The preeminent slugger of the nineties, Mark McGwire is as intimidating to pitchers as Randy Johnson is to hitters. Even Johnson couldn't handle McGwire when they faced off; McGwire hit a 99 mile-per-hour fastball well into the stands over 500 feet away. McGwire started quickly, taking AL Rookie of the Year honors in 1987 by catapulting 49 homers and driving in 118 RBI. After his debut season, he was plagued by various maladies, including a heel injury that forced him to miss the better part of two years. But since 1995, McGwire has been hitting home runs at a historic pace. After slamming 39, 52 and 58 round-trippers from 1995 through 1997, Big Mac raised the bar for home run hitters forever with his historic 1998 season. Enduring a relentless media assault that grew as he chased Roger Maris' 1961 home run record, McGwire belted an astonishing 70 circuit blasts, besting the old standard by nine. The next season he proved his performance was no fluke by blasting 65 more longballs, establishing a new record of 135 over two years.
A two-time MVP, Hank Greenberg had a lifetime average above .300 and slugged over 300 homers. But as one of the few Jewish stars in baseball at the time, Greenberg often found that people focused on him for the wrong reasons. Nevertheless, his performance on the field wasn’t hindered by the blatant racial discrimination that was aimed at him. He amassed a remarkable 183 RBI in 1937, the third greatest RBI year of all-time, and slugged 58 home runs in 1938. In the 1935 World Series, Greenberg was taunted by the Cubs with vicious racial remarks, forcing the umpire to go over to the Chicago dugout and threaten the culprits that if the jeers continued they would be thrown out of the game. In 1938, Greenberg’s HR total stood just two short of Babe Ruth’s record one week left in the season. Many opposing pitchers chose to pitch around him because they didn't want a Jewish player to break sixty.
HITTING
HITTING
McGwire's trademark is the home run, but he’s also worked hard to raise his average. McGwire hit a lowly .201 in 1991, bringing to mind the all-or-nothing style of Greg Luzinski and Dave Kingman. But he soon proved that he wasn’t just a one-dimensional hitter. In 1995, he showed a vast improvement in pitch selection and hit a sparkling .312. Although his powerful swing still produces too many strikeouts, McGwire compensates by drawing huge numbers of walks. His 162 bases-on-balls in 1998 established a new NL record.
Hank was best known for his ability to hit homers, but what made Greenberg a truly great hitter was his ability to consistently drive in runs while keeping his average above .300. Hank considered RBI -- and not homers -- as the defining factor for a good power hitter. Had Greenberg not missed over three years due to small injuries and time spent serving the army, he most likely would have hit 400 homers, and possibly even 500.
DEFENSE
DEFENSE
McGwire is a big target at first base for infielders to throw to and is known for having good hands. In 1995, he had a dreadful defensive year, committing 12 errors and finishing with a .986 fielding percentage, but he is generally a better defensive first baseman than that performance showed. McGwire has a long reach and is agile around the bag, as well as having an above-average arm for the position.
Greenberg always had problems at first base, especially when it came to ground balls. In 1940, he was moved to left field to make way for hard-hitting Rudy York. When Greenberg was told of the move he went to six different spring training camps to consult veteran outfielders on how they handled the position.
BASERUNNING
BASERUNNING
For a guy his size, McGwire gets around the bases fairly well. McGwire's lack of speed is partially made up by his good judgement in running the bases.
Greenberg's flat feet made him slow on the bases, and he wasn't much of a threat to swipe a base. Greenberg's main strength on the basepaths was his sliding ability. As a kid, Greenberg convinced his father to allow him to build a sliding pit in his backyard. His father relented and Greenberg was able to spend hours on end practicing his different sliding techniques.
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
A native Californian, McGwire was well-liked in Oakland, teaming with Jose Canseco to form the 'Bash Brothers' on the dominating A’s teams of the late ‘80s. Nevertheless, McGwire has felt right at home in St. Louis. The fan support in his new home played a key part in his decision to re-sign with the Cards when his contract expired; after inking a three-year contract, McGwire gave $1 million out of his salary toward helping sexually and physically abused children in St. Louis and California.
With a drive that pushed him through even the greatest obstacles, Hank Greenberg persevered through difficulty to become a great player. During his tenure in Detroit, the Tigers won four pennants and two World Series. Although he was taunted for his Jewishness, Greenberg didn't hide his religious identity. During the heat of the 1934 pennant race he refused to play on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.
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