Crazy Baseball History Fact: Mark McGwire Never Won and MVP

[Mr. Friscus]

The topic of McGwire instantly brings up reactions from some baseball fans about steroids, and how he's to be avoided... that's not what this is about. Because as you know, McGwire was graded as a regular baseball player as he played. It wasn't until after he stopped (and the MLB/sports media made all of his money off of him) that they suddenly got on their high horse. But anyways... take away all the outside noise and just look at this stat line

1996 AL: .312 avg. 52 HR's (led league), 113 RBI, 21 doubles, 116 walks
1997: .274 avg. 58 HR's, 123 RBI. 27 doubles, 101 walks
1998: .299 avg, 70 HR's (led league), 147 RBI, 21 double, 162 walks (led league)
1999: .278 avg, 65 HR's (led league), 147 RBI (led league), 21 doubles, 133 walks

There's such a thing in sports as a cross-over effect. We recently saw it in the NFL when you have 2 players, and they both "deserve" an MVP, and the voters trade or value a player's previous seasons and say that if he has another season of this, he's due. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen come to mind.

Compare his years to the actual MVP's (No names, just stats)
1996 AL: .314 avg, 47 HR's, 144 RBI's
1997: I won't list because this was the year McGwire was traded from the AL to NL
1998: NL: .308 avg, 66 HR's, 158 RBI (led league)
1999: NL: .319 avg, 45 HR's, 110 RBI's

McGwire should have won 99, arguably 96 and 98

 

[leftwinger]

Strike of 94' I quit it all. Not back in till after 2000 when STL vs. AZ was on. I began to dabble.

Missed all that steroid HR BS. But I remember TLR left OAK, took some of juicers over to STL with him. But he never saw a thing? Got his name on the STL wall and into the HOF? 2 titles in many years at STL. Underachieved IMVHO.

 

[Lockback]

The topic of McGwire instantly brings up reactions from some baseball fans about steroids, and how he's to be avoided... that's not what this is about. Because as you know, McGwire was graded as a regular baseball player as he played. It wasn't until after he stopped (and the MLB/sports media made all of his money off of him) that they suddenly got on their high horse. But anyways... take away all the outside noise and just look at this stat line

1996 AL: .312 avg. 52 HR's (led league), 113 RBI, 21 doubles, 116 walks
1997: .274 avg. 58 HR's, 123 RBI. 27 doubles, 101 walks
1998: .299 avg, 70 HR's (led league), 147 RBI, 21 double, 162 walks (led league)
1999: .278 avg, 65 HR's (led league), 147 RBI (led league), 21 doubles, 133 walks

There's such a thing in sports as a cross-over effect. We recently saw it in the NFL when you have 2 players, and they both "deserve" an MVP, and the voters trade or value a player's previous seasons and say that if he has another season of this, he's due. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen come to mind.

Compare his years to the actual MVP's (No names, just stats)
1996 AL: .314 avg, 47 HR's, 144 RBI's
1997: I won't list because this was the year McGwire was traded from the AL to NL
1998: NL: .308 avg, 66 HR's, 158 RBI (led league)
1999: NL: .319 avg, 45 HR's, 110 RBI's

McGwire should have won 99, arguably 96 and 98

His battle with Sammy Sosa to break Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs captured me every day of the late summer of 1998.
But I have to say the steroid revelations for both players really soured me on the whole thing a few years later.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

His battle with Sammy Sosa to break Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs captured me every day of the late summer of 1998.
But I have to say the steroid revelations for both players really soured me on the whole thing a few years later.

Without side-tracking this thread TOO much... Suspicions about McGwire's steroid use were put on the back burner by the league and the sports media as they made bank off of him. If they ever try to posture and demean him, they are just as culpable. Same with Sosa, Bonds, etc.

But it was the most electric time in baseball as long as I've been alive

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Strike of 94' I quit it all. Not back in till after 2000 when STL vs. AZ was on. I began to dabble.

Watching Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling hurl 8 and 9 inning masterpieces back to back was amazing. I'm pretty sure they had a 3 man rotation, and Johnson pitched game 6 and game 7.

Missed all that steroid HR BS. But I remember TLR left OAK, took some of juicers over to STL with him. But he never saw a thing? Got his name on the STL wall and into the HOF? 2 titles in many years at STL. Underachieved IMVHO.

I don't hold a lack of titles against a players' greatness, as baseball has so many parts that a great player can't control. Players who never won a WS include:

• Ty Cobb
• Hack Wilson
• Ernie Banks
• Harmon Killebrew
• Willy McCovey
• Carl Yazstremski
• Rod Carew
• Carlton Fisk
• Dale Murphy
• Tony Gwynn
• Barry Bonds
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Sammy Sosa
• Mike Trout

 

[Lockback]

I love baseball.
And I love baseball history.
I'm not crazy about the state of the current system (L.A. Dodgers buying pennants) but I still love the game. I've been a fan since 1967, when I was 14. It's the best sport every invented.

 

[excalibur]

Watching Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling hurl 8 and 9 inning masterpieces back to back was amazing. I'm pretty sure they had a 3 man rotation, and Johnson pitched game 6 and game 7.

I don't hold a lack of titles against a players' greatness, as baseball has so many parts that a great player can't control. Players who never won a WS include:

• Ty Cobb
• Hack Wilson
• Ernie Banks
• Harmon Killebrew
• Willy McCovey
• Carl Yazstremski
• Rod Carew
• Carlton Fisk
• Dale Murphy
• Tony Gwynn
• Barry Bonds
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Sammy Sosa
• Mike Trout

Ted Williams.

 

[leftwinger]

Watching Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling hurl 8 and 9 inning masterpieces back to back was amazing. I'm pretty sure they had a 3 man rotation, and Johnson pitched game 6 and game 7.

I don't hold a lack of titles against a players' greatness, as baseball has so many parts that a great player can't control. Players who never won a WS include:

• Ty Cobb
• Hack Wilson
• Ernie Banks
• Harmon Killebrew
• Willy McCovey
• Carl Yazstremski
• Rod Carew
• Carlton Fisk
• Dale Murphy
• Tony Gwynn
• Barry Bonds
• Ken Griffey Jr.
• Sammy Sosa
• Mike Trout

I got sent overseas for work in 01' after STL AZ series was winding up. Had a hard time finding out who won it all. In Malaysia or Singapore. AZ over NYY in 7 games?

 

[Lockback]

I got sent overseas for work in 01' after STL AZ series was winding up. Had a hard time finding out who won it all. In Malaysia or Singapore. AZ over NYY in 7 games?

Yep.