Mark McGwire doesn't live in the spotlight anymore. Honestly, for a guy who once basically saved baseball alongside Sammy Sosa in 1998, he’s become a bit of a ghost in the modern sports landscape. You don't see him doing the local car dealership commercials or popping up on every pre-game show. He's moved on.
Most people still picture him as "Big Mac," the hulking first baseman with forearms the size of hams, trotting around the bases at Busch Stadium. But if you’re looking for him in 2026, you won't find him in a dugout. Well, at least not an MLB one.
The Quiet Life in Orange County
So, where is Mark McGwire now? He’s back home. Basically, he lives in Orange County, California—specifically Irvine—with his wife, Stephanie Slemer. They’ve been married since 2002. It’s a far cry from the humid summers in St. Louis or the chilly nights in Oakland.
He’s a family man through and through these days. He has five kids: a son, Matthew, from his first marriage, and then triplets—Monet, Marlo, and Monroe—plus two more boys, Max and Mason, with Stephanie. If you follow amateur baseball at all, the names Max and Mason might sound familiar. Max was a high-profile recruit who played at UC Irvine, and Mason was drafted by the Chicago Cubs back in 2022.
McGwire spent years as a hitting coach, first with the Cardinals, then the Dodgers, and finally the Padres. He was actually really good at it. Players loved him. But he stepped away from the San Diego Padres after the 2018 season. Why? He wanted to watch his sons play. He realized he’d spent his whole life at the ballpark and was missing his own kids' careers.
A Surprise Hall of Fame Nod
Here is something kind of wild that most fans missed recently. While the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown still hasn't called—and likely never will because of the steroid era baggage—another Hall of Fame just did.
In June 2025, it was announced that McGwire was named to the 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Class.
Before he was a pro, he was a monster at USC. He hit 32 home runs in a single season for the Trojans back in 1984. That’s still a school record. He was also a pitcher, which is a fun trivia fact most people forget. He had a 2.93 ERA! The actual induction ceremony is scheduled for February 12, 2026, at the "Night of Champions" in Overland Park, Kansas.
It’s a bit of a poetic moment. It brings his career full circle, honoring the "clean" dominance he showed before the 90s madness took over.
The Reality of the "Steroid Shadow"
You can't talk about McGwire without talking about the 2005 congressional hearing. "I'm not here to talk about the past." That line ruined him in the eyes of many.
He eventually came clean in 2010. He admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone off and on for over a decade, including that magical 1998 season. He claimed it was for health and recovery, not size, though his former supplier famously disagreed with that take.
Because of that admission, he’s stuck in a sort of baseball purgatory. He’s a legend, but a "tainted" one. He’s welcome at Cardinals reunions—he was just inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in recent years—but the national conversation is always going to be complicated.
He seems okay with that, though. He’s not out there begging for forgiveness or trying to rewrite history. He’s just living his life.
What He Does Day-to-Day
When he isn't watching his sons play ball, McGwire stays busy with the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children. He’s actually put millions of his own money into this. It focuses on supporting agencies that help children who have been physically or sexually abused.
It’s a side of him the public rarely sees. He isn't the type to blast his charity work on social media. Honestly, he barely has a social media presence at all. He’s a private guy who prefers the golf course and the bleachers to the microphone.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to keep tabs on McGwire or dive deeper into his current chapter, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Watch the College Baseball Hall of Fame: Keep an eye out for footage or interviews from the February 2026 induction. It’s one of his most significant public appearances in years.
- Follow the Next Generation: If you want to see the "McGwire Swing" in action, look up Max and Mason McGwire’s stats in the minors or collegiate leagues. The power definitely stayed in the DNA.
- Visit Busch Stadium: If you’re ever in St. Louis, check out the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. Despite the controversy, he is officially a member there, and they don't shy away from his impact on the city.
- Support the Foundation: You can look into the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children if you want to see the work he’s doing outside of sports.
Mark McGwire might not be hitting 70 home runs anymore, but he’s found a way to be a different kind of "Big Mac" in his 60s—a coach, a philanthropist, and a dad who finally has the time to just sit in the stands and enjoy the game.