ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mark McGwire is returning to baseball as hitting coach under St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.
The Cardinals said Monday that La Russa had agreed to a one-year contract for a 15th season as manager and that McGwire will replace Hal McRae.
McGwire hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 and retired with 583 homers in 2001. He famously refused to answer questions about steroids use during a March 2005 congressional hearing, saying he wasn't there to talk about the past. He has received just under 25 percent support from voters in his three appearances on the Hall of Fame ballot, well under the 75 percent needed.
McGwire was not at the news conference at Busch Stadium. La Russa and general manager John Mozeliak said there will be no effort to protect McGwire from reporters and questions about steroids.
"By no means is he trying to hide, and by no means are we trying to hide him," Mozeliak said.
La Russa had been attempting to persuade McGwire to return to the team for several seasons.
"He loves the game. He loves the Cardinals," chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said. "It's a great opportunity for him and a great opportunity for us."
La Russa managed McGwire for 15 of McGwire's 16 seasons, both in Oakland and St. Louis.
La Russa, who turned 65 on Oct. 4, had been mulling his future since the NL Central champion Cardinals were swept in the division series by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 10. His two-year, $8.5 million contract was to expire at the end of the month. He said he reached the decision to return over the weekend.
"I would be here if Mark wasn't the coach," La Russa said. "The fact that he's here adds some more fire to the gut."
The Cardinals have finished above .500 in 11 of La Russa's 14 seasons, and drawn 3 million-plus fans at home in 11 of those 14 seasons.
"This is a great place to be," La Russa said. "Past stars show up all the time. You've got to be a mummy not to be affected by that."
McRae was hitting coach for five seasons, but the team struggled offensively toward the end of the season and in the playoffs. The Cardinals hit .133 (4 for 30) with runners in scoring position during their three-game loss to the Dodgers.
Mozeliak said the rest of the coaching staff will return, including pitching coach Dave Duncan. Duncan was upset with the organization, fans and reporters during then season when his son, outfielder Chris Duncan, was traded to Boston. The Red Sox released Chris Duncan soon after the trade.
"Where he coaches, that's where I want to manage," La Russa said of Dave Duncan. "He's that good."
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Associated Press writer Jim Salter contributed to this report.
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