Mark McGwire

Lore & Background

McGwire led the major leagues in home runs in five different seasons, and set the major-league record for home runs hit in a four-season period from 1996 to 1999 with 245. He demonstrated exemplary patience as a batter, producing a career .394 on-base percentage (OBP) and twice leading the major leagues in bases on balls. McGwire also led the league in runs batted in once, on-base percentage twice, and slugging percentage four times. Injuries cut short even greater potential, as he reached 140 games played in just eight of his 16 MLB seasons. Injuries particularly cut into his playing time in 2000 and 2001 and factored into his decision to retire. A right-handed batter and thrower, McGwire stood 6 ft tall and weighed 245 lb during his playing career. With the Cardinals in 1998, McGwire joined Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa in a chase for the single-season home-run record set by Roger Maris in 1961. McGwire surpassed Maris and finished with 70 home runs, a record that Barry Bonds would break three years later with 73. In 2010, McGwire publicly admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during a large portion of his career.

Reader's Guide

Early life: McGwire was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Pomona, California. His father was a dentist. He attended Damien High School in La Verne, California, where he played baseball, golf, and basketball. He was drafted in the 8th round by the Montreal Expos in the 1981 amateur draft, but did not sign. College career: McGwire played college baseball at the University of Southern California, where he was a teammate of Randy Johnson, Jack Del Rio, and Rodney Peete under coach Rod Dedeaux. McGwire was named the college baseball player of the year by the Sporting News in 1984. Professional career: Draft and minor leagues: After three years at USC and a stint on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, McGwire was drafted tenth overall in the 1984 Major League Baseball draft by the Oakland Athletics. In 1984 and 1985, he played for the Single-A Modesto A's. He began the 1986 season in the minors, with the Double-A Huntsville Stars and Triple-A Tacoma Tigers. Oakland Athletics (1986–1997): McGwire debuted in the major leagues on August 22, 1986. He did not get a hit until his third game, on August 24. In 18 games with Oakland in 1986, he hit three home runs and had nine runs batted in (RBIs), but had a lowly .189 batting average. Rookie home-run record and major-league leader (1987): Retaining his rookie status in 1987, McGwire hit four home runs in the month of April, but followed in May with 15 and another nine in June. Before the All-Star break arrived, he had totaled 33 home runs and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team. On August 11, he broke Al Rosen's AL rookie record of 37 home runs. Three days later, McGwire broke the major-league record of 38, which Frank Robinson and Wally Berger had jointly held. In September, McGwire hit nine more home runs while posting monthly personal bests of a .351 batting average, .419 on-base percentage (OBP) and 11 doubles (2B). With 49 home runs and two games remaining in the regular season for him to reach 50 home runs, he missed the games in order to attend the birth of his first child. McGwire also totaled 118 runs batted in, a .289 batting average, 97 runs scored, 28 doubles, a .618 slugging percentage and a .370 on-base percentage (OBP). McGwire's 49 home runs as a rookie stood as a major league record until Aaron Judge hit 52 for the New York Yankees in 2017.

Did You Know?

• McGwire hit a home run estimated at 491 feet over the left-field roof of Tiger Stadium on April 21, 1997.
• McGwire was the first Major Leaguer to hit 30+ home runs in each of his first four full seasons.

The Oakland Era and Franchise Identity

Spanning from 1968 until the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Oakland Athletics established a profound legacy in California's East Bay. Relocating from Kansas City under owner Charlie Finley, the franchise settled into the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, sharing the facility with the NFL's Raiders for their entire tenure. Over these 56 years, the team compiled an overall winning record of .513, accumulating over 4,600 victories. Their success was marked by four World Series championships, six American League pennants, and seventeen division titles, solidifying their status as a powerhouse despite playing in what was often considered a less competitive league environment during certain eras. The franchise's departure after the 2024 season, driven by the aging stadium infrastructure and failed negotiations for public funding in either Oakland or San Jose, marked a historic end to professional major league sports in the city. While seventeen players associated with the club have entered the Hall of Fame, only four—Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, and manager Dick Williams—are depicted wearing the Oakland cap, symbolizing the specific era that defined the team's golden age.

The Swingin' A's Cultural Revolution

Between 1971 and 1975, the Athletics transformed into a cultural phenomenon known as the 'Swingin' A's,' challenging traditional baseball norms both on and off the field. Under the unconventional leadership of owner Charlie Finley, the team adopted radical visual changes, including solid green or gold jerseys that contrasted sharply with the standard white-and-grey uniforms worn by contemporaries. Perhaps most famously, Finley incentivized facial hair growth during a 'Moustache Day' promotion, offering bonuses to players who complied by Father's Day; consequently, the entire roster sported moustaches, earning them the moniker of the 'Mustache Gang.' This aesthetic rebellion culminated in their 1972 World Series victory against the Cincinnati Reds, a matchup dubbed 'The Hairs vs. the Big Squares' due to the Reds' strict clean-shaven policy and conservative attire. The A's broke through as champions by winning three consecutive titles from 1972 to 1974, proving that their unique identity and aggressive playstyle could dominate even heavily favored opponents in a league often dismissed as the 'American League Least.'

Road to Powerhouse Status

The transition from a struggling franchise to a championship contender was neither immediate nor guaranteed. Upon arriving in Oakland for the 1968 season, the team initially struggled, finishing with an 82-80 record under manager Bob Kennedy, though this represented a significant improvement over their previous year's performance. The following seasons saw managerial instability, with Hank Bauer and John McNamara both being dismissed as the organization sought to find the right leadership formula. A turning point arrived in 1969 when future star Vida Blue made his debut, and Reggie Jackson hit 47 home runs, yet the team still fell short of the division title. It was not until Dick Williams took over as manager that the pieces finally clicked. The team secured their first division crown in 1971 with a 101-win season, their best performance since the early 1930s. Although they lost the subsequent American League Championship Series to the Baltimore Orioles, this period of rebuilding and strategic hiring laid the essential groundwork for the dynasty that would immediately follow.

Historical Context and Relocation Saga

The Athletics' journey to Oakland was part of a complex series of relocations that began in Philadelphia before moving to Kansas City in 1954. Owner Charlie Finley, who purchased the team after Arnold Johnson's death, initially promised stability but soon sought new markets, exploring cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and Seattle. His attempt to move the team to Louisville was rejected by American League owners, as was an early bid for Oakland, before he finally secured permission in late 1967 to relocate for the 1968 season. This decision proved pivotal, leading to decades of success at the Coliseum. However, after more than half a century, the franchise faced a new reality in 2024 when they announced their departure due to the inability to secure funding for a modern ballpark. The team temporarily moved to West Sacramento in 2025 with plans for a permanent settlement in Las Vegas, effectively ending an era where Oakland was home to one of baseball's most storied franchises.