| Wow!!!! What a year for the Big
Man! Who would have ever thought that the player breaking Roger Maris' record
would hit 70?!?! It seemed impossible... but the rivalry between
Mac and the Cubs' Sammy Sosa kept them both hitting home runs throughout the
year. Considering that Mac's run for the
record put him in the spotlight everyday, it didn't really do much for the
team. The Birds were never really in the hunt for the pennant finishing
19 games back. Pitching was the downfall this year.
Started the season on March
31st. The earliest opening day date in history.
The Cardinals now occupy the right
field bullpen and the visitors now warm-up in the left field
bullpen.
Premium Club box seats now extend in
the camera wells down each line.
In December, the Cards make a trade
with Miami that brings Edgar Renteria to the team.
On April 4th,
Mark McGwire is the first Cardinal to hit three home-runs at
Busch, accomplishing the feat against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
On Sept. 8th, Mark
McGwire breaks the single season home-run record with his 62nd round-tripper
against Steve Trachsel of the Chicago Cubs
On Sept. 27th, Mark
McGwire hits his 69th and 70th home runs of the season against Mike Thurman
and Carl Pavano of the Montreal Expos
J.D. Drew made his major league debut
late in the season and provided a spark with 5 HRs of his own!
The Cardinals had a
season franchise record of 10 pinch-hit home runs.
Mark McGwire has the record
for the most extra-inning home runs in a season. (4)
Ray Lankford and Brian Jordan had good
years. Ray with a .293 average ( 31 HRs, 105 RBIs) and Brian with
a .316 average (25 HRs, 91 RBIs)
Ray also became the first Cardinal to
hit 30HRs or more in back-to-back seasons since Stan Musial in 1954
and 1955.
Tom
Pagnozzi on being released by the Cardinals - "For a guy who can't run, can't
hit... 12 seasons is a good career?"
In the
home opener on March 31st, Mark McGwire and Braden Looper made their presence
known. McGwire, on his first opening day with the Cardinals en route to
a record home run season, walloped a grand slam off Los Angeles' Ramon
Martinez in the fifth inning as the Cardinals beat the Dodgers 6-0.
Looper, making his major league debut in relief after just one season in the
minors, fanned the side in the ninth inning.
 Click to read full article!
 
CNNsi
-- 1998 review (great site!)
 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch Collector's Pages (55-70)
|
1998
Comments?