breaking the rules set by the heads of the sport, no rule, no cheat. The real cheat is the current home run "record holder" who blatantly violated the new rules that were implemented as a direct result of this Home Run derby season.
To me, Markis still the true homerun king, not bonds.
@@daverichards9141 that makes no sense. They both took roids, and bonds hit more, so how is McGwire the real king?
There weren’t rules against it when Bonds broke Macs record either though.
Bonds stopped using at the same time everyone else did. The difference between him and the others was that he was still the best hitter in the game with or without steroids. There's no way anyone can say he continued usage after the ban when he was literally used as the scape goat, would have been caught red handed with all the testing the rest of his career, and would have been banned from the sport for life. Bonds is still the best hitter to ever play the game in my eyes, and is still king.
@@daverichards9141 Hank Aaron is still the homerun king and he never used steroids.
Its cheaters like this that made me quit watching any sport. not just baseball, but any sport.
the part that is most absurd is that the Hall of Fame voters knew and ignored the steroid use while McGwire and Sosa brought their subject back to life in 1998.
Don’t forget Barry Bonds either
@@falcon1378 Sosa and McGwire saved baseball before Bonds had his career moments. They were likable and fans loved them. Bonds… not so much even at the time.
@@whitemexican5981 true, good point.
Them and Bonds!!!
Not forget Barry Bond was using it! That black wrap on his left arm is something bodybuilders use to make their muscles pump
I appreciate you putting this together. I'm a lifelong Cubs fan, and that '98 season was more exciting than I can put into words.
In fact, my brother and I got to go to a Cardinals/Cubs game in the middle of that homerun chase.
It was in St. Louis, we sat in right field (so Sammy Sosa was in front of us), and in that game we got to see Sosa hit 1 homerun and McGwire hit 2.
On top of that, the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the 9th for a VERY dramatic comeback.
I was disappointed that my Cubs lost, but you couldn't ask for a more exciting baseball game to see in person. It was amazing!
Then later I found out both of them had cheated. It completely took away the magic of it all.
no one came here to find out which team you are afan of, no one cares in the elast that you and your brother got to go to a certain game... this isn't the "LEt's talk all about Josh" channel it isn't remotely interesting to anyone but you
@@slowery43 "Love your neighbor as yourself." - Jesus
"Do to others what you want them to do to you." - Jesus
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is useful for building others up according to their needs." - Jesus
This time period saved baseball and brought it back to life ! Cheating has been going on all along . Growth hormone , fans in stadium blowing in out to affect ball travel on fly balls . Trash can thumping , drones stealing signs, pitchers with emery boards , Vaseline , sand paper , etc .
It was a great time and was exciting to watch .
I'm definitely not a fan of baseball but up here in this part of Canada we all associated that homerun season between Sosa and
And let's not forget how baseball turned around and let the whole journey happen again with Barry bonds
I remember that hearing like it just happened. It was opening day of March Madness, and I didn't bother to watch a single dribble while that hearing was going on.
I even watched George Mitchell's testimony.
The Bash Brothers were what made me love baseball as a kid. I thought the Star Spangled Banner started with "Jose can you see" instead of "Oh say can you see". I am not joking. I actually thought that lol.
Bash brothers are now enemies
Big Mac is as amazing. No one ever hit moonshots the way he did. He was a class act too
Willy McCovey
I love McGwire and 98' was the best year in baseball ever.
Not if you’re a braves fan! Lol
I was 11-12 during the home run race and I remember my dad talking saying they were on steroids
Took my kids to a Cardinals game at Wrigley Field that summer. McGuire hit home runs number 48 and 49 and Sosa hit home run number 48. It was pretty cool to see them going Head to Head like that
then you taught your kids that it is okay to CHEAT! You'll get 'dad of the year' for that.
@@pmcclaren1
You think my 8 and 9-year-old Sons gave a shit? They got to see a game that was part of one of the most historic home run chases of all time in one of the most iconic ballparks in baseball.
During that rivalry at that time both players were using performance enhancing substances. Neither one had an advantage over the other so, technically, they weren't cheating were they?
My kids never had to cheat to become successful. My father of the year award came from teaching my kids to treat all people with dignity and respect, to be kind and have empathy for others, and to take responsibility for their actions.
I deserve an award for raising my kids to not be greedy, selfish, ignorant people.
In other words, Republicans.
I wonder if you have the same criticism for people who took their kids to go see the New England Patriots play football.
@@charlesandrews2360 I do commend you for teaching your kids with dignity and respect. Thank you for admonishing me. I am aware of my failures. I have hurt you and am truly sorry. It will not happen again. I am glad the LORD has so blessed you with 2 wonderful sons.
@@pmcclaren1
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Another thing I taught my children, and many other young people who I have mentored over the years, is that
it's important for us to learn how to forgive ourselves and not get mired
down dwelling on poor decisions,
missed opportunities and stupid,
hurtful comments.
You don't need my forgiveness for hurting my feelings. If you are truly
sorry you have my permission to
forgive yourself but that also means that you won't do that anymore.
We're good.
You can get on with your life now.
@@charlesandrews2360 Thank you Mr Charles for your continuing kind words. I have been really struggling lately with self-forgiveness for past sins. Your words are very encouraging. GOD bless you and family, sir. I will now carry on.
