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11" x 8.25" ... Read more

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Baseball was reunited with the affection of its fans in 1998. due largely to the neck-and-neck home run race staged by Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.Dick Wimmer has captured the spirit of this exitement in The Home Run Game, an anthology dedicated to baseball's most dramatic home runs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Steroid heroes ?
Apparently rushed into print to take advantage of the chemically-fueled Sosa/McGwire home run race. Fine photos, but lacks any analysis at all. Not up to the high standard set by SI. ... Read more

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The powerhouse player who's revolutionizing the game...

In 1998, Mark McGwire made baseball history by breaking the legendary 61-home-run record set by Roger Maris in 1961. Not only did the outstanding Cardinals player break Maris' mark, he surpassed it by hitting 70 in one season! Find out all the facts on McGwire, from his childhood in Southern California to his time with the Oakland A's, to his major league comeback with the St. Louis Cardinals. Learn what it takes to make baseball superstardom-and how to hit a home run on all of life's playing fields.

With eight pages of photos, plus new information on McGwire's record-breaking season!
Amazon.com Review
It's only natural in 1998's season of the slugger, with thefocus on the race to break 61, that baseball's most prolificcontemporary power hitter would be reduced to size with a quickiebio. The thing about McGwire is that he's soooo big--and not just inphysical stature--that he can't be reduced, especially when hisbiographer produces what is essentially fans' notes.

Rains mayhave written nothing more than a routine biography, outliningMcGwire's growth from Little Leaguer--he naturally hit a homer hisfirst time at bat--to eventual major-league stardom, but his subjectis anything but routine. The McGwire that Rains portrays is thoughtfuland engaging--a man who, despite his outsized talent, grips prioritiesas well as a bat. Rains recounts how, on the last day of McGwire'smonumental first season with Oakland, with the rookie record of 49dingers already on the books, his wife went into labor. Instead ofstaying and going for 50, McGwire immediately flew back to Californiato take his place beside her. He can always get 50 another time.

McGwire approaches the hallowed home-run record with his trademarkpoise and perspective. He's only worried about one aspect of chasingthe record: even if he fails to break Maris's mark, he will haveaccomplished something no one, not even Ruth,has done before: hitting 50 home runs in three consecutiveseasons. "Is that failure," McGwire asks circumspectly. "Are peoplegoing to write that I failed?" Probably. But as Rains observes, "Thatthought passes after a moment.... Ever since his days growing upplaying with friends at the end of a cul-de-sac in Claremont,California, McGwire has been in control of his own fate, just as he isnow." --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A good book, sort of
This was a very good book, until I got to the lastfew pages. There, I found out that the famous 62nd and 70th homers were NOT included or reported about. Obviously, there wasn't much research done because thewhole book was full of quotes moving the story along. I'd say that no morethan 1/3 of the whole book was actual writing done by Rains himself. But,this was still a fairly good book. The pictures in the centerfold couldhave been a little bit better and more updated as well. But, the writing iswhat's important, right?

GREAT player,greatbiography -HIGHLY RECOMENDED
I have never actually finished a book over 100 pages EXCEPT for this one. That has to say something. Not only that i LOVE Mark McGwire and almost everything he does but that the author, Rob Rains must know what hestalking about. It is a pretty well detailed book the chapters could be alittle shorter but otherwise a very interesting book!

Basic, covered alot of things twice and three times
i think this was basic information and Rains touched on the same topics on more than one occasion, interesting for someone who just knows he played for the A's and is the HR king, like me, which is why i gave it 3 stars. if i was following McGwire from his rookie year, i would have hated it.soagain, its basic, nothing spectacular

This book is very simplistic.
Anyone can get most of the information in this book on the internet. I found nothing new, and the style of writing was plain boring. I was hoping for more in depth research and more on Mark, the man. I was disappointed inthis effort.

