Mark McGwire

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

McGwire debuted in the major leagues on August 22, 1986. In 18 games with Oakland that year, he hit three home runs and had nine RBIs, but batted just .189. Retaining his rookie status in 1987, he hit four home runs in April, then 15 in May and nine in June. Before the All-Star break, he had 33 home runs and earned a spot on the American League All-Star team. On August 11, he broke Al Rosen's AL rookie record of 37 home runs. Three days later, McGwire broke the major-league record of 38, which Frank Robinson and Wally Berger had jointly held. In September, he hit nine more home runs while posting monthly personal bests of a .351 batting average, .419 OBP, and 11 doubles. With 49 home runs and two games remaining, he missed the games to attend the birth of his first child. McGwire's 49 home runs as a rookie stood as a major league record until Aaron Judge hit 52 in 2017. He was unanimously chosen as the AL Rookie of the Year and finished sixth in AL MVP voting.

In Their Own Story

From 1988 to 1990, McGwire followed with 32, 33, and 39 home runs, becoming the first Major Leaguer to hit 30+ home runs in each of his first four full seasons. On July 3 and 4, 1988, he hit game-winning home runs in the 16th inning of both games. His most famous home run with the A's was likely his game-winning solo shot in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 of the 1988 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and former A's closer Jay Howell. That win brought the A's their only victory in the 1988 World Series, which they lost in five games. McGwire and his fellow Bash Brother, José Canseco, played a large part in the 1989 championship club that defeated the San Francisco Giants in the "Earthquake Series." Working diligently on his defense, McGwire won a Gold Glove Award in 1990. In 1991, he bottomed out with a .201 average and 22 homers, and manager Tony La Russa sat him for the final game to avoid his average dipping below .200. McGwire rededicated himself to working out and received visual therapy from a sports vision specialist. The "new look" McGwire hit 42 homers and batted .268 in 1992, with an OPS+ of 175, and won the Home Run Derby during the All-Star break. Foot injuries limited him to 74 games in 1993 and 1994, with just nine home runs each season. In 1996, McGwire belted a major-league-leading 52 homers in 423 at-bats, hit a career-high .312, and led the league in both slugging and on-base percentage. His total of 363 home runs with the Athletics surpassed the previous franchise record. On April 21, 1997, McGwire became the fourth and final player to hit a home run over the left-field roof of Detroit's Tiger Stadium, estimated at 491 feet.

Reader's Guide

McGwire's playing style was defined by immense power and exemplary patience as a batter. He produced a career .394 on-base percentage (OBP) and twice led the major leagues in bases on balls. He also led the league in runs batted in once, on-base percentage twice, and slugging percentage four times. Injuries cut short even greater potential, as he reached 140 games played in just eight of his 16 MLB seasons. A right-handed batter and thrower, McGwire stood 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighed 245 pounds (111 kg) during his playing career. His greatest achievements in Oakland include setting the major-league record for home runs hit by a rookie (49 in 1987), winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously, and winning a World Series championship in 1989. He was selected or voted to nine American League All-Star teams while playing for the A's, including six consecutive appearances from 1987 through 1992. McGwire was one of several central figures in baseball's steroids scandal. In 2010, he publicly admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during a large portion of his career.

Did You Know?

• McGwire set the major-league record for home runs hit by a rookie with 49 in 1987, a record that stood until Aaron Judge hit 52 in 2017.
• He is one of several players to hit a home run over the left-field roof of Detroit's Tiger Stadium, including Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, and Cecil Fielder.
• McGwire won a Gold Glove Award at first base in 1990, the only one Don Mattingly did not win between 1985 and 1994.
• McGwire's 363 home runs with the Athletics are the most by any player in Oakland Athletics history, surpassing the previous Oakland record.

The Oakland Era and Franchise Identity

Spanning from 1968 until the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Oakland Athletics established a profound legacy in California's East Bay. Relocating from Kansas City under owner Charlie Finley, the franchise settled into the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, sharing the facility with the NFL's Raiders for their entire tenure. Over these 56 years, the team compiled an overall winning record of .513, accumulating over 4,600 victories. Their success was marked by four World Series championships, six American League pennants, and seventeen division titles, solidifying their status as a powerhouse despite playing in what was often considered a less competitive league environment during certain eras. The franchise's departure after the 2024 season, driven by the aging stadium infrastructure and failed negotiations for public funding in either Oakland or San Jose, marked a historic end to professional major league sports in the city. While seventeen players associated with the club have entered the Hall of Fame, only four—Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, and manager Dick Williams—are depicted wearing the Oakland cap, symbolizing the specific era that defined the team's golden age.

The Swingin' A's Cultural Revolution

Between 1971 and 1975, the Athletics transformed into a cultural phenomenon known as the 'Swingin' A's,' challenging traditional baseball norms both on and off the field. Under the unconventional leadership of owner Charlie Finley, the team adopted radical visual changes, including solid green or gold jerseys that contrasted sharply with the standard white-and-grey uniforms worn by contemporaries. Perhaps most famously, Finley incentivized facial hair growth during a 'Moustache Day' promotion, offering bonuses to players who complied by Father's Day; consequently, the entire roster sported moustaches, earning them the moniker of the 'Mustache Gang.' This aesthetic rebellion culminated in their 1972 World Series victory against the Cincinnati Reds, a matchup dubbed 'The Hairs vs. the Big Squares' due to the Reds' strict clean-shaven policy and conservative attire. The A's broke through as champions by winning three consecutive titles from 1972 to 1974, proving that their unique identity and aggressive playstyle could dominate even heavily favored opponents in a league often dismissed as the 'American League Least.'

Road to Powerhouse Status

The transition from a struggling franchise to a championship contender was neither immediate nor guaranteed. Upon arriving in Oakland for the 1968 season, the team initially struggled, finishing with an 82-80 record under manager Bob Kennedy, though this represented a significant improvement over their previous year's performance. The following seasons saw managerial instability, with Hank Bauer and John McNamara both being dismissed as the organization sought to find the right leadership formula. A turning point arrived in 1969 when future star Vida Blue made his debut, and Reggie Jackson hit 47 home runs, yet the team still fell short of the division title. It was not until Dick Williams took over as manager that the pieces finally clicked. The team secured their first division crown in 1971 with a 101-win season, their best performance since the early 1930s. Although they lost the subsequent American League Championship Series to the Baltimore Orioles, this period of rebuilding and strategic hiring laid the essential groundwork for the dynasty that would immediately follow.

Historical Context and Relocation Saga

The Athletics' journey to Oakland was part of a complex series of relocations that began in Philadelphia before moving to Kansas City in 1954. Owner Charlie Finley, who purchased the team after Arnold Johnson's death, initially promised stability but soon sought new markets, exploring cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and Seattle. His attempt to move the team to Louisville was rejected by American League owners, as was an early bid for Oakland, before he finally secured permission in late 1967 to relocate for the 1968 season. This decision proved pivotal, leading to decades of success at the Coliseum. However, after more than half a century, the franchise faced a new reality in 2024 when they announced their departure due to the inability to secure funding for a modern ballpark. The team temporarily moved to West Sacramento in 2025 with plans for a permanent settlement in Las Vegas, effectively ending an era where Oakland was home to one of baseball's most storied franchises.

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