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Maris, Roger

McGwire Ties Maris' Record with Historic 61st Home Run

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

St. Louis Cardinals' slugger Mark McGwire is on the cusp of baseball history after hitting his 61st home run of the season, tying Roger Maris' 37-year-old all-time major league record. McGwire achieved the feat in front of a sellout crowd of 42,877 at Busch Stadium, where his father, Dr. John McGwire, was celebrating his 61st birthday. The home run, which sailed 430 feet before bouncing off a restaurant window and into the first row of the left-field stands, was McGwire's 61st of the season and cemented his position as the top candidate to break Maris' record.

Key Takeaways:

  • McGwire's 61st home run of the season ties Roger Maris' 37-year-old all-time major league record.
  • The home run was hit in front of a sellout crowd of 42,877 at Busch Stadium, including Maris' six children and McGwire's 10-year-old son, Matthew, who served as a batboy.
  • McGwire thanked his family, including his father, mother, and son, after hitting the home run.
  • Cincinnati Reds' slugger Sammy Sosa is now three home runs behind McGwire in the chase to break Maris' record.
  • McGwire is on the doorstep of baseball history, with one more home run necessary to eclipse Maris' record.
  • The historic home run was hit off Chicago Cubs' starter Mike Morgan in the first inning, on an inside fastball at 1:22pm.
  • The ball bounced off a restaurant window and into the first row of the left-field stands, where it was caught by 28-year-old Mike Davidson.

Statistics:

  • 61: the number of home runs hit by McGwire this season, tying Rohger Maris' record.
  • 37 years: the duration that Maris' record had stood before McGwire tied it.
  • 430 feet: the distance that McGwire's home run traveled before bouncing off a restaurant window and into the stands.
  • 42,877: the attendance at Busch Stadium for the game in which McGwire tied Maris' record.
  • 10: the age of McGwire's son, Matthew, who served as a batboy for the Cardinals.
  • 6: the number of children of Roger Maris who attended the game to watch McGwire.
  • 1-1 inside fastball: the pitch type and count on which McGwire hit the record-breaking home run.
  • 28 years old: the age of Mike Davidson, who caught McGwire's historic home run.

Sources:

  • "McGwire Ties Maris' Record with Historic 61st Home Run" by unnamed author, published in an unnamed publication.

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