It is a great book.
It is a great book about a great athlete ... Read more

Product Description
At the start of the 1998 major league baseball season, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire hit a home run. In the games that followed, he did it again. And again. And again. And again. By the end of the season, in late September, he had done the hardest thing in baseball an earth-shattering seventy times. He didn't just break the decades-old single-season home-run record set by Roger Maris in 1961-he shattered it. And by doing so, he not only set a new benchmark for players to strive for, but also reminded people that baseball is fun, a game to be enjoyed, with heroes who play for the love of the sport, not for the love of money. In this powerful biography of the most talked-about man in baseball, Matt Christopher, the number one sports series for kids, explores the slugger's childhood days on the diamond as well as the ups and downs of his college and professional career. For more information on the Matt Christopher Sports Bio Bookshelf, please see the last pages of this book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"A Slugger, Mark McGwire"
I enjoy all of Matt Christopher's books especially his "Sport Bio" ones. I checked out this grand book at the public libary. "At The Plate With Mark McGwire" is a great book because it's allthe way Matt Christopher writes, the way he wrote this book was especiallyGREAT. The way Matt Christopher wrote when McGwire was little to when hewas a slugger,when he "stunk", and much more.I really hope peopleof all ages read about such a star. ... Read more

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Examines the life and career of baseball superstar Mark McGwire, from his earliest playing days to his record-breaking 1998 season. ... Read more

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Hit a home run with these biographies! The sports heroes featured have gone through both setbacks and successes, pereservering because of their drive and determination. Make kids the #1 fans of reading with these books! ... Read more

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A brief biography of the Cardinals' first baseman who broke Roger Maris's home run record by hitting 70 homers in 1998. ... Read more

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MARK McGWIRE

FIRST BASE
BATS: RIGHT
THROWS: RIGHT
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 250
BORN: OCTOBER 1, 1963 IN CALIFORNIA
DRAFTED: OAKLAND'S FIRST ROUND (TENTH OVERALL) IN 1984

Throughout the 1998 season, the nation watched Mark McGwire chase one of the most revered records in all of sports: the single season home run record set by Roger Maris in 1961. On September 8, Big Mac hit his 62nd home run, and became a major league baseball legend.

Find out all about the amazing Mark McGwire, how he went from little league to the major leagues, how he rebounded from career-threatening injuries to accomplish the greatest achievement in recent sports history. No one will ever forget Mark's sensational 70 home runs and the exciting race against his friend Sammy Sosa to set the new single season home run record -- and how it brought fans back to baseball.

Read about one of baseball's best all-around players, a popular veteranwhose dedication and talent have led to a sensational record-breaking career! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

this Man belongs in the Hall of Fame Period
Big Mac truly saved Baseball along with Sammy Sosa back in the summer of 1998. He was a Great Hitter all through His career&He deserves his place in cooperstown. this Book is a solid Read.MCgwire was always bad from his Days in Oakland through the End in St Louis. Big Mac is the truth&he should be a Hall of Famer easily.

Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire, the only person to hit 70 homeruns in a single season. He did this in his last season of profesional base ball in 1998 on the St. Louis Cardinals. He was on the Oakland A's for 12 years and was on the St. Louis Cardinals for 4 years. He played first base. He bats right and throws roght also. he is 6'4", just like my dad. Mark weighs about 250 pounds. Born October 1, 1963 in California. McGwire went to the University on Southern California. He was Oaklands first draft pick.(tenth over all). Throughtout the 1998 season the nation watched Mcgwire to see if he would break the 62 home runs in a season. Indead he did and everybody congradulated him. But best of all. His best friend and fan, Sammy Sosa. Many people said he took steroroids, but i do not belive that and neither does this author.

The best biography I've everread.
Mark started off as a rookie in 1986. He was drafted to the OaklandA's. When Mark was a kid he actually hated baseball and loved golf, but his parent's told him they really wanted him to play baseball so Mark finallyagreed and at his first at bat he hit a home run. When Mark was in histeenage years he was asked to join the California All-star team and he hita ball into Mexico. It just happened to be that they were playing on theborder of California and Mexico. In high school he had to quit theteam he was playing on because of a knee injury but Mark was so good inbaseball he was awarded a scholarship. In Mark's professional years heis probably going to be most famous for hitting 62, home runs but when hestarted he was horrible .Mark said it was a slump but the media thoughtdifferentbut after he starting hitting well, he was right. It was aslump. I really enjoyed reading the book Mark McGwire because it was veryinteresting and exciting I would recommend this book to anyone.

