McGwire was my friend; the decision is yours
Mark McGwire handed me the photo and it said, "To Bob, My Friend, Mark McGwire." The Tulsa newspaper had done a story on me and took my picture around the batting cage with Mark and, of course, I wanted him to sign it. This was, after all, the man who had set the Major League home run record the year before. I'm not a huge memorabilia collector, but this was one to show the grandkids someday.
Mark was gracious about it, and even laughed when he saw the picture, a shot of me showing him my grip and swing. He was gracious to all of us back then and represented a larger-than-life hero who was also a good guy. He had donated a million of his own dollars for a child-abuse shelter, saying he had a special place in his heart for those who couldn't defend themselves.
He was almost too good to be true; years later, we would find out he indeed was.
Since Mark's confession earlier this week, I have been asked by many to express my opinion, since I had a front row seat for the Great Home Run Chase of 1998, featuring McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
The Cubs, the Cardinals' bitter division rivals, won the NL Central that year and I didn't like that. But many fans didn't care; they came to the ballpark to see Mark hit the ball out of sight. He seldom disappointed them.
When McGwire's early-season pace was so skewed, it was obvious something special was happening. By mid-season, we had to sneak him into hotels via kitchens and staff elevators. He lived on room service, and it was a major undertaking for our traveling security man, Joe Walsh, just to get him on and off the bus. When the bus would pull up to our chartered plane, the airline ramp attendants would freeze and gawk at this giant of a man, and they weren't exactly little guys themselves.
My home run call of "See ... you ... later!" became "See ............ you ............ later!" because Mark's shots went so high and so far, I didn't think they were ever coming down.
One day in August, Mark asked me how many I thought he would hit. I guessed 66. He laughed and said, "If I hit 66, I'll kiss your behind (or something to that effect) right in the middle of this clubhouse!" A month later, on the last Friday of the '98 season, he sat down and did a twenty minute interview with me that we would air on Sunday night after the last game. He got emotional when I asked him about his dad. He told me his dad had polio as a child and couldn't play sports, and this meant the world to him to be able to give this accomplishment to his father. He also told me that Tony La Russa was his baseball dad, and that he and Tony would be close forever.
I tell you these things to indicate to you that this was a caring, sensitive young man. He was my friend, and I know he made a mistake. He was a good player and a good citizen, and I'm glad he has come clean and apologized for what he did. Now, it's your turn to make up your mind whether or not you believe him, whether or not you think he should be a Hall of Famer someday.
Many will feel that Roger Maris rightfully holds the single season HR record, not McGwire, Sosa or Barry Bonds. Heck, because it was only a 154-game season, some will still say the Babe is the champ. Baseball is a game of numbers, but it's also a game of feeling, and you're entitled to yours.
After Mark hit #62 during the game of September 8, 1998, I had a car full of people as we left Busch Stadium, and we listened to KMOX Radio as a middle-aged lady called in. She was in tears, saying baseball's labor troubles had driven her away from the game, but on this night she had come back because of what Mark McGwire had done. The game her dad had passed on to her was now again a part of her life. I remember hearing that as clearly as seeing the home run off Steve Trachsel hours earlier, and the ensuing celebration.
Those baseball images will live with me forever, and, yes, they're now somewhat tainted. If we are the forgiving people we say we are, now it's time to prove it. Some won't be able to, and that's their choice, and that's what makes America what we are - free to make up our own minds.
What's my opinion? I think Mark is guilty of cheating the game he loved, but I sincerely feel he still would have hit 500 home runs (he hit 583) even if he had never touched a performance-enhancing drug. As a baseball fan, I feel betrayed, but I also think time will allow me to forgive him. And if I had a vote, I would probably send him to Cooperstown someday, though I'm not sure when. After all, not everyone in the Hall of Fame is squeaky clean.
How do you feel?
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Categories (click for archive)Bob Carpenter | MASNblogs |
Nice piece Bob, good to hear from you again.
For a one dimensional (power) player like McGwire, reaching the 500 HR plateau was once a clean ticket to Coooperstown. Harmon Killebrew, anybody?
McGwire's career turbocharger kicked in at a time when most players begin to show career decline, and it's almost impossible to fathom those big numbers being organically generated. If a slugger grows significantly stronger, the bat is lighter by comparison and one can turn quickly, generating bat speed previously unattainable. Few players today fail to take advantage of modern strength training techniques, because the benefits are obvious to all. God given talents aside, more strength means a quicker bat, and all the benefits that confers.
