During his career, Mark McGwire picked up the name “Big Mac,” but prior to becoming a professional in Major League Baseball, McGwire already had an accomplished baseball career.  McGwire had three successful years at the University of Southern California and even played with the 1984 Olympic team.  Mark became a hot young prospect and was eventually drafted 10th overall by the Oakland Athletics.

On this day, August 25th, in 1986, Oakland A’s slugger Mark McGwire hit his first ever major league home run.  The home run came in against the Tigers in Detroit against pitcher Walt Terell.  This home run would be the beginning of a career characterized by big swings of the back.

Mark McGwire went on to hit 49 home runs as a rookie and would go on to several long-standing home run records.