Great summary of McGwire's Record Breaking Season and Career
This book is a an excellent re-cap of Mark McGwire's career and a thoroughlook at his head to head competition with Sammy Sosa. The writer does avery good job of portraying McGwire as hero to both parents and children. Aperfect book for anyone interested in this fine baseball player. ... Read more

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Presents a homer-by-homer review of the St. Louis Cardinal slugger's single-season home run record.Amazon.com Review
The venerable Sporting News, located in St. Louis, wasaround and flourishing when the Babe set the mark of 60 in 1927, andwhen Roger Maris broke it with 61 in 1961. It saved the realcelebration, though, for its hometown hero: Mark McGwire is virtuallycoronated in this smart, photo-rich, comprehensive veneration of hisrecord-breaking season compiled under the Sporting Newsaegis. Each home run gets the royal treatment: every McGwire at-bat ofthe game is codified, the pitcher identified, the count remembered,and a picture of the ballpark shows where the shot landed and just howfar it was hit. There are lots of fascinating bits and pieces--factsand figures, quotes and observations--thrown in to complement solidreportage and good writing, ending with a table of fascinatinghistorical data to give McGwire's achievement added perspective, as ifthe number 70 wasn't perspective enough. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Mark McGwire's 70 Comes Alive!
Relive Mark McGwire's historic 1998 assault on the single season home run record with this magnificent book overflowing with full-color photos and amusing anecdotes."Celebrating 70" charts the slugger's season, home run for home run, and features a bevy of information - complete with pictures - including the date of each long ball, the distance, and which pitcher was christened with the dubious distinction of yielding one of Big Mac's clouts!Along the way, you can read a brief summary for each game McGwire applied his trade.The pictures have been well chosen, conveying the emotion of each moment.The text matches the shear exuberance of the images, and Jack Buck's forward is simply splendid.

Mark McGwire's 70 Comes Alive!
Relive Mark McGwire's historic 1998 assault on the single season home run record with this magnificent book overflowing with full-color photos and amusing anecdotes."Celebrating 70" charts the slugger's season, home run for home run, and features a bevy of information - complete with pictures - including the date of each long ball, the distance, and which pitcher was christened with the dubious distinction of yielding one of Big Mac's clouts!Along the way, you can read a brief summary for each game McGwire applied his trade.The pictures have been well chosen, conveying the emotion of each moment.The text matches the shear exuberance of the images, and Jack Buck's forward is simply splendid.

Outstanding!
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.

Celebrating 70 is historic
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 thislarge, glossy, colorful homage to one fabulous boy of summer - the team ofwriters, photographers, designers & editors has given us a memorable,collectible, hit-by-hit, play-by-play story of a modern grand adventure.What a gift!

This was one of the greatest sports books I have ever read
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 "BigMac's" homers, with at least one picture for each. Not only does itcover McGwire's homers, but it also covers the homeruns of Sammy Sosa.Theintroduction by St. Luis Cardinal announcer, Jack Buck is nice too. Overall, Celebrating 70:MARK MCWIRE'S HISTORIC SEASON is a must-have forany baseball enthusiast. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents a biography of the St. Louis Cardinal slugger who broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record in 1998. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Chipper Jones is #1!!!!!
I loved this book! It gives a great insight on what Chipper did before hehit it big!Great book!

Chipper Jones
I liked the section on Chipper, but one thing was not true...hisanniversary is in September, not in March... ... Read more

Product Description
Mark McGwire, the twelve-time MLB all-star and 1987American League Rookie of the Year, is profiled.From his collegeyears at the University of Southern California to how he became knownas "Big Mac," this book takes a look at Mark's early years, his majorleague baseball debut with the Oakland Athletics, and his current roleas slugger and first baseman for the Saint Louis Cardinals.Jam-packed with action photos, this book also includes baseball tipsfor young players, Mark's game-day routine and statistics and records. ... Read more

Product Description
Presents a biography of the St. Louis Cardinal slugger who broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record in 1998. ... Read more