Supporting Role Is OK With Sosa on Mac’s Big Day

As Mark McGwire circled the bases in the first inning Monday at Busch Stadium after hitting his record-tying 61st home run, the sellout crowd of 42,877 stood and cheered and whooped and hollered, letting out a roar that could be heard all the way up and down the Mississippi.

And in right field, a lone figure in a Chicago Cub uniform calmly clapped his right hand against his glove.

That tribute probably meant as much to McGwire as all the others because it came from Sammy Sosa, McGwire’s partner in the greatest home-run race in baseball history. Not even Roger Maris and teammate Mickey Mantle, who combined for 115 homers during Maris’ record-breaking season in 1961, could match the power exhibited by McGwire and Sosa, who have launched 119 this season.

Asked afterward about his demonstration of support for McGwire, who beat him to Maris’ mark, Sosa showed a flash of annoyance for the only time all afternoon.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked. “It was a great moment. I feel great for him. He reached a record that has stood for [37] years. Don’t you want me to clap? He is my friend.”

It’s a true friendship, not one manufactured for media consumption. That seemed obvious in a news conference they held before the game.

And it was evident again when Sosa singled in the eighth inning and got his first chance to talk to McGwire after the historic home run.

What did he tell the Cardinal first baseman?

“I’m happy for you,” Sosa said. “Keep going.”

The two plan to deepen their friendship by getting involved in a project to build a golf course in the Dominican Republic, Sosa’s native land. Perhaps they can then match their driving distance with golf clubs instead of bats.

Those who packed Busch Stadium on Monday were hoping for a home-run derby like none other in baseball history. For the first time, two men had a shot at reaching the all-time home-run record on the same day in the same park.

But it turned out to be only McGwire’s day. Sosa was limited to a single in five at-bats, striking out three times, including the ninth inning when his Cubs, fighting for a wild-card berth, had the tying run at third base with two out.

“Maybe tomorrow will be my day,” said Sosa, whose movement was limited in his final at-bat because of a tender left hamstring, an injury he suffered while racing to third in the eighth.

But Sosa insisted that the injury was minor and shouldn’t affect him today when he and McGwire face each other for the final time this season.

Sosa couldn’t complain about the Cardinals failing to give him an opportunity to hit. Far from it.

In the third, he came up with runners on second and third and two out. Conventional strategy is to walk the batter in such a situation to set up a force at any base. Instead, Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa allowed his pitcher, Darren Oliver, to go after Sosa, who struck out looking.

“I’m not Superman,” Sosa said. “They took a chance and they got me. I tip my hat to him [Oliver] and I’ll see you next time.”

But this time wasn’t so bad, either, insisted Sosa.

“Every day is a holiday for me,” he said. “But not every day can I be a hero.”