Tucson Citizen from Tucson, Arizona • 30

mark mcgwire makes baseball history Wednesday Septenter 9 1998 Tucson Citizen I Kindall remembers Mac when i The Ball We asked Tucson Ccsn readers fiev vwxJd do I toey oaugft re tal on Mark (fcGwrss nscorHrsakng 62nd home run Here are some at the responses Hark McGwire VSUA football practice field Both traveled at least 450 feet Quipped Kindall after that senes just ao strong if you hit him in the forearm it's going to go out In the series at USC McGwire's first homer was similar to last record-setter a line drive down the left field line that barely cleared the fence at the 335-foot mark The second one was similar to many of the massive blasts hit this year McGwire hit it to nght-center and it landed on top of a four-story parking garage an impressive hit even with an aluminum bat was a big strong guy even back then" Kindall recalled wasn't as broad and muscular as he is now but he had great le ability was it didn't stick in my mind" It was easy to forget McGwire as a pitcher He lost twice to the Cats in "82 allowing eight hits nine runs and six walks in innings his ability as a hitter never forget He just killed us in several games" Kindall said McGwire's final season at USC was 1984 he signed after being a first-round pick of Oakland in the June draft and that was the one Kindall recalls the best McGwire hit four homers against the Cats two at USC and two at Sancet Field Kindall remembers two of them very welt two he hit at Sancet Field were just monstrous Kindall said went over the trees in left and landed on the tennis courts today the site of the UA ByDAVEPETRUSKA Dun Sports Former University of Arizona baseball coach Jerry Kindall would never have predicted the Mark McGwire he saw in 1982 would go on to hit 62 homers in one season in the major leagues But that was before Southern California coach Rod Dedeaux turned McGwire from a pitcher into a full-time hitter for his sophomore season in 1983 After that McGwire gave Kindall and his staff plenty of indications remember him hitting home runs It seemed every time he swung the ball left the park That's the fantasy I said Kindall-now a senior adviser for USA Baseball Whatever his pitching pitcher recalls McGwire Jack Cor 1 waJd have the bal brorced and put on the front of my tuck tar al to see" Herd Schmfeder grve 1 to the player who hfl because aahough I woiJd have great monetary vatae to me I would have no value other than that That somethng worked so hard to and they have put up with some much crap from the meria no offense-so th should deserve to have that one souvenr of what accomplished I It wouktat mean that much to me other than that I could set for gasllions of doflars" Jason Sutton: go out and cM- him to an arm-wresting contest If a me he could have the bal back kr exchange for an autograph of some I' Mick Matthew: give a back to the player who hit it He earned I He should have 8 fa his keepsake Maybe do like the guy St Louis who caught the 61st asked faa signed bal aa signed b4 a jersey not mine his and he deserves to keep TJ: "I would have my name put on it and give 1 to the Hal of Fame along with Mark McGwire's signature and the nupiber 62" i Jim Conklin: "If I X-ray it I would cut a open and good chance I could probably play 18 holes of golf with it Those baseball go as far as golf balls $ven when a pitcher hits one out and they bounce like one And a the bal wasn't juiced I would sell a by pieces Hell of a way to bnng fans back" ftyan Smith: "I would probably hold a for a while take plenty of photos of me with ft and given my current financial situation I would regrettably selling ft to the highest bidder If I could afford it I would keep Lowell Mandly: "All I'd as! them to do is buy me a lifetime box seat ticket to se the Dodgers play every game home and away the rest of my life" The Call How the announcers called Mark McGwire's 62nd home run: Joe Buck on Fox Sports: the ft-field line is it enough? Gone! There it 62 Tough first Mark you are the single-season home run like Shannon on KMOX radio: "A ot into the comerl It might make it! nere ft is! Sixty-two folks! And we have ilnew home run champion a new Sul-an of Swat!" Chip Caray on WGN-TV: "First pitch Rocket deep toward left Heeeeeee did it! He did it! He did it! He did it! He did it!" The Box Score Cardinals 6 Cubs 3 Barry Manuel gave up a home run No 9 to Mac on April 14 By KEN BRAZZLE and CHRIS WALSH Cltizsn Sportswmers Barry Manuel ever be as famous as Steve Trachsel who gave up home run No 62 to Mark McGwire but he can sympathize with Trachsel Manuel who split time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tucson Sidewinders this season served up No 9 to McGwire back on April 14 want to be in the record books But if in it Manuel said The home run McGwire hit off Manuel was his third of the game He had connected twice off former Sidewinder Jeff Suppan got behind in the count and gave him a fastball and it was down where he liked said Manuel was trying to keep the ball down and keep it inside but unfortunately it was in his wheelhouse I got 2 and 0 on him at that time and I said I would challenge him with my best and see what Manuel felt he couli prevent McGwire from extending his arms if he went inside strong as he is if you make a mistake normally some pitches are fly balls but for him the balls just takes off Manuel said guys hit a home run and you can see His are effortlessly like boom If not a line drive a monstrous Manuel said he would probably challenge McGwire with a breaking pitch if he had a chance to do it again name of the game is that you got to get ahead against Manuel said get behind in the count and go verage with his swing He was fearsome looking at the plate When he began to connect well then everything was confirmed what I feared in my mind that this guy could hurt us" Kindall was not surprised McGwire has become the dominant power hitter he did