Oakland Athletics' Mark McGwire Sets Rookie Home Run Record

On Aug. 14, 1987, Mark McGwire of the Oakland Athletics broke the major league record for home runs by a rookie when he hit his 39th Friday night off California right-hander Don Sutton.

McGwire`s two-run home run in the sixth inning landed in the left-field seats and gave the 23-year-old first baseman sole possession of the mark previously held by Wally Berger of the Boston Braves in 1930 and Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds in 1956.

McGwire went on to hit 49 home runs his rookie year, which also led the American League in 1987. 

Throughout his career Mark McGwire hit 49 or more home runs five times in route to hitting 583 career home runs. Four times McGwire led the league in home runs.

In 1998 McGwire and Sammy Sosa both encountered on a record-breaking home run season. McGwire and Sosa would both end up breaking Babe Ruth’s single season home run record of 61 home runs, as Sosa went on to hit 66 home runs and McGwire 70.

McGwire’s 70 home run season was a Major League record until 2002 when Barry Bonds broke the feat when he hit 72 home runs.

McGwire had a Hall of Fame career based on his stats and accomplishments but because of his trouble with performance enhancing drugs (PED) his call to the hall has come into questioning failing to be inducted in each of the last few years.