St. Louis goes nuts as McGwire hits 61
Posted: Monday September 07, 1998 07:36 PM
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During a curtain call, McGwire thumped his chest and pointed skyward as he looked to the Maris family, acknowledging Maris was in his heart AP |
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- As Mark McGwire
rounded the bases after tying Roger Maris' 61-home run record in the first
inning of Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, Busch
Stadium fans gave him an ovation that lasted well into the at-bat of
teammate Ray
Lankford, and St. Louis transformed into a cheering, horn-honking
frenzy.
McGwire gave high-fives to Chicago first baseman Mark Grace and
third baseman Gary Gaetti,
then lifted his 10-year-old son Matthew and carried him for several steps
after crossing home plate.
The scene moved many in the stadium crowd of 50,530, which included
Maris' sons. Even Chicago's Sammy Sosa, who
is chasing McGwire with 58 home runs, applauded in right field.
"To be here, I will remember and cherish my entire life," said Rick
Faccin, 44, of Alton, Illinois. "The reception he received and what he did
as he rounded the bases gave me chills all over."
There were some tears, too.
"When I saw the ball hit off the glass and I knew he tied the record,
I had a few tears in my eyes," said Don Fisher, 51, of Marion, Illinois.
"It made me feel like I was part of history since I saw it live."
During a curtain call, McGwire thumped his chest and pointed skyward
as he looked to the Maris family, sitting behind photographers along the
first-base line.
"He acknowledged us," Kevin Maris said. "He tapped his heart, like dad
was in his heart."
Downtown, horns blared in the minutes after McGwire's homer. TV
stations interrupted programming to announce the news. The celebrations
didn't end even though McGwire failed to hit No. 62. In the eighth inning,
the Blue Angels' precision flying team roared over Busch Stadium, sending
the crowd into another round of cheering.
It was a day St. Louis won't soon forget.
The Cardinals have won 15 pennants and nine World Series, but the city
hadn't seen hysteria like this since the ticker-tape parade after Charles
Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St. Louis across the Atlantic in the 1920s.
Red 60s were plastered everywhere -- billboards, store signs, even a
few bare chests. By early afternoon, 61s were already going up. In health
clubs, grocery stores, restaurants, even taxi cabs and hospitals, all
conversation centered around McGwire and Sosa.
"A lot of the nursing staff is wearing red today, and many of them
brought small radios to work so they can keep track of the game," said Mary
Jo Wich, a spokeswoman at St. Anthony's Medical Center.
The radios weren't really necessary. In virtually every patient room,
the game was on TV.
"You walk down the hall and you can hear it everywhere," Wich said.
St. Louis County Cab Co. dispatcher Ron Gregerson said most of his 63
drivers were tuned to the game, not only for their own interest, but
because their fares were demanding it.
"There better not be any Chicago fans among us," he said, laughing.
Typically, thousands of Cubs fans make the trek for games in St.
Louis, and Monday was no exception. There were nearly as many blue "Sosa
21" jerseys as red "McGwire 25s."
"I'm here to see Sammy surpass Mr. McGwire as the home run king of
major league baseball," said Dan Sherman, 30, of Quincy, Illinois, wearing
a Sosa jersey and Cubs cap. "This is the best thing that I've ever been
to."
Most fans at the stadium were just happy to be there.
"To be a part of history is something I will never forget," said Bill
Wethigton, 49, of Morris, Illinois. "For Mark to do it with Sammy and the
Cubs in town makes it even more emotional. For me to be here and witness it
is mind-boggling."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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