so well with the US! Olympic team in 1984 that just confirmed what he had done against us that this was a Kindall said he strikes out a lot he did then too but a hard worker I think have trouble adjusting to pro And although Kindall who played for the Chicago Cubs for five years has a soft place in his heart for Sammy Sosa he was happy for McGwire thnlled because we know The Associated Press (right) celebrates last night as after home run No 62 they were watching history Mon- day a McGwire autographed baseball went for $4000 in the silent auction to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association Besides after the home run there was nothing else to watch as coach Mickey Hatcher canceled the rest of infield practice A second round of applause erupted when McGwire and Sammy Sosa hugged have any elevation to it But as strong as he is even a line drive travels Servais said the pitch was a ball and he thought it was a double when it was hit was a sigh of relief like still in the Servais thought As pandemonium broke out around him Trachsel stood on the mound just behind the rubber hands on hips After several minutes some of his teammates came to the mound Grace came up he asked me if I was all right We joked about how going to have a late bus now (because of post-game Trachsel said first thing I said is got to be the shortest one he has hit all Mark a little bit and because be is an alum of our USA Baseball program" Kindall said pulling for Mark over Sammy but I felt Mark had the best chance I would have been just as pleased if Sammy had done it Jubilant Sosa has Mac attack Gannett News Servtc ST LOUIS Sammy Sosa hit any home runs at Busch Stadium last night but it felt as if he had The Chicago Cubs outfielder has been a wholehearted supporter of Mark McGwire and Sosa had no qualms about helping his counterpart celebrate one of the greatest moments in baseball history After McGwire blasted his 62nd homer and established a new benchmark for homers in a season Sosa made his way in from right field He met McGwire halfway between date and the dugout and saluted him with an embrace and his trademark nal Kissing his fingers and touching his heart usually is something he does only after home runs as a greeting to his mother but Sosa made an exception "McGwire returned the hug and lifted Sosa off the ground felt like his said Sosa who went 1 for 4 and remains two homers shy of joining McGwire Roger Maris and Babe Ruth in the 60-home run club was something great because everybody was waiting for that moment I feel class by what I did out there Sosa did not plan on leaving his position but his respect and admiration for McGwire demanded it After McGwire hit the record-tying 61st homer Monday Sosa did not congratulate him until the eighth inning when he reached on a single and met McGwire at first base The All-Star outfielder felt he needed to partake of magical moment plan on it it just said Sosa who had ho-mered at least once in 1 last 15 series was there and I did what I thought was right to do I think I have a right to go out there and congratulate Mark Now I have to wait for my time be too far away Unless he falls into the most inopportune home run drought of his baseball career Sosa should surpass old mark as well Finishing with more homers than McGwire who is up by four is not beyond the realm of possibility Remember Sosa hit a mjor league-record 20 homers in June know going to said Sosa speculating as to the celebration that will ensue if and when he hits No 62 know how going to be probably enjoy it the same way (McGwire) Unfortunately Sosa get to hit any more homers in front of McGwire The Cubs and Cardinals concluded their season series with St Louis winning 6-3 to sweep the two-game series The Cubs are battling San Francisco and New York for the National League wild-card spot just hoping to finish strong and take the Chicago Cubs to the Sosa said chanted in support St Louis coach Rene Lachemann Mark McGwire rounds third base reer high and help lead a 6-5 victory in 11 innings took me two years to hit that many Although the Diamondbacks were alone in their clubhouse preparing for the game many of their fans who showed up early for batting practice contain themselves Some stood some sat But all basked in the knowledge that they just watching baseball ing to make you The first pitch Trachsel threw to McGwire was shin high and inside Still got enough of it for a 341 -foot home run so strong and has such a short said former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Pat Darcy Darcy is famous for giving up a home run to Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series like giving up home runs But you can always say there were 61 other guys who gave up home runs Darcy said bottom line is if you give up a home run part of the game but you want to give said Sidewinders pitcher Bryan Corey it happens it happens" In Phoenix last night it was 6:18 pm and the Los Angeles Dodgers were taking infield practice at Bank One Ballpark Many of the players seemed to be alternating between taking ground balls and looking up at the Jumbotron overlooking center field OK because manager Glenn Hoffman help but watch from the dugout as McGwire came to the plate Suddenly 37 years of waiting ended in the matter of seconds as McGwire drilled a Trachsel pitch down the left-field line for home run No 62 breaking Roger legendary record got goose Hoffman said was quite a sight to A couple of infielders jumped and high-fived Hoffman and the rest of the dugout applauded Some like Matt Luke just stood in awe said Raul Mondesi who later hit his 30th home run to match last ca- called was just a great all-around Ten years from their pitcher-batter confrontation Maris was setting the major-league home run record for the Yankees Olson said the hysteria back then what it is today no This thing has been building all year Olson said think been easier for