Baseball: McGwire may announce retirement

Mark McGwire, who broke a 37-year-old record when he slugged 70 homers during the 1998 season, may announce his retirement from baseball within the next month.

St Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said his big-hitting first baseman, who struggled through an injury-plagued season, had called him and referred to himself as "your former first baseman."

"I don't expect him back," La Russa said. "I believe what he says."

McGwire, whose home-run record was broken this year by Barry Bonds' 73, has missed much of the past two seasons because of back and knee injuries.