To McGwire, the Northwest’s Great : First-round pick: Seahawks take ex-San Diego State standout with the 16th pick. He is the first quarterback chosen in the draft.

NEWPORT BEACH —  Dan McGwire’s first telephone call from Seattle on Sunday came at 11:42 a.m.

Of course, it wasn’t the telephone call. No, at 11:42 a.m.--2 hours and 42 minutes after the 1991 NFL draft had begun--McGwire still was sitting in a hotel here, surrounded by family and friends, wondering if the magic was draining out of the biggest day of his life.

Nervous?

“I’ve never seen him so quiet in his life,” said Dana Orlich, his fiancee.

The call was from Mark McGwire, who was phoning from the visiting clubhouse in--coincidentally--Seattle’s Kingdome, where he and several Oakland A’s teammates were watching the draft.

They talked for a few minutes and wished each other luck. Thirty minutes later, when the 16th pick of the first round was announced, the Seattle Seahawks selected Dan McGwire. Finally.

A few minutes after the announcement, amid shrieks of joy from McGwire’s supporters, the official call came from Seattle.

McGwire, the first San Diego State first-round pick since tight end Isaac Curtis in 1973, talked with Tom Flores, Seahawk president, Coach Chuck Knox and a few others. He had trouble keeping them straight.

“Thank you so much,” he told them.

He breathed a sigh of relief. McGwire watched the draft with 40 people--family members, friends, Leigh Steinberg--his attorney--and two Steinberg clients, defensive lineman Russell Maryland and defensive back Eric Turner. Maryland and Turner were the first two players selected.

Although McGwire had a bit of a wait, his former SDSU teammate Pio Sagapolutele waited a little longer. Sagapolutele, a 66-foot-5 defensive end, was chosen in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns.

As for McGwire, New England was rumored to be interested in him, but when the Patriots selected tackle Pat Harlow with the 11th pick, a loud cheer went up from several of McGwire’s friends. Apparently, they weren’t interested in Dan going to New England.

Three picks later, the Patriots passed over him again.

But 15 minutes after that, here came the Seahawks. McGwire--who, at 6 feet 8 inches, will become the tallest quarterback in NFL history--had been worried because they didn’t call before they announced their pick on television. Both Maryland and Turner had received calls before they were selected.

No matter. By mid-afternoon, the first quarterback taken in this year’s draft would be flying to Seattle, bound for a new job and the fruits of being a first-round pick. Steinberg said he figured McGwire’s contract should be worth between $700,000 and $1 million.

“A quarterback has traditionally gotten a premium, and it’s fun having the first quarterback (taken) because we’re in the position to set the quarterback market,” Steinberg said.

Said McGwire: “To be taken in the first round is just an honor. I felt I was the best quarterback out there, and to be selected by Seattle is just outstanding. But when the phone didn’t ring and Seattle went up there (to pick), my heart was pitter-pattering.”

As far as McGwire was concerned, it couldn’t have worked out better. Seattle was his first choice--his father, John, graduated from the University of Washington dental school, and his mother, Ginger, is from Seattle. John has three brothers and three sisters still living in the Seattle area.

Plus, Seattle is in the AFC West, so McGwire is assured of two games a year in Southern California--in Los Angeles and San Diego. He likes the Seahawk system, and said he and Ken Meyer, Seattle quarterback coach, hit it off when Meyer visited SDSU.

“They have a very well-balanced attack,” McGwire said. “They mix it up and spread the defense out.”

What a run for McGwire, who passed for 7,484 yards and 43 touchdowns in two seasons at SDSU. He got engaged last week in Hawaii. He was the first quarterback taken in the draft. And he is going where he wanted to be.

“It’s a great place to live,” he said. “It rains up there a lot, but it’s green. And the golf courses are green.”

He talked of learning under incumbent Seattle quarterback Dave Krieg, and of competing for the No. 1 spot. If he doesn’t win it, he said, Krieg is 32, so he might not have to wait too long.

“He’s getting to the end of his career,” McGwire said.

What did Mark say to you, someone asked.

“He told me some of the (A’s) were asking, ‘What’s he wearing that beach shirt for?’ ” McGwire said.

He laughed. He said he would change into a suit and tie by the time he arrived in Seattle for a news conference.