I was 10 years old in 1998, turned 11 that Nov. McGwire & Sosa were gods and I was/am a Phillies fan!
Honestly when him and sosa were going at it and everyone was all juiced up it was hands down the best time for baseball i don’t care what anyone says baseball was fun!!!
Andro is not even a steroid. It's a completely natural substance. Steroids are a very different thing. Today athletes take HGH (Human growth hormones) which are easily masked by test. Andro was taken with milkshakes by many athletes and still is. Unlike steroids one can by Andro at a health food store...it didn't magically make McGwire a home run hitter.
@@vinrusso821 buddy he was on more then andro and so was other players. I’m not saying that that’s the only reason he was good but take bonds he went from maybe HOF to maybe the best ever so if your saying it doesn’t effect their ability witch I hope that’s not what ur saying, u have no clue what ur talking about and by the way i was just saying I liked when it was the steroid era I wasn’t making a statement about anything other then that so
At least the physical decrepitude of old NFL players can usually be connected with their role in a team effort. When these guys wee-wees fall off, or bones just snap, or all joints utterly fail while they are still in their 60s, it will be their own fault.
It was like WWF, except dishonest.
Watching the Sosa MM battle as a young teen was incredible.
Mark McGwire is a legend and should be in the hall of fame.
I don’t give a shit about the steroids. MLB was juicing the ball in the 90’s which he more of an effect than steroids
As a rookie he hit 49 homers pre steroids breaking the rookie record by 30%
He always had the power steroids were because he was afraid of losing his career to injuries
He should be lauded for his contributions to reviving baseball.
Bud Selig turned a blind eye to steroids
He’s in the hall of fame.
Put Mark and Sammy in now
I will never forget the time I met Mcguire . He was polite and talkative shook my hand . And he was on his way . Best memory of Mcguire.
Loved McGwire!! If there was any player that I wanted to see break Maris' record it was him and he still one of my favorite home run hitter ever. Should he be in the Hall? NO! Now I will say there are probably a few players in the Hall that most likely took roids at some point in their career. Roids just don't make you big...depends how you train on them. lol Hated the A's since I was a Rangers fan but always loved watching McGwire at bat...but not as much as I loved seeing Nolan Ryan make him look like a fool. lol
Absolutely I don't think he did anything wrong
Nolan Ryan was a bad MFer
As I sit here and lovingly gaze at my Mark McGwire Wheaties box, and bobblehead.... I want to continue to beat this team of dead horses, by saying, steroids don't make a baseball any easier to hit. You can juice up anyone you want, and put them up against a major league pitcher, and they'd be lucky to foul one off. Secondly, Mac and Sammy saved baseball, and probably caused my own obsession with it, at least partially. The man was my hero at that time, and I get a warm nostalgic hug every time I think about that season. My mind won't ever change that it was a spectacular experience, and it saved baseball as we know it. I will die upon this mole hill.
Still one of my favorite players. Top 5 cardinal. I lived in STL during the 98 season. We cared more about the home run race than the playoffs or world series. It was great.
You cared more about a individual then your team winning games man that is sad. The objective is to win games & records fall as they happen & Championships are won, not a person who hit the ball 500 feet.
How many kids today go to that relatives house hey I hit a HR today but we lost???? It’s about winning games
Best record in baseball Pete Rose played in 1,972 winning baseball games by far the most.
Hard to deny that this time in baseball was anything short of if the most exciting time that I can remember.
It's easy to deny... baseball was great any other time than when these jokers were playing...
Mark McRoid was fun to watch. Paul Bunyan cartoon character swatting baseballs outta the park left and right. Good time to be a fan.
He wasn't fun to watch if you were a fan of pitching like me (probably because I never could hit). A pitcher would make McGuire pop up but the ball would end up in the seats; that's how strong he was. Bonds was even worse because he didn't pop up, he hit liners off of good pitches that went into San Francisco Bay.
I bought a ton a McGuire memorabilia in 1998. I had his rookie card in 1991 and still do. I sometimes wonder what all of these items would be worth today had someone just did the world a favor and had Canseco disappear. How the ball bouncing off his head in right field didn’t do the trick just baffles and angers me. All joking aside, That summer of 1998 was as exciting of a baseball season as I have ever seen. I remember seeing, many times, channels switch over to the ball game when one or both was at bat.
Steroids really helped McGwire with injury avoidance more than anything. Early in his career he was always injured, and the steroids helped him recover and weather the beating of playing games everyday. Think about it-when he was a skinny rookie he hit 49 home runs. The part he was missing without steroids was the ability to show up everyday.
I was a huge A's fan. One thing I remember about McGuire is that he was always on the injured reserve list because his big toe hurt. He also couldn't hit anything in the playoffs at least not for the A's.
I feel bad for Mark. Being a kid born in the first half of the 90s, being so young it was exciting to watch baseball and see everyone else so excited for the HR race. Everyone knows other guys were juicing back then, and it seems like the backlash was disproportionately worse for Mark just because he was at the pinnacle of the game. He will always be a legend and a hall of fame talent to me.
Where are the facts that prove everyone was juicing there’s no proof for that but there’s proof that those three fucking losers did