On September 8, 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals made baseball history by hitting his 62nd home run of the season, breaking Roger Maris' single-season home run record that had stood for 37 years.
The stage was set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where the Cardinals were facing the Chicago Cubs. In the fourth inning, with the count at 1-1, McGwire launched a low fastball from Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel over the left-field wall, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The stadium erupted as McGwire rounded the bases, with fans chanting his name and his teammates waiting to embrace him at home plate.
The home run chase had captivated the nation throughout the summer, with McGwire and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs both pursuing Maris' record. The friendly rivalry between the two sluggers had helped to reinvigorate interest in baseball, which had been struggling to recover from the 1994 players' strike.
After hitting the historic home run, McGwire was met at home plate by his son Matt, and he hoisted him high in the air during the celebration. In a touching display of sportsmanship, Sammy Sosa, who was playing right field for the Cubs, ran in to congratulate McGwire.
McGwire would go on to finish the season with 70 home runs, setting a new record that would stand until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001. However, McGwire's legacy would later be called into question due to his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs during his playing career.
Nonetheless, on that September day in 1998, Mark McGwire's 62nd home run electrified the sports world and cemented his place in baseball history.
