A Pitch To Remember?

Steve Trachsel knows he will go down in history for the wrong reason.

"There's nothing cool about it," the Chicago Cubs' right-hander said after surrendering home run No. 62 to Mark McGwire on Tuesday night. "There was no joy involved in it for me, seeing his reactions and all that type of thing."

Since Trachsel's a 51-51 career pitcher, that's probably the only way he'll go down in history. His initial postgame thought: "I was hoping it wasn't going to be me."

It was perhaps fitting that the victim was the 27-year-old Trachsel, who led the National League in home runs allowed last year (32). McGwire's historic shot was one of three given up in a 6-2 loss by Trachsel, who has allowed 22 this season.

Not that he's alone. There were Tom Zachary, who gave up Babe Ruth's 60th homer in 1927; Tracy Stallard, the victim for Roger Maris' 61st homer in 1961; and Al Downing, who was touched for home run No. 715 by Hank Aaron in 1974.

"Maybe when my career is over I'll think about it," Trachsel said. "Right now it's just another home run. I've given up a billion of them."

He was able to get McGwire to ground out weakly in the first inning. But then came the fourth inning.

On his first pitch to McGwire, Trachsel said he threw a fastball that missed the plate, about shin-high. The radar gun read 88 mph; the homer was measured at 341 feet, McGwire's shortest of the year by 6 feet.

Pandemonium followed, everywhere except the mound. McGwire rounded the bases, high-fiving Cubs infielders, before clambering into the stands to give hugs to the Maris family.

Trachsel stood rock still, not knowing quite what to do. Eventually, catcher Scott Servais, first baseman Mark Grace and third baseman Gary Gaetti joined him on the mound for some small talk. The delay lasted 11 minutes.

It didn't get any better. When McGwire came up again in the sixth with a runner on second, Cubs manager Jim Riggleman ordered an intentional walk. Ray Lankford followed with a three-run homer and Ron Gant with a solo shot.

Trachsel said the delay and the extra warmup throws probably wore him out. Not that he was complaining: "Hey, it's a great moment for him and baseball."

Written by R.B. Fallstrom