Tony La Russa surprised everyone last Monday by announcing that Mark McGwire, one of the controversial baseball players of all time will join St. Louis Cardinals as his hitting coach.

La Russa agreed to return on a one-year contract with the Cardinals as manager. All of his coaches will also return except for Hal McRae, whom McGwire will replace.

McGwire retired from the game on 2001. He hit a record of 70 home runs in 1998, 583 homers and a .263 career average in 2001.

In 1998, a reporter spotted a jar of androstenedione in his locker. During that time, the Major League Baseball did not yet ban the steroid precursor. McGwire even admitted to its use.

However, in 2005, at the height of the Mitchell Report, he refused to answer questions about steroids use during a US Congressional hearing.

McGwire failed to join the prestigious Hall of Fame in 2007 appearing on less than 25 percent out of the 545 ballots cast. His baseball heroics were forever cast into suspicion due to his use of performance-enhancing drugs.

McGwire did not attend the news conference last Monday at the Busch Stadium.

From The Commercial Appeal:

Mark McGwire is back in baseball, reunited with Tony La Russa as the St. Louis Cardinals’ hitting coach.