Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire captivated the nation during their Home Run Chase of 1998, which ended with Sammy at 66 and McGwire at 70. It was the first of four straight seasons of 50 or more homers for Sosa, who has topped the 60 mark three times. The likable Sosa won the 1998 National League Most Valuable Player Award and grew to become a huge fan favorite, not only in Chicago, but throughout America and in his home country, the Dominican Republic. In the first game played by the Cubs after the terrible events of September 11, 2001, Sosa belted a home run and carried a small U.S. flag around the bases. His trademark hop and his kiss and heart-touching ritual after hitting a home run, have been imitated by kids all over the globe. Thanks to his infectious smile and positive attitude, Sosa has become the greatest ambassador of the game since Cal Ripken Jr. Early in 2003, Sosa became the first Latin American player, and only the 18th overall, to hit 500 home runs.
Played For
Texas Rangers (1989)
Chicago White Sox (1989-1991)
Chicago Cubs (1992-2004)
Baltimore Orioles (2005)
All-Time Rankings
Sammy Sosa ranks #37 among the Top 50 all-time at RF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 2001
He eclipsed his overall performance of 1998, hitting .328 with a .737 slugging percentage, .437 OBP, 64 homers, 160 RBI, 146 runs scored, and 116 walks. On August 9, August 22 and September 23, he hit three homers in a single game.
Factoids
Sammy Sosa hit his first major league homer on June 21, 1989, off Boston's Roger Clemens.
Sammy Sosa is the only player in history to hit 60 home runs in three different season. However, he did not win the home run title in any of those years.
The Home Run Chase of 1998
The chase was hardly a chase at all as late as May. On May 24, 1998, Mark McGwire had 24 home runs, while Sammy Sosa was at nine. But soon, Sammy made his move and the race was on. From May 25-June 23, Sosa belted 21 home runs in 30 days. He set a record with 20 home runs in June, which was also the most homers ever hit in any month. It became clear that both McGwire and Sosa were drawing a bead on roger Maris's single-season home run record. The question was: who would get there first?
On August 19, Sosa hit his 48th home run and passed McGwire for the first time. But later in that game, McGwire answered with a pair of homers and reclaimed the lead. "Big Mac" would stay relinquish the lead just once more.
Over Labor Day weekend the Cardinals and Cubs played each other in St. Louis and the media circus surrounding the home run chase collided in one location. The two sluggers embraced the publicity, helping put baseball back on the front pages and in the news. On September 8, McGwire finally passed Maris, lining a shot over the left field wall at Busch Stadium. Sosa watched from right field and applauded. McGwire made an emotional trip around the bases, pointing to the sky as he crossed home plate to honor Maris, whose sons were in attendance. Soon, Sosa arrived and hugged McGwire, who lifted Sammy off his feet. Baseball had a golden moment. But three weeks still remained in the season and the chase was still far from over.
Five days later, Sosa hit two home runs in Wrigley Field to tie McGwire at 62. Adding to the tension of the McGwire/Sosa race was the fact that the Cubs were in a fight for a playoff spot. On September 25 in Houston, Sosa hit #66, creeping ahead of McGwire for the final time. McGwire responded by hitting a homer of his own a few innings later in St. Louis to bring the chase to a tie once more. Sosa failed to any more homers, while McGwire belted four in his final two games to finish with an astonishing 70 for the new single-season record.
Three years later, Barry Bonds broke McGwire's record, which many thought would last longer than Maris's had. Bonds blasted 73 homers to establish the new standard. One of the players given the best chance to break Bonds record is Sosa, who hit 63 in 1999, 50 in 2000, and 64 in 2001.
Where He Played
More than 90% of his outfield games have been in right field.
Born
Samuel Peralta Sosa was born on November 12, 1968, in San Pedro de Macoris
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: RF
Primary Team: CHN
Major League Debut
June 16, 1989
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1989
Steve Finley
Todd Zeile
John Olerud
Sammy Sosa
Omar Vizquel
Ken Griffey Jr.
Juan Gonzalez
Albert Belle
Jim Abbott
Sosa seems like the type of player who would have a popular nickname, but he doesn't. He's simply known by all as "Sammy."
Uniform Numbers
#17 (1989 Rangers), #25 (1989-1991 White Sox), #21 (1992-present Cubs)
Similar Players
None
Related Players
Mark McGwire, Roger Maris, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds
Post-Season Appearances
1998 National League Divisional Series
2003 National League Championship Series
2003 National League Divisional Series
Post-Season Notes
In 1998, the Cubs won the first playoff for a wild card spot in baseball history. Chicago built a 4-0 lead and kept the Giants at bay the rest of the way behind starter Terry Mulholland and Kevin Tapani in relief. Closer Rod Beck squashed a Giant rally in the ninth (three runs were plated), getting Joe Carter to end the game. The Cubs won 5-3.
Awards and Honors
1998 NL MVP
Feats
Only player to collect 50 or more homers in four straight season. Sosa belted 66 in 1998, 63 in 1999, 50 in 2000, and 64 in 2001... Eight straight 100-RBI seasons (1995-2002)... Sosa was the first Cub to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in the same season (1993 and 1995)... Has hit three homers in a game six times.
Milestones
Hit his 500th home run on April 4, 2003, against the Cincinnati Reds. He became the first Latin American player to reach the milestone.
Milestones
- May 16, 2001: 400th HR... Off Shane Reynolds
- April 4, 2003: 500th HR... Off Scott Sullivan.
Batting Feats
Notes
Sosa was second to Barry Bonds in MVP voting in 2001 and has finished in the top ten on four other occasions... Sosa has finished first or second in the NL in homers seven times... Nolan Ryan is the only pitcher to strike out Roger Maris, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa... In 2002, Shawn Green hit 20 home runs in 31 games. Only four players in major league history have hit 20 homers over a shorter span in one season, led by Sammy Sosa's 20 homers in 24 games back in 1998 for the Cubs. Barry Bonds hit 20 in 27 games in 2001 for the Giants; Ralph Kiner hit 20 in 29 games in 1947 for the Pirates; and Reggie Jackson hit 20 in 30 games in 1969 for the A's.
Transactions
Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Texas Rangers (July 30, 1985); Traded by Texas Rangers with Scott Fletcher and Wilson Alvarez to Chicago White Sox in exchange for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique (July 29, 1989); Traded by Chicago White Sox with Ken Patterson to Chicago Cubs in exchange for George Bell (March 30, 1992).
All-Star Selections
1995 NL
1998 NL
1999 NL
2000 NL
2001 NL
2002 NL
2004 NL
Replaced
Sammy earned his first starting job with the White Sox, replacing Daryl Boston in the lineup and Ivan Calderon (who moved to left) in right field.
Best Strength as a Player
Power
Largest Weakness as a Player
Plate discipline. Entering 2003, Sosa was averaging less than 48 non-intentional walks per 600 plate appearances.
Learn More about Sammy Sosa
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