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Baseball is one of the most popular sports in America and around the world. For many years, the game has produced many great players who have gone on to become household names. One of the most famous players of the 1990s was Mark McGwire, who holds the record for most home runs in a single season. In this article, we will take a look at who was the most famous baseball player in the 90s and why.
Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire was born in Pomona, California in 1963 and was the first overall pick in the 1984 MLB draft. He was an instant success, setting a rookie record for home runs in 1987. He went on to play for the Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and later the San Diego Padres. In 1998, he set the single-season home run record with 70, which was a record that stood for more than two decades.
McGwire was a beloved figure in baseball, and his 1998 home run chase captivated the nation. He was a five-time All-Star and he helped the Cardinals to the playoffs four times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, and his legacy as one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history is secure.
Ken Griffey Jr.
Ken Griffey Jr. was born in Donora, Pennsylvania in 1969 and was the first overall pick in the 1987 MLB draft. He was an instant success, hitting a home run in his first professional at-bat. He went on to play for the Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox. He was a 13-time All-Star and helped the Mariners to the playoffs three times. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016, and he retired with 630 career home runs, which was the sixth-most all-time at the time of his retirement.
Griffey Jr. was a beloved figure in baseball, and he captivated fans with his exciting style of play. He was known for his majestic home runs and his signature backwards hat. He was one of the most popular players of the 1990s and is widely considered to be one of the best players of his generation.
Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds was born in Riverside, California in 1964 and was the sixth overall pick in the 1985 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the National League MVP award in 1990. He went on to play for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and later the San Francisco Giants again. In 2001, he set the single-season home run record with 73, which was a record that stood for more than a decade.
Bonds was a beloved figure in baseball, and his 2001 home run chase captivated the nation. He was a 14-time All-Star and he helped the Giants to the playoffs five times. He retired in 2007 with 762 career home runs, which is the most all-time.
Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1962 and was the 19th overall pick in the 1983 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the American League Cy Young award in 1986. He went on to play for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and later the New York Yankees again. He was a 11-time All-Star and he helped the Yankees to the playoffs five times. He retired in 2007 with 354 career wins, which is the ninth-most all-time.
Clemens was a beloved figure in baseball, and he was known for his fiery competitiveness and dominant pitching. He was one of the most talented players of the 1990s and is widely considered to be one of the best pitchers of his generation.
The Best Player of the 90s
So who was the most famous baseball player of the 90s? It’s tough to say, as there were many great players in the decade. However, if we had to pick one, it would be Mark McGwire. He was the first player to break Roger Maris’ single-season home run record, which had stood for more than three decades. He was also one of the most popular players in the game, and his 1998 home run chase captivated the nation. He was an All-Star five times and helped the Cardinals to the playoffs four times.
Other Notable Players of the 90s
While Mark McGwire was the most famous baseball player of the 90s, there were many other notable players who had successful careers in the decade. Here are some of the most memorable players of the 90s:
Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux was born in San Angelo, Texas in 1966 and was the 31st overall pick in the 1984 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the National League Cy Young award in 1992. He went on to play for the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and later the San Diego Padres. He was an eight-time All-Star and helped the Braves to the playoffs eleven times. He retired in 2008 with 355 career wins, which is the eighth-most all-time.
Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson was born in Walnut Creek, California in 1963 and was the 36th overall pick in the 1985 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the National League Cy Young award in 1995. He went on to play for the Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, and later the San Francisco Giants. He was a 10-time All-Star and helped the Diamondbacks to the playoffs four times. He retired in 2009 with 303 career wins, which is the twelfth-most all-time.
Ivan Rodriguez
Ivan Rodriguez was born in Manati, Puerto Rico in 1971 and was the 53rd overall pick in the 1988 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the American League MVP award in 1999. He went on to play for the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and later the Washington Nationals. He was a 14-time All-Star and helped the Rangers to the playoffs four times. He retired in 2012 with 311 career home runs, which is the thirteenth-most all-time among catchers.
Mariano Rivera
Mariano Rivera was born in Panama City, Panama in 1969 and was signed as an amateur free agent in 1990. He was an instant success, winning the American League Cy Young award in 2005. He went on to play for the New York Yankees, and he was a 13-time All-Star and helped the Yankees to the playoffs sixteen times. He retired in 2013 with 652 career saves, which is the most all-time.
Jeff Bagwell
Jeff Bagwell was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1968 and was the fourth overall pick in the 1989 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the National League MVP award in 1994. He went on to play for the Houston Astros, and he was a four-time All-Star and helped the Astros to the playoffs six times. He retired in 2005 with 449 career home runs, which is the eighth-most all-time among first basemen.
Chipper Jones
Chipper Jones was born in DeLand, Florida in 1972 and was the first overall pick in the 1990 MLB draft. He was an instant success, winning the National League MVP award in 1999. He went on to play for the Atlanta Braves, and he was a eight-time All-Star and helped the Braves to the playoffs fourteen times. He retired in 2012 with 468 career home runs, which is the seventh-most all-time among third basemen.
Conclusion
The 1990s were a decade of great players, and many of them went on to become household names. However, the most famous baseball player of the 90s was Mark McGwire. He set the single-season home run record in 1998 and captivated the nation. He was an All-Star five times and helped the Cardinals to the playoffs four times. While there were many other great players in the decade, McGwire stands out as the most famous player of the 90s.