I painted this the year that St. Louis Cardinal’s Mark McGwire was on his way to breaking the New York Yankees’ Roger Maris’ 1961 single season home run record with 70 home runs. Even though it was exciting to follow McGwire’s tally and to watch his at bats replayed on the news every evening; the subsequent doping revelations with him, Barry Bonds, and others ultimately ruined the significance of some of the holiest records in the sport. I still consider Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs to be the standing single season record.

Acrylic and Oil on Canvas

1998