Part 2/8:

As the summer unfolded, both Sosa and McGwire exhibited breathtaking performances. Sosa lit up June 1998 with an astounding 20 home runs, a one-month record that still stands. By July, Sosa had 33 home runs, trailing McGwire, who had 37. The competition intensified as television ratings soared and baseball merchandise flew off the shelves. Fans rallied behind the two sluggers, and the home run chase eclipsed all other sports stories of the time.

On September 8, 1998, McGwire made history by hitting his 62nd home run during a game against Sosa’s Cubs, surpassing Maris’s record. Celebrations ensued, as the event was lauded as a significant event in sports history. However, while the moment was euphoric, skepticism soon emerged about the integrity of these achievements.