McGwire has enjoyed the last two years, but they would have been more fun if the Cardinals were winning, he said. He'd gladly trade the record for a team title. We don't play the game of baseball to lose. Individual accomplishments are fine, but you don't play for individual accomplishments. I don't know who does, and if you do, that's a selfish individual.
Individual accomplishments come through hard work.
You play to help the team win. Even through the most frenzied days of the home run chase, McGwire maintained the home runs meant little if the Cardinals lost. With the losses piling up this season, he hasn't changed his mind. Earlier this season, he essentially conceded his team had no realistic chance to contend this year, though he now says he won't talk about what the Cardinals need to turn it around. In a 9-8 loss Friday to the Chicago White Sox, McGwire ripped two homers but told reporters he takes no satisfaction from such a feat in a losing effort.