Sammy Sosa

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.