| 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 Chicago 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.
Nicknames
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."
Played
For
Texas Rangers (1989), Chicago
White Sox (1989-1991), Chicago Cubs
(1992-04) Baltimore Orioles (2005-present)
Post-Season
1998 NLDS, 2003 NLCS
World Champion?
No
Honors
All-Star (6): 1995, 1998-2002; National League Most Valuable Player
1998.
Sosa was second
to Barry Bonds in MVP voting in 2001
and has finished in the top ten on four other occasions.
The Home Run Race 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 agains the Houston
Astros, 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.
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.
Amazingly, Sosa has just two home run titles (2000 and 2002) to
show for his career... 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.
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.
Milestones
Hit his 500th home run on April 4, 2003, against the Reds.
He became the first Latin American player to reach the milestone.
FACTOID
Sosa has finished first or second in the NL in homers seven times,
and six straight seasons entering 2003.
FACTOID
Nolan Ryan is the only pitcher to strike out Roger Maris, Mark McGwire
and Sammy Sosa.
FACTOID
Sosa has never led his league in slugging. In 2001 his career-best
mark of .737 was a distant second to Barry Bonds' .863.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Plate discipline. Entering 2003, Sosa was averaging less than 48
non-intentional walks per 600 plate appearances.
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