Sosa helps Trachsel

By Eric Boyum, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, September 16, 1998

When Chicago Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel served up Mark McGwire's 62nd home run, it seemed likely the former 49er pitcher would be shown on television for years to come.

Enter teammate Sammy Sosa. The Cubs slugger hit his 61st, and 62nd home runs Sunday.

Sosa'a heroics raise the question of who will finish the season with the all-time home run mark. Should Sosa set the mark, then McGwire's home run off Trachsel may become irrelevant to television executives, thus getting Trachsel off the hook.

"It was a memorable moment that baseball captured and that he (Trachsel) happened to be a part of," Long Beach State Head Coach Dave Snow said. "The Cubs are in a fight for a playoff spot and it was a tremendous distraction for that team."

Snow said he believes people will not emphasize McGwire's home run off Trachsel after the season. "I think people will remember the last home run that sets the new home run record," he said.