Home Run Heroes

Book excerpt: The 1998 major league baseball season was truly one for the ages, complete with record-breaking individual and team performances. In HOME RUN HEROES, the writers of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED chronicle Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's epic march to and beyond Babe Ruth's 60 and Roger Maris's 61 home runs, depicting the drama of the race that captivated fans the world over. HOME RUN HEROES relives every thrilling moment in perhaps the greatest home run dual of all time between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. McGwire set the pace as he broke Mari's record with his shortest home run of the year, missing first base during his home run trot and finally reaching home plate whereupon he joyfully lifted his baby son into the air. Sammy Sosa then ran from rightfield to congratulate his friend and competitor. Sosa then made a little history of his own when a few nights later, at Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers, he dropped Maris and Ruth to numbers three and four on the all time single-season home run list. It was a close thing, but Sosa finished the season with 66 home runs, McGwire finished with 70.