The Rise and Fall of 70

The epic tale of the rise and fall of an American icon and tragic hero.

He is not a god. He is not a devil. He is a human.

Music: "Vampire Hunters", from the "Bram Stoker's Dracula" soundtrack, composed by Wojciech Kilar.

[ Major League Baseball St. Louis Cardinal San Francisco Giants Chicago Cubs Peter Gammons sportwriter Busch Stadium Boston Red Sox Mitchell report]

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Mark
• McGwire
• Barry
• Bonds
• Steroids
• Bud
• Selig
• Sammy
• Sosa
• home
• run
• record
• 70
• 73
• 755
• MLB
• baseball
• hall
• of
• fame
• congressional

[7927jackpark]

The Cards played the Brewers in Milwaukee just before St.Louis finished the season at home. I lived near Milwaukee at the time and had bought tickets for the Milw series in June. I was in the print media for 25 years, but never as a photographer. It's a good shot; the ball is seen in flight just at the edge of the outfield grass. I also saw McGwire's last homerun of his career.

[Coastergeekperson04]

@7927jackpark Do you work in baseball/broadcasting or was it just a really good photograph?

[7927jackpark]

I witnessed 7 of Number 25's 70 dingers in '98, 2 in Milwaukee and 5 in St. Louis. The first was #17 in May of that season. The ball was just coming down when it landed in the second deck. Amazed at the ball's distance and lack of arc, I ran down to the Busch box office before the game ended to buy tix for the last two games of the season. I managed to photograph #70 and gave 14x18 enlargements to Dick Schapp, Bob Costas and Bud Selig. No one can take away those memories.

[SDMF26]

@josh10177 No, Michael Vick was much, much worse. Also, back when Ruth played, strike zones were much larger than today's strike zones. Therefore, you can't make an assumption that Ruth wouldn't do good with pitchers from 1998. If you are going to make any assumption, you would have to say would probably do better. What are you trying to say? Pitchers today throw harder or have tougher junk pitches.

[josh10177]

If we moved Babe Ruth forward in time against 1998 Pitchers he would be lucky to get 6 HRs a year. That was a much different time. Can't even be Compared. I forgave Big Mac for making a mistake, HE MADE A MISTAKE. and he to this day remains my favorite to ever swing a bat. I know What he did was much worse than what Michael Vick or Kobe Bryant did Right? And they're going around Thriving on their "second " Chances.

[dak879]

Its such a shame because McGwire truly was a good guy. He isn't like Bonds, who is a mean person, a selfish person, and a perpetual liar who can't live up to his transgressions. I respect those who come out and apologize and admit what they did. We all do dumb things, and few of us have the guts to own up to it. But it is just so sad. We so badly want our heroes to be real, and when it turns out they aren't, its just depressing.

[JoeyBoricua2k9]

@ufoattacks mjm yeah yeah sure sure whatever you say fat piece of shit was what he was

[JustGaPaid]

he was to good to be true for st. louis. i hate that shit.

[kirauge15]

Awesome.