Fred Jewell/AP Chicago's Sammy Sosa runs toward first base after hitting a ground ball in the first inning of the National League wild-card playoff last night in Chicago. The Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 5-3.

As the 1998 baseball season began in the spring, I wrote a column in which I guaranteed soaring popularity for baseball. As I write this column at the end of the season, I see my guarantee proved to be true.

Feelings of the 1994 strike are long gone. In their place is a revival of the national pastime. You see, 1998 was quite a historic season in baseball history, perhaps the most historic season ever.

So, let's look at all the factors that not only put baseball back on the map, but also made baseball the capital of the sports world.

n Increase in TV ratings

Here is the ultimate proof that baseball's popularity is on the rise. Fox's baseball ratings increased by 11 percent. ESPN's ratings went up by 20 percent. More people are watching the games on TV. This should tell you something.

n Barry Bonds

Barry reached greatness that even his father Bobby could not. The San Francisco outfielder became the charter member of the 400 home runs/400 stolen bases club.

n Cal Ripken

The man finally sat down after playing in 2,632 consecutive games. Talk about shattering a record - Ripken surpassed Lou Gehrig's mark by five hundred games.

n Eric Davis

Considered the Willie Mays of the 1980s, Davis is a shoo-in for the Comeback Player of the Year award. After having part of his colon removed and a full round of chemotherapy treatment, Davis cracked 28 homers, had 89 RBI and hit a career-best .326. Not bad.

n Twenty-game winners

Four players reached this mark of excellence in pitching: Roger Clemens, David Cone, Tom Glavine and Rick Helling. And people said pitching has thinned out this year.

n Pennant races

Any purist will tell you the wild card has contributed to the decline in baseball popularity. On the contrary this has made baseball more exciting down the stretch. Ten years ago, the Boston Red Sox, owners of the second best record in the American League and 22 games behind the New York Yankees for the AL East Division crown, would have given up all hope. Now they are in the post-season.

In the National League, there was a play-off for the wild-card spot.

Go ahead. Tell me, as a baseball fan, you expressed no interest in that game. I dare you.

n The Chicago Cubs

The Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-3 last night to earn a playoff berth for the first time since 1989. They have had quite a historical year, and it's not over yet.

Kerry Wood is a lock for the NL Rookie of the Year and Sammy Sosa has a shot at the NL Most Valuable Player award. Maybe Harry Caray's spirit spent a lot of time with Cubs manager Jim Riggleman. Whatever the reason, I will be rooting for them all the way.

n The Yankees

Forget 1927 and Babe Ruth and Gehrig. This year's Yankees team, led by AL batting champion Bernie Williams and perfect game pitcher David Wells, was the best Yankee team ever, and they are a serious threat to win the World Series.

n Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa

Everybody thought McGwire had a chance to break Roger Maris' record, but 70 home runs? This is simply amazing. And Sammy Sosa finished with 66. Don't forget Ken Griffey Jr. either. He had 56. This marks the first time in major league history that three players have hit more than 50 homers in a season.

Having one player break Maris' record was special. But two sluggers surpassing Maris is a Ruthian feat if there ever was one. How long do you think baseball will go before two players hit more than 70 home runs in the same season? Years? Decades? Centuries?

The single-season home run crown is perhaps the most revered record in all of sports. Americans thrive on power. We love it. McGwire and Sosa have not only revived baseball, but they have also given the country something worth talking about besides Bill and Monica.

And forget all that garbage about baseball players being greedy. McGwire and Sosa respect each other, the game and the record they have broken. They know their feat is something never seen before in the annals of baseball. And they know this season is as monumental and historic as any other in baseball history.

So there it is. Baseball is popular again. I hope those of you who have only come back to the game to watch McGwire and Sosa got caught up in the rest of the above list as well. It's a sign that baseball is worth watching again. Next year, take me out to the ball game.

Peirce, a junior journalism major from Cincinnati, wants to nominate McGwire for president. He can be reached via e-mail at rp391696.