McGwire Joins Ruth With Mammoth Blast

Wed, Sep 10, 1997 - SAN FRANCISCO (SCN/AP) - Mark McGwire joined Babe Ruth as the only players in major league history with consecutive 50-homer seasons by hitting a mammoth shot off Shawn Estes in St. Louis' game against the Giants on Wednesday.

McGwire led off the third inning with a homer to left field estimated at 446 feet. It gave the Cardinals a 3-2 lead over San Francisco. It was McGwire's 16th homer in 34 games since joining the Cardinals in a July 31 trade from the Oakland Athletics.

McGwire, who hit a major league-leading 52 homers for Oakland last season, became the first player with back-to-back 50-homer seasons since Ruth did it in 1927 and 1928. Ruth also accomplished the feat in 1920 and 1921.

McGwire became the sixth player to reach 50 homers twice, joining Ruth - who did it four times - and Jimmie Foxx, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Ralph Kiner. McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr., who began the day with 50 homers for the Seattle Mariners, became only the fifth pair of players to hit 50 homers in the same season. This is the first time it's been done in consecutive seasons.

McGwire has now homered six times in his last six games.