Mark Mcgwire Trendmendous Success Essay, Research Paper

Mark McGwire?s 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. McGwire?s 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

McGwire?s first year with the Oakland A?s 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

baseball?s 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. McGwire?s

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 wasn?t 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 don?t 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). That?s 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 wasn?t 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 don?t 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, McGwire?s 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 didn?t bother to come

to the baseball games. With McGwire?s 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 batter?s 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 he?s a man who doesn?t 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. That?s why whether hitting home runs on the field or

working with children, Mark McGwire proves he is dedicated,

successful, and one of baseball?s most popular players to watch.