Monday, July 13, 1998
Crop of power-hitters likely to break home run record
COLUMN: McGwire hunts legendary 61 mark set by inconsistent
Roger Maris
In what is said will become the most exciting second half of
baseball yet to come, records will shatter and pennant fever will
create an atmosphere for the everyday baseball fan that has not
been seen since before the 1994 players’ strike.
Mark McGwire, the modern day Babe Ruth, will attempt what
skeptics once thought was an unreachable record: 61.
A man not even seriously considered for baseball hallowed ground
in Cooperstown hit 61 home runs in 1961. Roger Maris was a man who
held off not only the likes of Mickey Mantle for the record, but
also history itself. He was going after a record held by another
Yankee great – the Bambino – and had New York fans wondering
whether they wanted this streaky player to steal a record from
their immortal legend and hero.
Many fans and members of the media will argue that Maris didn’t
deserve the record. They will say that he never produced power
numbers as consistently as the Babe did. They will say that
pitchers of that era didn’t even consider Maris as a prototype for
the stereotypical power hitter.
The fact that Maris was never walked intentionally during that
magical season in ’61 supports this argument. He finished his
professional career with 275 home runs, but obviously never hit the
400 home run mark needed to enter the Hall of Fame club.
But consider this: Maris had Mickey Mantle batting behind him
the entire 1961 season. No pitcher in his right mind would walk
this nobody and attempt to face the Mick. That would dash any hopes
these pitchers had of playing a lengthy professional baseball
career. Also, unintentionally, Maris walked 94 times that season,
while the Big Mac walked only 85 times last season en route to his
split-league Oakland and St. Louis total of 58 home runs.
Besides, when we talk about Maris’ low career home run total,
consider other great baseball record holders. For instance, take
Hack Wilson of the Chicago Cubs. While Texas’ Juan Gonzalez chases
the season RBI record of 190 this season and has also previously
held the National League season home run record of 56 homers,
Wilson finished his career with only 244 home runs.
With a career plagued by injuries that lasted only 12 seasons,
Maris’ frequency of power hitting ranks up with the likes of his
counterparts Mantle and Hammerin’ Hank Aaron. Some analysts
theorize that had Maris stayed healthy and taken an average of 500
at-bats per season, he would have hit approximately 668 home runs,
giving him the No. 3 ranking of all time.
With three individuals closely pursuing Maris’ record this
season, the odds are that the record will fall, and may do so
terribly. Mark McGwire is leading the way, on a pace to hit at
least 70 home runs.
Maris and Ruth will turn over in their graves and George
Steinbrenner might go off on a tirade over the eclipse of another
Yankee record. But whatever the outcome, the newly appointed savior
and commissioner of major league baseball Bud "I am a Brewer at
heart" Selig should place no asterisk on today’s record.
McGwire will be the most likely candidate to beat out Maris but
will also cause the St. Louis Cardinals to focus more on the
record, rather than on a second-half playoff charge to catch the
leader of their division.
Ken Griffey, Jr., could do it with that beautiful swing if he
stays injury-free. Even Junior, however, will not be able to
salvage the Seattle season as the terrible pitching staff will
probably lead the Mariners to another disappointing finish in the
American League West.
Finally, Sammy "Free Swinging" Sosa will have the Chicago Cubs
looking toward the playoffs. He is not likely to break the current
record, nor pass Griffey and McGwire. The playoff hopes of his team
are far too important to put aside for a home run record.
Oh well, at least the Yanks will claim another record: most wins
by a team in a single season. But the second half is different, and
come playoff time, there’s only one thing for fans to chant: Hmm
Baby. Go Giants.
Cadman is a second-year student and assistant sports editor at
the Daily Bruin. He gives props to his buddy Rob Kariakin for
providing any skill, or lack thereof, that his column writing
contains. Comments for the terrific sports staff can be addressed
to [email protected].
Ahrin Cadman