Mark McGwire in Boys League

Millions of sports fans throughout the world have watched Mark McGwire's 70th home run.

They can tell you the day, the time, the situation, and the opposing pitcher when St. Louis slugger hammered number 70 for the 1998 major league season, assuring him a place in the record books.

Several hundred hits and almost a quarter-century earlier a very young Mark McGwire hit his first home run ever.

Only a few fans, friends and teammates, witnessed it. But, among those few were two former Cape Girardeans -- his youth league coach, Keith Lane, and his wife, Vickie (now Vickie Watling).

Mark McGwire's march to major league baseball's dream season began when he first stepped to the plate as a gangly 10-year-old.

The big red-head talked about his first home run ever on the David Letterman Show last week.

"It was my first time at bat," McGwire told Letterman. "I closed my eyes and hit the ball. It was a home run."

McGwire's eyes have been wide open since.

The past season was McGwire broke the old Babe Ruth mark of 61, the Roger Maris record of 62, and then established a record of his own, 70.

Lane didn't witness all of McGwire's home runs during the past season. "But, I'm a St. Louis Cardinal fan," said Lane, who makes his home in California. "And, I did have opportunity to watch a few of McGwire's swings."

Lane, who attended Cape Girardeau public schools, worked with Potashnick Construction. He moved West in the mid-1960s, where he joined Mattel Toy Co.

An avid baseball fan, Lane turned to coaching boys leagues' in Claremont, Calif. The Lane family became very involved in boys' league baseball in Claremont. Mrs. Lane became a "baseball mom," and helped provide after-game treats to the players.

Mark McGwire and some of his brothers were members of Lane's Little League teams, along with Keith and Vickie Lane's own son, Kirby.

"We had the McGwire boys on the team from ages 10 to about 13," said Lane. "But, I certainly can't take credit for the type of ball player Mark McGwire evolved into."

Back then, said Lane, we played the game for fun. "We met the McGwire family -- John, a dentist, his wife, Ginger, and all of the boys."

"They were just a great family," said Lane.

"The boys were good athletes," said Lane. "Mark was primarily a pitcher, but, like all boys league players, he played all positions."

McGwire remained a pitcher through high school and three years of college, before settling down to his current first-base position.

The big problem with Mark was finding someone to catch him, said Lane. "He threw hard."

"Actually, his brother, Bobby, was the only one who could catch him," said Lane. "They practiced a lot together at home."

Later, after retirement from Mattel, Lane opened a service station.

"Some of the McGwires -- the father, John, and some of the boys -- would stop by from time to time," said Lane. "And, today, I'll catch an occasional baseball game with McGwire, and watch him play."

Lane has some Mark McGwire autographs.

"Nothing from him recently," he said. "But, I have three or four baseballs with his autographs. After each little league season, I would have all the boys sign a baseball. Mark's signature is on there with all the rest of the team players.

During a recent return trip to Cape Girardeau, Vickie Watling, formerly Mrs. Lane, was browsing a case at Madder Rose Antiques Mall in downtown Cape Girardeau.

"That's Mark McGwire!," she exclaimed.

The picture she was looking at was not one of the large McGwire photographs which have dominated recent full-page magazine covers.

Watling was looking at a Mark McGwire Boys' League baseball card.

McGwire, a skinny, bespectacled youngster dressed in a Boys League "A's" uniform, was easily recognizable to Watling, who still lives in California.

"I know that picture," said Watling. "It was taken from the team picture of the Claremont, Calif. Little League team. My son has one of the team pictures."

Mark McGwire, Ronnie McGwire, Bobby McGWire and Kirby Lane were all members of that Claremont A's boys league team 24 years ago.

Like many parents, the Lanes became involved in Little League baseball -- as coach and "team mother," their son starting playing baseball.

Ginger McGwire, Mark's mother, was also a "team mother," said Watling.

This was during the mid-1970s, and Kirby Lane was a team member of the Little League A's, with the McGwires.

Lane and John McGwire, a dentist, served as coaches.

Young McGwire took his baseball seriously, said Watling.

"We watched Mark McGwire grow up," said Watling. "Even now, I watch Mark batting on television."

Watling said her former husband, wanted to change McGwire's batting method.

"He (Lane) didn't like the way Mark pumped his arms up and down when he batted," she said.

During a recent conversation with her former husband, Lane said he told her that McGwire still pumps his arms up and down at the plate.

But, as of closing day of the 1998 season, nobody was complaining.