St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire tells ESPN he plans to retire, ending his 16-year big league career. The prolific home run hitter, who ranks fifth all-time with 583 career homers, decided not to sign the two-year, $30 million extension the Cardinals had offered.

This Day In Baseball

On November 11, 2001 — St. Louis first baseman Mark McGwire tells ESPN he plans to retire, ending his 16-year big league career. The prolific home run hitter, who ranks fifth all-time with 583 career homers, decided not to sign the two-year, $30 million extension the Cardinals had offered.

McGwire announces his retirement, saying “I am unable to perform at a level equal to the salary the organization would be paying me.”