Did he hit more home runs as a result of his cheating? It's hard to fathom that he didn't. Did he also extend his career as a result of the drug regimen? It would appear he might have, though we'll never be sure. I believe that yes, he probably did not only extend his career, but he greatly increased his level of performance during this period, in a way contrary with how aging players typically perform. After all, he claims he took the substances in order to recover from and prevent injuries, which would confer significant benefits to the aging athlete.
Taken together, along with his admission of how long a period he was taking these performance enhancing substances, I don't believe he would have attained the 500 HR level had his career remained true to his natural talent and health. Can I prove it? It's not really possible, is it?
Which leaves Cooperstown. Absent maybe a hundred homers and the HR record, McGwire's case weakens considerably. But even without any discounting, do we really want to confer the honor of admission to one who did such damage to the credibility and fairness of the game? I would hope not.
I think you are blinded by your closeness to the situation. I don't think you are wrong. You are entitled to your opinion which in mu opinion is biased from interactions with Mark. I am sure if you ask his son Barry Bonds is a great dad, role model and father figure. I don't see anyone asking that he go directly to Cooperstown or be given a pass.
I think its easy to make excuses for people you want to believe in. You cannot say for certain he would have hit 500 home runs. Those same drugs he was taking to get stronger and faster prolonged his career.
If Robbie Alomar was excluded for one incident, spitting on an umpire who allegedly hurled a slur at him, I don't think McGwire is getting in soon.
McGwire, Clemens, A-Rod, Sosa, Bonds, Palmiero are all lumped into the same group. If one gets in they all have to get in together. I would prefer it be after they have passed away.
Interesting article Bob. As an O's fan, I don't venture to the Nats stuff very often, but saw the headline and had to check it out.
I am conflicted about Mark McGwire, and all of the players who have been tainted by steroids over the last few years.
On the one hand, I do not believe for one second that any of them took steroids without knowing the consequences, or without believing that it would improve their performance, whether directly or through the ability to stay healthy longer, work out harder, etc. They took the risk, they have been discovered, and for the more accomplished, they may have ruined their chance at enshrinement in the baseball HOF. It may seem unfair, but as we are reminded often, life ain't fair.
The offset to this is that baseball management, and the union turned a blind eye to this subject, so that they could reap the financial rewards of the attention brought to the sport by McGwire, Sosa, Bonds and others. It wasn't so long ago that "Chicks dig the long ball" was a Nike sales tagline. While this may not excuse individual players, it did create a culture that encouraged players to take steriods, and probably made some feel they had to use to "keep up". Ultimately, just excuses, but points that need to be considered.
The one item you mention that I take exception to is your statement that McGwire would have hit 500 HRs without steroids. I counter that with his injury history, with the back problem that developed early in his career, it is a very real possibility that without steroids he would have been out of baseball years earlier, and would have never approached 500 HRs.
Thanks for sharing your views.
I forgive him. I would never never let him in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Shame yes. My estimation is that at least 100 of his home runs were due to steroids that increased his power and allowed him to stay on the field long enough injury fee to hit them. He cheated himself, his family, baseball and the fans. I forgive him but he is no Hall of famer.
Hey guys ... great opinions, all of you! Time will tell, maybe lots of time, on this issue. In my opinion, the real litmus test will be A-Rod when he retires, having been an "adored" Yankee and by then maybe the alltime HR leader. Then we'll see how sincere or self-righteous they are up the coast.
I appreciate you writing in.
Hey Bob can't wait for the season to begin, but maRK got bigger and hit most of his home rums after his roid for health reason began. He is still in denial, no wait he isn't. Just talk to Mr. Larussa and Mr. Mackay. They seem to follow maRK from Oakland to St. Louis. Enough said on this subject. No Hall of Fame vote from me.
Hey Bob, I appreciate your insight, but I have to agree with the rest - he cheated to beat Maris' record and he is no Hall of Famer for me. Baseball owners, managers and the Commissioner all turned a blind eye to the steroid era. I hope none of those guys get into the HOF. With them cheating to stay in the game, how many real players who didn't cheat got overlooked and never made it to the majors because of the cheaters? How fair is that? Yes, I forgive, but I don't want to see McGuire, Bonds, Rodriguiz, etc in the HOF. I don't even want to see them in the record books. I'd rather see Pete Rose in the HOF than any of them.