Mark McGwire quotes:

In '83, we went over to Amsterdam. I just remember people saying, 'Baseball's just starting over here. They're learning how to play the game of baseball.'

Baseball was a chapter in my life, and now I'm excited to start another chapter as a hitting coach.

Once and for all, I did not use steroids or any other illegal substance.

I think it puts baseball back on the map as a sport. It's America's pastime and just look at everyone coming out to the ballpark. It has been an exciting year.

Sammy Sosa's a September player, so you have to watch out for him. It's crunch time, time to make history.

Babe Ruth, what can you say? You are almost speechless when people put your name alongside his name. I wish I can go back in time in meet him. Obviously, he was probably the most important sports figure in the world at that time. Hopefully, someday when I pass away, I get to meet him, and then I can really find out what he was really like.

The only reason I took steroids was for my health purposes. I did not take steroids to get any gain for any strength purposes.

I sort of missed one big thing, to touch first base. I hope I didn't act foolish, but this is history.

I chose to be retired. I chose to start a family. That was one of the biggest reasons I got away from the game of baseball. I wanted to start a family. I was happy.

There's not a pill or an injection that's going to give me, going to give any player the hand-eye coordination to hit a baseball.

I touched Roger's bat and held it to my heart. My bat will lie next to his. I'm damn proud of that.

I've been thinking about the record since I reached the fifty plateau. But you think about it and then you let it go because you can't waste many brain cells on hours thinking about it.

The steroids I did were on a very, very low dosage. I didn't want to take a lot of that. I didn't want to look like Arnold Schwartzenegger or Lou Ferrigno.

What a perfect way to end the home stand, by hitting sixty-two for the city of St. Louis and all the fans. I truly wanted to do it here and I did. Thank you St. Louis.

I didn't even realize it was a grand slam (number thirty-one) because I was mentally preparing myself for Andy Benes because he struck me out the first time.

Performance-enhancing drugs are an illusion. I wish I had never gotten involved with steroids. It was wrong. It was stupid.

I have had to tell my son, my parents, my friends that I used steroids. It's been very hard. It's been very difficult.

I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989 -1990 off season, and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again.

My message is that steroids is bad. Don't do them. It's a bad message.

I'm not here to discuss the past... I'm here to be positive.

Only sixteen players have hit fifty or more homers in a season. To me, that's a very special milestone.

The only team that could have competed with us was the Cubans. It's too bad they're boycotting. The teams we're playing just can't compete with our power.

I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids.

I wish that every player could feel what I've felt in visiting ballparks. The receptions I've received, it's blown me away. It's absolutely remarkable.

Wouldn't it be great if we just ended up tied? I think it would be beautiful.

I wish that every player could feel what I've felt in visiting ballparks. The receptions I've received, it's blown me away. It's absolutely remarkable

I study pitchers. I visualize pitches. That gives me a better chance every time I step into the box. That doesn't mean I'm going to get a hit every game, but that's one of the reasons I've come a long way as a hitter.

This is a great thing that's happening in baseball. We don't know if it will ever happen again.

I don't know if I want to break my own record. I think I would rather leave it as it is.

I know it's tough. Everybody in baseball knows its tough. I'm just going to give it my best shot.

I mean, it's unheard of for somebody to hit 70 home runs, so I'm like in awe of myself right now.

I study pitchers. I visualize pitches. That gives me a better chance every time I step into the box. That doesn't mean I'm going to get a hit every game, but that's one of the reasons I've come a long way as a hitter

I tell you what, I was so shocked because I didn't think the ball had enough to get out. It's an absolutely incredible feeling. I can honestly say I did it.

I think back and I really feel for what he (Roger Maris) went through, for all the negative stuff that was going on in his life. I wish it didn't happen.

If you want to maximize your total potential ... you have to know yourself first.

I'm being embraced by the public, but also baseball is being embraced.

Roger (Maris) was a class act and I know exactly what he went through.

So be it. I'm happy to bring the country together.

Some of the longest home runs I've hit, I didn't actually realize they were going that far. Everyone says, 'What does it feel like to hit the ball that far?' Actually, there's no feeling at all. I know when the ball meets the bat whether or not it's left the park. It's a nice easy thing.

The mind is a powerful thing and most people don't use it properly.

The thing I sort of get tired of hearing is if I don't hit home runs or don't get hits, that the pressure of the media is getting to me. Absolutely not. Believe me, it's not getting to me.

To be the first player to do it three consecutive years (fifty or more home runs), you go back through the thousands of power hitters who played this game and nobody has ever done it, and I can sit here and say I'm the first. I'm pretty proud of that.

What he (Sammy Sosa) and I have been doing is fantastic. What we've done nobody in the game has done for thirty-seven years. I'm pretty happy with the way things have been going.

When people put my name next to (Babe) Ruth's name it still blows me away. I'm still in awe.

Do you want to know the truth, or see me hit a few dingers?