On September 10, 1997 — At San Francisco, Pac Bell Park in a 7-6 extra inning loss to the San Francisco Giants, St Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire becomes only the second player in major league history to hit 50 home runs in consecutive seasons. Babe Ruth accomplished the feat twice, in the 1920-21 and 1927-28 seasons.

McGwire joined Ruth as the only players in major league his­tory with consecutive 50-homer seasons by hitting a 446-foot shot Wednesday in his St. Louis Cardi­nals’ 7-6, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants.

“Any time you can have your name associated with Babe Ruth, it’s a pretty awesome thing to think about,” McGwire said. “I’m blown away. I think I’m sort of in awe of myself. I’ve surpassed any­thing I ever expected to do in the game of baseball.”

McGwire led off the third inning with a drive down the left-field line off Shawn Estes. It was McGwire’s 16th homer in 34 games since joining the Cardinals in a July 31 trade from the Oak­land Athletics.

McGwire had spent his entire career in Oakland before the trade to St. Louis, where he rejoined longtime Athletics manager and current Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa.
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