1998 St. Louis Cardinals season


The St. Louis Cardinals 1998 season was the team's 117th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 107th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League Central division, 18 games behind the Houston Astros. First baseman Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' single-season home run record this season by hitting 70 home runs, battling with the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa, who finished runner-up in the National League with 66.

Offseason

Record vs. opponents

Notable Transactions

Entering the game on September 27 against the Montreal Expos, McGwire had 68 Home Runs. In the third inning, McGwire hit a home run off of Mike Thurman, and in the seventh, he got number 70 off of Carl Pavano. The ball was caught by Philip Ozersky. In January 1999, Todd McFarlane purchased Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball from the 1998 season for a record $3 million.
September 27, Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Aftermath of the 1998 home run chase

A section of Interstate 70 running through downtown St. Louis was renamed "The Mark McGwire Highway." His record stood until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001. In years following, revelations of the anabolic steroids scandals have possibly tainted these records, but at the time it was great theater and was largely responsible for drawing many fans back to the game after the 1994 players' strike, which had angered and alienated many of them.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
PosPlayerGABRHHRRBIAvg.SB
CEli Marrero832542862420.2446
1BMark McGwire15550913015270147.2991
2BDelino DeShields11742074122744.29026
3BGary Gaetti9130639811143.2651
SSRoyce Clayton903555983429.23419
LFRon Gant12138360922667.2408
CFRay Lankford1545339415631105.29326
RFBrian Jordan1505641001782591.31617

Other batters

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games played; IP = Innings Pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO. = Strikeouts; BB = Bases on Balls
PlayerGIPWLERASOBB
Matt Morris17113.7752.537942
Kent Mercker30161.711115.077253
Todd Stottlemyre23161.3993.5114751

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

McGwire's 70

Awards and honors

All-Star Game