September 8, 1998, Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals breaks what is arguably the game’s most prestigious single-season record: Roger Maris’ mark of 61 home runs. McGwire hits his 62nd home run against Steve Trachsel in the fourth inning of a 6-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. After the game, McGwire presents his uniform, along with the bat and ball from the 62nd home run, to the Hall of Fame.

The Home Run Race of 1998
The chase was hardly a chase at all as late as May. On May 24, 1998, Mark McGwire had 24 home runs, while Sammy Sosa was at nine. But soon, Sammy made his move and the race was on. From May 25-June 23, Sosa belted 21 home runs in 30 days. He set a record with 20 home runs in June, which was also the most homers ever hit in any month. It became clear that both McGwire and Sosa were drawing a bead on roger Maris's single-season home run record. The question was: who would get there first?

On August 19, Sosa hit his 48th home run and passed McGwire for the first time. But later in that game, McGwire answered with a pair of homers and reclaimed the lead. "Big Mac" would stay relinquish the lead just once more.

Over Labor Day weekend the Cardinals and Cubs played each other in St. Louis and the media circus surrounding the home run chase collided in one location. The two sluggers embraced the publicity, helping put baseball back on the front pages and in the news. On September 8, McGwire finally passed Maris, lining a shot over the left field wall at Busch Stadium. Sosa watched from right field and applauded. McGwire made an emotional trip around the bases, pointing to the sky as he crossed home plate to honor Maris, whose sons were in attendance. Soon, Sosa arrived and hugged McGwire, who lifted Sammy off his feet. Baseball had a golden moment. But three weeks still remained in the season and the chase was still far from over.

Five days later, Sosa hit two home runs in Wrigley Field to tie McGwire at 62. Adding to the tension of the McGwire/Sosa race was the fact that the Cubs were in a fight for a playoff spot. On September 25 in Houston, Sosa hit #66, creeping ahead of McGwire for the final time. McGwire responded by hitting a homer of his own a few innings later in St. Louis to bring the chase to a tie once more. Sosa failed to any more homers, while McGwire belted four in his final two games to finish with an astonishing 70 for the new single-season record.

Three years later, Barry Bonds broke McGwire's record, which many thought would last longer than Maris's had. Bonds blasted 73 homers to establish the new standard, in 2001. Members can listen to the Sept 8th Game

The 1998 Homerun Chase was a shared moment in time for millions, a beautifully raw nerve ending that kept getting hit, kept releasing endorphins, kept thrilling an entire hemisphere. It was tremendous fun, even if it didn’t age perfectly. Here is a detailed article & opinion piece you may find interesting. 

https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2018/9/5/17796186/mcgwire-sosa-homerun-chase-1998-steroids-media

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TRIVIA

Who is the first player to finish a major league season with more RBI than hits that year?

Hint: #1  Coach on an opposing team is quoted as saying, “He hit a pop-up against us one day that went so high… all nine guys on our team called for it.”

Hint: #2  He holds the record for the most consecutive at-bats without hitting a triple.

Hint: #3  The day after this player hit his five hundredth career home run, Tony Gwynn got his three thousandth career hit.

September 8, 1939 -- Bob Feller, with his 12-1 victory over the Browns in St. Louis, becomes the youngest modern-era player to win 20 games. The 20 year-old Indians' fireballer finishes the season 24-9 while posting a 2.85 ERA.

September 8, 1940 -- St Louis Cardinal Johnny Mize hits homers #'s 38, 39, and 40 in the first game of a doubleheader, becoming the first player to hit three homers in one game four times in his career. Despite the 'Big Cat's' heroics, the Cardinals drop a pair to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 16-14 and 9-4.

September 8, 1953, the Chicago Cubs make one of the best transactions in franchise history, purchasing infielder Ernie Banks from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues. The Cubs surrender a mere $10,000 for Banks, who will hit 512 home runs over a 19-year major league career

September 8, 1955 the Brooklyn Dodgers, who won their first 10 games and started the season 22-2, record the earliest clinching date in National League history with a 10-2 victory over the Milwaukee Braves. However, in terms of games played, the Dodgers, in clinching in their 138th game, fail to break the record of the 1904 New York Giants, who clinched in their 137th. The Dodgers finish with a 98-55 record, 13½ games ahead of the 2nd-place Braves, in gaining their 5th pennant in 9 years. Duke Snider leads the hitters with 42 homers and a league-leading 136 runs batted in, and Don Newcombe is the ace of the pitching staff with a 20-5 record and 3.20 earned-run average. In October, Brooklyn will win its first World Series, beating the New York Yankees in 7 games. Take a look back as the Dodgers celebrate winning the pennant with Happy Felton on The Ed Sullivan Show. Felton introduces the Dodgers and interviews Roy Campanella, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese and Walter Alston.

September 8, 1962 In Game 2 of a twin bill Houston Colt 45's walk off in the 10th inning on a wild pitch by Roger Craig.

In an inning that would not make Bill James defiles happy, Bob Lills leads off with a bunt, is sacrificed to second, advances to third on a ground ball and scores the winning run on a wild pitch. Members can listen to the Sept 8th Game

September 8, 1963 -- At Connie Mack Stadium, Braves left-hander Warren Spahn tosses a complete game, edging Philadelphia, 3-2. The triumph is the southpaw's 20th victory and ties Christy Mathewson's record of thirteen seasons of twenty or more wins.

September 8, 1965, Bert Campaneris of the Kansas City A’s becomes the first major leaguer to play all nine positions in a game. Campy accomplishes the unusual feat, which was prompted by A’s’ owner Charlie Finley, during a 5-3 loss to the California Angels. Usually a shortstop, Campy catches the ninth inning and is knocked from the game after a collision with Ed Kirkpatrick.

September 8, 1977 -- Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bruce Sutter strikes out the first six Montreal Expo batters he faces including three men in the 9th on nine pitches. Included are three hall of famers - Tony Perez, Gary Carter and Andre Dawson. His immaculate inning was the first in five seasons. Here is a list of all the immaculate innings.

Sutter will pitch 3 innings and get the win at Wrigley Field when Bill Buckner hits a sacrifice fly with 1 out in the 10th.

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September 8, 1978 -- New York continues its rampage of Boston by scoring two runs in the 1st inning and six more in the 2nd inning. Boston makes seven errors to ease the Yankees to a 13 - 2 romp. Reggie Jackson hits a 3-run homer and Lou Piniella adds a double, triple and homer to back Jim Beattie's pitching. Dwight Evans and Carlton Fisk both make a pair of errors. New York is now two games back. Members can listen to the Sept 8th Game

September 8, 1980 -- Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Ferguson Jenkins as a result of the drug arrest last month. The suspension will last only two weeks before an independent arbiter surprisingly reinstates the Cubs right-hander.

September 8, 1988 - National League president Bart Giamatti is unanimously elected baseball's 7th commissioner, and will succeed Peter Ueberroth next season.

September 8, 1985, At Wrigley Field, Pete Rose gets two hits off Chicago hurler Reggie Patterson, including his historic single that ties Ty Cobb's career record of 4,191 hits. The game will be suspended due to darkness, enabling the Reds' player-manager to break the Georgia Peach's record at home. Which he will do three days later.

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