St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Hyatt Regency Hotel

2^nd floor hallway leading to service corridor off grand ballroom

Transcript posted by Matt Chaney, Friday, January 22, 2010 

Transcript begins at McGwire’s brief opening statement before about two dozen reporters, minutes after he received a standing ovation in the hotel's grand ballroom from about 2,500 fans attending the Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up weekend benefit. McGwire answers questions a little longer than five minutes before exiting back into the service corridor. Due to McGwire's excessive use of "uh" and other syllables for halting language, all audible speech on available recordings is transcribed below.

McGwire: … It’s awesome to be back. Uh, I mean it’s… Visiting the ballpark, uh, was phenomenal. It’s the first time I’ve seen it. Um. It’s, it’s just going to be a joy to go to the ballpark every day to work. Uh, but most importantly I’m just glad they got the [Highway] 64-40 [construction] finished, um, the freeway. That’s the only reason I’m coming back, is because they finally fixed it, and I’d told my wife, as soon as they fixed it, maybe, I’ll get lucky enough to get hired again. So. But, anyways, it’s, it’s, it’s a pleasure to be back, so, um, I’m excited to put the uniform back on.

Media: What did you feel as you got that ovation?

McGwire: Ah, just, ah—I can’t, I can’t describe it. It’s pretty awesome. Pretty cool. I mean it’s just, my stomach is just, my heart’s beating fast. It’s just, ah, ah… Ya know, the thing is you don’t know what to expect, but it, it was really cool. And, um, that’s why I’ve always said, Best fans in baseball [St. Louis].

Media: Mark, do you feel the weight of your shoulders is off the world now, since your announcement?

McGwire: Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. It took some time to a, to a, process it. Like on Monday night, I couldn’t, I couldn’t answer Bob [Costas live on MLB Network television] on that question, because I’ve never been in that situation before. But, uh, now that I’ve had some days to really think about it, and reflect, and to feel that, uh, it’s been lifted off. I had a chance to get this off my chest. Uh, uh, like I said, I, I wish I coulda done this, ya know, five years ago. Uh, we wouldn’t be having this press conference right now. But, uh, I feel a lot better about it inside.

Media: Do you think you looked honest, in the Costas interview? [McGwire signals for repeat of question.] Do you believe you looked honest, in the Costas interview?

McGwire: Dead honest. That is me. That’s my heart. That is, that is, uhh, something that’s uh—that’s just me. Uh, it’s honest.

Media: Do you think [your] coming out like this is gonna change the stain on baseball? It will change obviously the way they look at you—but as far as baseball’s concerned?

McGwire: [Clears throat] Well, baseball’s done a fantastic job, uh, uh, doing uh, uh, doing—cracking down on the, the uh, with the… drug policy. Uh, doing the things they’re doing, and they’re, from what I’ve heard, they’re improving, improving it. Um… so, it’s, they’ve done, done a fantastic job. The players association, Bud Selig.

Media: Mark, Jose Canseco said that you weren’t telling the truth when you didn’t know what drugs you used. And he named Winstrol, Deca and standard testosterone. Are you familiar with those?

McGwire: Ah, those names, yeah. I’m, I’m familiar with ’em, but, ah, like, like I said, I’m not gonna, I’m not gonna… ah… I’m not gonna go down that road with, uh, with Jose. And, uh, ya know, I [chuckles]… this, this is just me. And, uh… uh…

Media: What about your brother and the FBI though, Mark? What do they—the FBI and your brother both say you used, ya know. And used for performance, and strength?

McGwire: Well, uh, well, my, my brother does know. Uh, I don’t know about what to say about the FBI, so…

Media: Mark, what’s your response to the comments today by Jack Clark, that you should be banned from baseball and he won’t even shake your hand?

McGwire: Nah… Well, I, I heard he said something. I don’t know what he said, but, ya know, like anybody else, hey, listen: Uh, they got their own opinions. Um, I was being as honest, as honest as I am, uh, from the heart. Ah, I got it off my chest, and, uh, it’s, it’s something we can just all move on from.

Media: Mark, you said you used HGH once or twice. Why did you only use it once or twice?

McGwire: Well that, ya know, again… Uh, uh, with Jose, I’m not gonna go down that road. I’m not gonna, I’m not gonna… I, I’ll take the high road with the Jose stuff, because, uh, that’s just the way I am.

Media: Mark, to everybody in there [grand ballroom], kids, you said, Don’t ever go down the road, the road of, uh, steroids. Why did you go down that road?

McGwire: Good question… Everybody makes mistakes in their lives. And it’s the biggest regret of my life.

Media: Why did you continue to do it, year after year?

McGwire: [Pause] I think I answered the other night. It’s the biggest regret of my life.

Media: Mark, when you decided that you were gonna make this admission, you knew it would be a huge news story. But, uh [repeating for McGwire], you knew that it would be a huge news story. The reaction and, uh, the news that it’s made: Is it what you expected, is it beyond, or?

McGwire: I, I didn’t—ya mean as far as on a national level? Or are ya just talking about just in the [ballroom] there.

Media: National.

McGwire: National level, I didn’t know what to expect. Um… but, obviously, it’s been big news, and, uh, ya know, me coming forward and, and doing what I did, on my own… And, uh, coming clean… I, I just, I [clicks tongue]… I don’t know what else to say. It’s just, it’s—that was from my heart.

Media: Mark, what is the legacy of the Bash Brothers [in Oakland]. What is the legacy of the Bash Brothers now that you have made this admission, and so has Jose?

McGwire: Uh, we were teammates. And we, we played on the team. That was about it. We were teammates and, uh… that was really about it.

Media: So what should people think about your respective accomplishments, now that you’ve made these admissions?

McGwire: That is up to them to make their, uh, their opinion. Umm… that’s, that’s up to them.

Media: Why would he [Canseco] still make stuff up, though?

McGwire: What’s that?

Media: Why would he still make stuff up?

McGwire: Ah, you’re gonna have to ask him.

Media: Mark, you really didn’t tell Tony [La Russa] that you used steroids?

McGwire: Absolutely. Tony had, Tony… Tony La Russa—I kept this to myself. I... Ya know what? I, I spoke from my heart. And I spoke honestly the other night [with Costas]. And, listen: That’s me. And I hope you all can accept this. And let’s all move on from this. Baseball, baseball [speaking over media questions]… Baseball is great right now. Baseball’s better. And let’s just all move on.

Media: One more thing, Mark…

Brian Bartow, director, Cardinals media relations: Thank you. Thank you.