Celebrating 70: Mark Mcgwire's Historic Season [Paperback]

Bernie Miklasz (Editor), Ron Smith (Editor), Mike Eisenbath (Editor), Dave Kindred (Editor), Jack Buck (Editor), The Sporting News (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

Presents a homer-by-homer review of the St. Louis Cardinal slugger's single-season home run record.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The venerable Sporting News, located in St. Louis, was around and flourishing when the Babe set the mark of 60 in 1927, and when Roger Maris broke it with 61 in 1961. It saved the real celebration, though, for its hometown hero: Mark McGwire is virtually coronated in this smart, photo-rich, comprehensive veneration of his record-breaking season compiled under the Sporting News aegis. Each home run gets the royal treatment: every McGwire at-bat of the game is codified, the pitcher identified, the count remembered, and a picture of the ballpark shows where the shot landed and just how far it was hit. There are lots of fascinating bits and pieces--facts and figures, quotes and observations--thrown in to complement solid reportage and good writing, ending with a table of fascinating historical data to give McGwire's achievement added perspective, as if the number 70 wasn't perspective enough. --Jeff Silverman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Each memorable trajectory launched by St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman Mark McGwire during his booming 1998 season is here in this fan's guide. During his race to break Roger Maris's 1961 season home-run record, McGwire fended off a field of the game's greatest sluggers before settling into a good-natured and unprecedented contest with the Cubs' Sammy Sosa. Their national home-run derby so enthralled the country that it often edged out the Lewinsky scandal. McGwire's 70 arcing drives are dissected in this basic yet evocative record, which gathers over 200 news photographs, commentary by beat reporters from the great home-run campaign, game summaries, and a profile of each clout's victim ("I turned around and admired it," confessed the Mets' pitcher Bobby Jones of home run 47). No doubt the first of many celebratory books, this quickly produced "keepsake" album well represents the color and hyperbole of McGwire's peerless season and the press carnival that surrounded him. Sammy Sosa gets his mention, if not quite his due. Recommended for public libraries.?Nathan Ward, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Sporting News (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892046228
• ISBN-13: 978-0892046225
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,788,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celebrating 70 is historic, May 31, 2000

By 

Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celebrating 70: Mark McGwire's Historic Season (Hardcover)

For the strongman from Pomona, California playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Summer of '98 was one long victory parade. A reminder of seasons past & a celebration of baseball future. He became a national hero & role model with class. He gave baseball back its luster. In this large, glossy, colorful homage to one fabulous boy of summer - the team of writers, photographers, designers & editors has given us a memorable, collectible, hit-by-hit, play-by-play story of a modern grand adventure. What a gift!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was one of the greatest sports books I have ever read, December 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Celebrating 70: Mark McGwire's Historic Season (Hardcover)

It was a fabulous book which relived all of the excitement of the homerun-record chase of the 1998 baseball season. The photographs are excellent and the text is very well-written as well. The exact distance, pitcher, count, inning, and stadium are given for every one of "Big Mac's" homers, with at least one picture for each. Not only does it cover McGwire's homers, but it also covers the homeruns of Sammy Sosa. The introduction by St. Luis Cardinal announcer, Jack Buck is nice too. Overall, Celebrating 70:MARK MCWIRE'S HISTORIC SEASON is a must-have for any baseball enthusiast.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, October 12, 2000

By 

Todd Hawley (San Francisco CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celebrating 70: Mark McGwire's Historic Season (Hardcover)

The 1998 baseball season was truly one of the most magic in recenty years, thanks in part to the "home run battle" between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. This book chronicles their achievement which I suspect will grow to legendary tones in the years to come. The sportmanship between these two hereos was evident all season long, and the book reflects that.

Perhaps it was fitting that McGwire should wind up in a city that is a true "baseball town," and one that could truly love and cherish his accomplishment. I remember watching the game on TV where McGwire broke Babe Ruth's home regular season home run record and even the Cub players stood and applauded him. This book remembers that.

It starts off with pictures of McGwire and a nice foreword by Jack Buck, the longtime St. Louis Cardinals' broadcaster. There's also a brief story about Maris and Ruth, the men McGwire chased for most of that long summer. And then the home runs. Each page is devoted to a description of each one; the date, the opposing pitcher, the final score and so on.

Reading through each page brought back all those wonderful memories of the 1998 season for me. This book is a wonderful treasure and keepsake to celebrate an incredible baseball season by one man.