WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

“Roger, I hope you’re with me tonight.”

MARK McGWIRE, before Tuesday’s game

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“I was hoping it wasn’t going to be me.”

CHICAGO CUB PITCHER STEVE TRACHSEL, who gave up No. 62 to McGwire.

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“Maybe when my career is over, I’ll think about it. Right now it’s just another home run. I’ve given up a billion of them.”

TRACHSEL

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“Well, that takes care of that.”

ORV KELLY, in Roger Maris’ hometown of Fargo, N.D.

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“It’s not mine to begin with. McGwire just lost it, and I brought it home. I’m just a regular Joe.”

TIM FORNERIS, part of the Busch Stadium grounds crew who came up with the ball.

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“I don’t think of all the things I’ve seen in my 30-year career I’ve seen in the last few days.”

COMMISSIONER BUD SELIG

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“There’s a big difference between breaking a record and breaking the record.”

FOX ANALYST TIM McCARVER, a former teammate of Maris

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“I’ll be on the seventh page after six pages of McGwire.”

CHICAGO WHITE SOX ROOKIE JEFF ABBOTT, who hit two homers Tuesday

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“Just an amazing feat, right up there with Jo DiMaggio’s hitting streak.

NEW YORK YANKEE PITCHER DAVID CONE

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“Sometimes pieces of tax code can be as hard to understand as the infield fly rule. All I know is that the fan who gives back the home run ball deserves a round of applause, not a big tax bill.”

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE COMMISSIONER CHARLES ROSSOTTI, on reports that whoever caught McGwire’s 62nd homer would be taxed.

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“This is better than doing my homework.”

ADAM DENNY, 11, who watched McGwire’s homer at The Abbey in Seal Beach.

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“There’s nothing cool about it.”

TRACHSEL

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“I just hope I didn’t act foolish. This is history.”

McGWIRE