McGwire countdown: 5-4-3...

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Thursday, September 3, 1998

BY STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

Mark McGwire swats No. 59. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

MIAMI -- Three homers from the breaking the record, Mark McGwire still has a full head of hair.

Mighty Mac took off his cap following Wednesday's game and proudly ran a hand through short but thick red locks.

"It's OK, huh?" he said with a laugh.

When Roger Maris approached the major league record for home runs, his hair fell out in clumps. But the pressure of chasing Maris doesn't seem to bother McGwire. In fact, the closer he gets, the father the ball goes.

McGwire hit a pair of majestic homers for the second consecutive night Wednesday against the Florida Marlins, giving him a career-best 59. He has 12 homers in the past 15 days, and he needs just three more to surpass Maris, who hit 61 in 1961.

"Quite amazing, isn't it?" McGwire said.

He homered in the seventh inning against Brian Edmondson and again in the eighth on the first pitch from Rob Stanifer. Each was a two-run homer, helping the St. Louis Cardinals win 14-4.

The first homer, which landed halfway up in the upper deck in left field, was estimated at 497 feet, making it the third-longest in the history of Pro Player Stadium. The second homer 30 minutes later was to left center and traveled an estimated 458 feet.

McGwire punches his fist while rounding the bases after No. 58. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Each time the delighted crowd of 45,170 demanded a curtain call, and McGwire responded by stepping out of the dugout and punching the air three times.

Now it's three to go to break the record. The Cardinals begin a three-game series Friday at home against Cincinnati, but McGwire declined to speculate about his chances.

"Let's not look so far ahead and just take what today has given us," he said.

McGwire's eighth multihomer game this season was the 51st of his career. With 23 games remaining, he's on a 69-homer pace.

For the second night in a row, McGwire got both balls back. The fans who retrieved the souvenirs gave them to him in exchange for bats, balls and caps.

"I'm glad there are people like that out there," McGwire said. "It shows you what the game means to some people."

McGwire broke Hack Wilson's 68-year-old NL record of 56 home runs with two Tuesday. Sammy Sosa hit No. 56 for the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon and anticipated a response from McGwire a few hours later.

"Mark has the possibility to come back tonight and hit two more," Sosa said. "He's playing in Miami, don't forget."

Sure enough, McGwire feasted again on the worst pitching staff in the NL. He denies that he's competing with anyone, but once again, he connected on the same day as Sosa.

"It's just a coincidence," McGwire said. "Some things are unexplainable, right?"

The Cardinals slugger surpassed his career best of 58 homers last year -- 34 for Oakland and 24 for St. Louis. The only players to hit more home runs in a season were Maris and Babe Ruth, who hit 60 in 1927. Ruth hit 59 in 1921.

McGwire has surpassed Ruth's major league record of 114 homers in consecutive seasons, set in 1927-28.

Even McGwire was impressed by his first homer Wednesday. He golfed a 2-1 pitch from Edmondson that was low and inside, then pumped his right first as he trotted toward first base.

"The pitch was probably three inches off the ground," McGwire said. "I amazed myself that I went down and got it."

"It'd be scary to see what he could do with a set of golf clubs," Edmondson said.

In the eighth, McGwire jumped on a slider from Stanifer.

"He crushed it," Stanifer said. "It's amazing. You can't throw the guy any pitch he can reach or he hits it 500 feet. It's a little unfair at times. He's like the Michael Jordan of baseball. He's unreal."

After that, manager Tony La Russa took McGwire out of the game in the eighth. The crowd booed, then headed for the exits.

The game also attracted more than 400 media, the largest following yet for McGwire's home-run chase.

In his first three at-bats, McGwire grounded into a double play, walked twice and scored on pitcher Kent Mercker's grand slam. Mercker (9-11) allowed two earned runs in seven innings.

"We had a hell of a game tonight, oh by the way," McGwire said with a smile.

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Sports Headlines for Thursday, September 3, 1998

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Bere finds stuff; White loses it
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
Katzenmoyer reportedly eligible
McGwire countdown: 5, 4, 3 ...
Oilers hold a grudge
Petagine wins second MVP honor
Reds may serve up HR record
REDS NOTEBOOK
Skyline Shootout a two-way treat
What would you do with The Ball?