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.