Mac & Dave
Home run champion a hit on late night TV
Posted: Monday October 19, 1998 11:18 PM
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Appearing on "Late Night with David Letterman," Mark McGwire (left) said hitting 70 home runs "is like playing nerf ball in the backyard" AP |
NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark McGwire
faced some questions and pitches from David Letterman on Monday.
Appearing on "Late Night with David Letterman," McGwire said he figures a
good pitch to hit for a home run is any ball "that's over the white part of
the plate."
The St. Louis
Cardinals first baseman found plenty of pitches in that area this
season, finishing with a record 70 homers, nine better than the old mark
set by Roger Maris in 1961.
McGwire said hitting 70 home runs "is like playing nerf ball in the
backyard," but admitted that while he could hit almost any pitch, a
split-fingered fastball causes him problems.
"I'm taking a right turn for the dugout," he said, referring to the path
taken by those who struck out.
McGwire talked about the mutual respect he and Sammy Sosa have
for each other and said the two pushed each other the entire season. The Chicago Cubs right
fielder finished the year with 66 home runs.
"He had a better year than I did," McGwire said of Sosa, "because he went
to the playoffs."
After the interview, Letterman and McGwire went outside the Ed Sullivan
Theater on 53rd Street with the TV host becoming just another pitcher who
was taken deep by McGwire.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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