McGwire and Sosa because there has been two of them (chasing the record) been a (media) concentration on both Whereas with Maris it was all on him (Mickey) Mantle tried to make a run but it as close as this one Like most everyone else Olson too has been caught up in the home run excitement almost unavoidable been impressed with the whole thing McGwire and Sosa are first-class Olson said saw son being interviewed on television and the Maris family had said they were appreciative of McGwire and how acknowledged Chicago Maris was a hit with Olson in every sense of the word Trachsel expects talk after giving up No 62 a-struck out tor Merck er the 6th b-fted out forMorandim in the 7th angled for Muihottand in the 8th d-g rounded out for Heredia in die 9th GHtH (1) LOB-Chicago 13 St Louis 1 2B (4) HRs-Gant (23) off Trachsel RLankford (27) off Trachsei McGwire (62) off Trachsel RBts-JHemande (70) MaGraoe (75) Gaetti (56) DeShids (39) McGwire (129) RljnMord 3 (94) Gant (58) GJDP-Sosa Runners left ft scor mg posfoon-Chicago 8 ((Johnson 3 MaGrace Morandrm Meske 2 Merced) Runners moved up-Uohnson JHtmandez DP-St Lous 1 (Rats OeShekfe and McGwire) By STEVE RIVERA Citizen Spoftswnter Lute Olson knew what opposing major-league pitchers went through when Roger Maris came to the plate for an at-bat He pitched against him once went 1 for said Olson who faced Maris in an American Legion baseball game in the summer of 1951 one hit a home run but he did hit a foul ball still Mark shattering of home run record hits closer to home for Olson who grew up in North Dakota as did Maris Olson was reared in Mayville a home run away from hometown of Fargo Olson later moved to Grand Forks where he eventually pitched against Maris Was the hit Maris got off Olson a bad pitch? think he needed a bad pitch to Olson said Maris was that good of an athlete he said was an all-stater in football basketball and Olson re out Just before he came to the plate he had stood in the dugout with the 33-ounce bat on his shoulder his eyes closed lost in his own world of focus Then it was time to hit At first after he made contact he had to run hard and fast It might have hit the wall might have been a double But then just at the end it disappeared through the slit below the stands and into the inner workings of Busch Stadium Then he knew "I was in he said think it was hit hard enough to get out All of a sudden it And from the other side of history? fastball off the inside comer of the Trachsel said Gannett News Service ST LOUIS Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel think have any trouble over the years watching replays of Mark 62nd home run already seen it 15 said Trachsel who will go into the record books for delivering No 62 to the Cardinals slugger think whoever gives up the last one is the one going to be talking first-pitch fastball to McGwire in the fourth inning last night is en route to the Baseball Hall of Fame something neither the pitcher nor catcher Scott Servais expected to see was shin high off the inside corner gotten him out with it Trachsel said He circled the bases a fist in the air congratulated by each Cub as he went by Then he trotted home where his team was waiting his son was waiting He picked up 10-year-old Matthew lifted him high and shook him like a father shakes a son when there is too much emotion for words He pointed toward his parents toward the fans pointed toward his heart Soon Sosa was there having jogged in from right field McGwire hoisted him too he picked me Sosa said later felt like his He spotted the Maris family and raced to the seats to embrace each child speaking to each Inherited runners 1-0 Painter 30 Fraacatore 2 1 IBB -of! Trachsel (McGwire) 1 WP-Mercker Marcker Umptreefome Rippley First Poncmo Second Wipers Third Dating 2 46 A -43 688 (49 676) 62nd home run of the season carves his name into sports history Continued from 1 was for history and hugs Hugs for his son his St Louis Cardinals teammates Fbr Sammy Sosa still at 58 home runs a classy bystander here the last two wonderful days willing to cheer as McGwire left him behind And hugs for the Maris children on thilast night of them record it is" said Kevin Mans as the- liner shot off bat screaming for left field There it was This was not the prototype McGwire home run No rocket launch that jumped into the atmosphere This one he had to go down and get using all his muscle and all his skill to drive it was Mark day Mark Roger Mans Jr said "For him to come over to greet our family and give us a hug was something special something I ever forget very emotional My body is still Then McGwire took the microphone and hailed the fans who have poured so much into this I drove to the ballpark he said honestly truly wanted to hit it for this For 10 minutes McGwire and the world around him celebrated and then the game went on St Louis ended up a 6-3 winner Sosa without a home run in three days went 1 for 4 as Cardinals fans his last two at-bats McGwire 1 for 2 walked his last two at-bats the only angry moments of the night for the fans in Busch Stadium The celebration started soon after McGwire got a classic Cardinal-red Corvette for his 62 home runs -and was presented the ball he had just hit The music played on and on and on Fireworks flared hierarchy the Cardinals and the Maris children looked on he told the stadium the Someone asked after this long long chase what could be next next McGwire said 1 going to be a strike gotten him out on that pitch he hit it I figured it was going to be a foul or a double It have any arch but his line drives can travel that far glad it was his shortest homer of the But about the record probably break it again tomorrow McGwire was so excited he initially missed touching first base Coch Dave McKay the man who has thrown him thousands of home runs in batting practice called him back "I remember anything after McGwire said hoi-e I act foolish But this is 1 i.