(Boston, September 8, 1998) Mark McGwire has done it. A linedrive rocket over the leftfield fence (at 341 feet his shortest of the season) puts him in the record books. The classic and classy McGwire, who almost missed first in the excitement, celebrated his achievement by climbing into the stands and paying tribute to the kin of Roger Maris.

(Boston, September 13, 1998) Mark McGwire held the all-time single season homerun record for the last 5 days, but with three taters in two days, slugging Sammy Sosa passed Ruth and Maris, and stands alongside the Mighty Mac with 62 homeruns. Stay tuned!

(Boston, September 15, 1998) With bomb number 63, McGwire once again holds the record, but for how long? This is getting good! And Junior Griffey, clearly in the shadows of this year's dynamic duo, thumps onwards towards his career best of 56, realized last year. He also drove in his 1000th run, at age 28, in a career that will surely land him in the Hall of Fame.

(Boston, September 16, 1998) Sammy Sosa slammed number 63 in the 8th inning of a tie ballgame as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 6-3 in a possible playoff preview. Sosa went 3 for 4 with 6 RBI as the Cubs remained a half game ahead of the New York Mets in the National League wild card chase. He now has 154 RBI to lead the league.

(Boston, September 17, 1998) Mac retakes the lead with a 2-run shot that leads the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee.

(Boston, September 23, 1998) It's Sammy Sosa, with #64 and #65 to tie McGwire, who had the record for 6 days this time around. Important ones, as well, helping to stake his team to a 7-0 advantage. But the Cubs managed to give it all back, losing 8-7 and falling a half game behind the Mets.

(Boston, September 25, 1998) Slugging Sammy takes the lead with number 66 against the Astros. But his lead is shortlived as Mark McGwire sends one deep 15 minutes later.

(Boston, September 26, 1998) With two more titanic taters, Mark McGwire goes into the season's final day with 68. He is two up on his dogged pursuer, but don't count out Sammy Sosa. In addition to tomorrow's season finale against the Astros, the potential of a 2 or 3-way tiebreaker (for the wildcard) is great, and these would count as regular season games. The Cubbies are now tied with the Giants, with the Mets a game back.

(Boston, September 27, 1998) Five homers in three days for the Mighty McGwire, bringing his season total to 70. His other numbers ain't bad either: 147 rbi, a .299 average, and an NL record 162 walks. The accumulated distance of his 70 shots is 29,598, almost 400 feet higher than Mount Everest!

Sammy Sosa, who went 2 for 4 again today, will have a final shot in a one game playoff against the San Francisco Giants, as all three wildcard contenders lost their final regular season games. And Greg Vaughn joins the elite with his 50th homerun, and leads the San Diego Padres into the playoffs.