Mark Mcgwire Trendmendous Success Mark McGwires Tremendous Success Mark McGwire is one of the most electrifying figures in sports today. This six-foot five inch, two hundred and fifty pound monster is a man on a mission.
McGwires mission began when he went on to play high school baseball for Damien High School in Claremont. After high school McGwire attend the University of Southern California to play college baseball. McGwire would then go on to break a few home run records while at USC.The great work he did in USC earned him a spot on the US Olympic baseball team in 1984.
This would be the beginning of a successful career. From there, McGwire became the tenth pick in the first round and signed with the Oakland Athletics. In McGwires first year with the Oakland As he became Rookie of the Year. Whether hitting home runs on the field or working with children, Mark proves he is dedicated, successful, and one of baseballs most popular players to watch. Whenever people walk into a ballpark to watch Mark McGwire on the field, people can believe he is a dedicated player to the game of baseball.
McGwire has had much success because of all the hard practicing he does to get better each day.McGwires dedication came when Coach Stanley hit ground balls to McGwire, he tried to hit them hard enough that it would hit McGwire on either the wrist or the shin (Rains 61). I believe the long hours of taking ground balls helped him become one of the best fielding first baseman and earned McGwire a few Gold Glove Awards during his career. McGwire has also shown his dedication when McGwire took countless ground balls on a patch of rocky ground, trying to practice some of the bad hops and unusual bounces (Rains 62).
Without a question McGwire was determined to work hard on his fielding. When McGwire wasnt fielding ground balls, he would be practicing his swing during batting practice.McGwire would make his adjustments in batting practice to find his right stance to hit a home run. Many players dont take the time to work on their stance to become a better hitter like McGwire does, which is why I think he has shown much dedication in hitting the big home run. McGwire has also shown a dedication off the field by setting up his own foundations.
The Mark McGwire Foundation for Children is a foundation he has committed three million dollar of his salary to help physically and sexually abused children (McGregor 1). McGwire shows how important kids are to him by signing autographs for his fans and by working with abused kids who need a role model to help them. This also shows McGwire has become a public figure for what he has done for his community off the field.With his busy schedule McGwire said, He wants to help people (Reily 45).
Thats why I believe McGwire is such a dedicated player not just on the field but also off the field with his foundation. Finally to prove McGwire is such a dedicated player is when McGwire comes to the ballpark early to sign baseballs, hats, and cards for fans who await his arrival to the stadium and even after the game McGwire finds time to make his fans happy. As McGwire continues his success in baseball it all comes down to the hard dedication he puts during practice to be one of the best ball player of all time. Mark McGwire has been a successful player throughout his career with Oakland and St.
Louis. McGwire has become a successful by hitting home runs. His recent success came two months ago on September 8, 1998 when McGwire broke Roger Maris single season home run record of sixty-one homers. It wasnt one of his long homers either; however, it barely cleared the 330 foot fence. McGwire also set the home run record for rookies at forty-nine homers in 1987. When McGwire steps into the batters box he is feared by pitchers and by coaches.
McGwire has set all kinds of records since his college years at USC.McGwire is also the first player in his first four years to hit thirty of more homers in each season. Mark has also been proven to be one the most successful players of all time with his great achievements he has had throughout his career. In 1995 McGwire led the Major League for average home run distance with 418 feet. McGwire has also hit homers that have gone 538 feet long.
McGwire is a serious man when it comes to hitting the long ball far.With all this success many people dont know that, the biggest, strongest man in baseball is really a softy. His eyesight is 20/500, which means that without his contacts, he is Mr. Magoo (Verducci 76). This may not be important but how does a man with poor eye sight hit a home run so far.
The question may be solved.With all the hard work McGwire does, he also has tremendous strength which gives him the power to hit the ball so far. McGwire name has came up through the media of his recent announcement of taking supplements to pursue Roger Maris home run record. It is to believe McGwire became involved in lifting weights and taking care of himself when his brother Jay moved in with him.
Mark learned how to lift weights the right way and stay flexible. Mark would work out six days a week in the off season, four during the season. He lifts after home games now and is routinely the last to leave the clubhouse (Reily 40).This has shown why McGwire has broken many records and has been a successful player. McGwire strength also comes from the supplements he takes such as: Muscle Nitro, Met Max, Lean Gainer and the famous Androstenedione (Reily 40). These supplements are legal and is also a major part of the success McGwire has had this year.
Without a doubt McGwire will continue to hit many more home runs in his career with his strength and maybe next year he might break his home run now of seventy home runs. Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, viewed from Waveland, McGwires batting practice is the greatest show above earth (Big Verducci, 76).When ever people come to the ball park to watch the game everyone is out to watch McGwire a very popular player. McGwire has brought out many new fans to the game of baseball. With attendance records doubling in numbers this year because of the Roger Maris home run chase; millions of people have came to see McGwire hit a home run. A few years back when the League was on strike many people didnt bother to come to the baseball games.
With McGwires record breaking home run record many people have came back out to the ballparks to watch America favorite pastime. It is also amazing what one guy can do, to make such a difference in the game of baseball.For example many people come out early to the stadium to watch McGwire take batting practice. During batting practice people line up along the leftfield fence and along the sides to take many pictures of McGwire. McGwire is a man who loves to sign autographs, cards, and baseballs for kids.
McGwire comes out early to the ballpark and stays also late to please his fans. It also to said when McGwire steps into a batters box, a sea of screaming red and white-clad of St. Louis fans, with thousands of flashbulbs sparkle like fireflies on a late summer evening (Bragg 1A). With this much pressure at every at-bat, McGwire manages to see the small white baseball and hit it a long way.With all the attention McGwire gets hes a man who doesnt do shoe deals. In his fourteen years as a pro McGwire has yet to do a shoe deal with any company.
McGwire said, Its too distracting (Reily 35). Even though McGwire is such a popular player, He has turned down Letterman, Leno, sixty-minutes, book deals and movie deals (Reily 35). During McGwires fourteen years in the pros he has signed a few major contracts. Being a popular player like McGwire can have many advantages and disadvantages.
With the many awards, records, and deals McGwire has done, have proven to turn McGwire into one of the most popular players to watch in baseball. McGwire popularity has also came from the many All-star games he has appeared in and the trendmendous home runs he has hit. Many people say when McGwire retirees he will be one of the players to make it into the Hall of Fame. As the 1998 baseball season came to an end Mark McGwire accomplished many goals and shattered many records. In 1999 we can probably expect a bigger, stronger, and smarter hitter for the St.Louis Cardinals.
When the season kicks off next year, we can also expect many people to come watch McGwire play and shot for the new record of seventy home runs. As we look back on the years McGwire has played in, he has gone through a lot of problems. Thats why whether hitting home runs on the field or working with children, Mark McGwire proves he is dedicated, successful, and one of baseballs most popular players to watch.
