REPORT: McGwire thinking about retirement

<br>(St. Louis-AP) -- A published report today says St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire is contemplating retirement if his performance doesn't improve. <br><br>The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports

Friday, July 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(St. Louis-AP) -- A published report today says St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire is contemplating retirement if his performance doesn't improve.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports today that McGwire is considering making this season his last. Even if he continues to play, the 37-year-old first baseman says he doesn't expect to be back at full-strength from a knee injury for at least a year.

Big Mac is mired in the worst slump of his career, an oh-for-29 streak at the plate. The single-season home run king has just seven homers this year. He told the Post-Dispatch, ``I get paid a lot of money to do what I do, and I'm not doing it.''

Already this year, baseball greats Tony Gywnn and Cal Ripken have announced plans to call it quits at the end of the season.