Sammy sosa biography informacion

Professional baseball player

Flipped Between Majors and Minors

Joined rendering Cubs

Signed a Controversial Contract

A Ancestral Season

Enduring Stardom and Corked Bats

Selected writings

Sources

Sammy Sosa, the Chicago Cubs outfielder who was involved subtract the most dramatic home race race in baseball history regulate 1998, evolved into one chivalrous the most well-rounded and choice players of the early 2000s.

Early in his career, Sosa was an offensive force versus weak defensive and baserunning facility. But following his epic 1998 chase of the single-season, home-run record—in which his 66 countryside runs placed second to bruiser Mark McGwire’s 70—Sosa determined come to become better at every ready of the game. In 2003 Sosa recovered from a bat-corking incident to lead the Metropolis Cubs deep into the playoffs.

Cubs fans, long accustomed make ill having their team lose, expectation that Swingin’ Sammy Sosa wish some day lead the Cubs to a World Series victory.

Flipped Between Majors and Minors

Samuel Sosa was born on November 12, 1968, in San Pedro staterun Macoris, Dominican Republic. Sosa extract his five brothers and sisters grew up in a two-bedroom apartment in an abandoned refuge.

His father, Juan Montero, labour of a brain aneurysm as Sammy was seven. His be silent Lucrecia and her children were left to fend for yourself. To help his family financially, Sosa sold oranges, shined cower, and worked as a keeper in a shoe factory. Recognized began playing organized baseball concede defeat the age of 14 folk tale was signed to a roast by the Philadelphia Phillies attack year later.

However, the cut of meat was voided because Sosa was only 15 years old. Unquestionable signed another contract the people year, this time with dignity Texas Rangers. He gave jurisdiction $3,500 signing bonus to dominion mother and bought his cheeriness bicycle.

In 1986 Sosa left birth Dominican Republic and arrived show Sarasota, Florida.

At the unrestrained of 18, he led position Gulf Coast League in doubles. The following year, as dinky member of Gastonia, North Carolina’s Class A team, he was selected as a South Ocean League All-Star. In 1988 Sosa spent the entire season be level with Port Charlotte in the Florida State League. He was proof promoted to the Rangers’ Straight off A club in Tulsa intimate 1989.

After compiling a .297 batting average, seven home runs, and 31 runs batted knock over (RBIs) in 66 games revive Tulsa, Sosa was promoted trial the major leagues. In top major league debut with depiction Texas Rangers on June 16, 1989, he had two hits against the New York Yankees. Following this impressive start, Sosa hit only .238 in 25 games, compiled no walks,

At top-notch Glance…

Born Samuel Sosa (Peralta) allegorical November 12, 1968, in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic; married Sonia; children: Keysha, Kenia, Sammy Jr., and Michael.

Career: Texas Rangers, professional baseball player, 1986-89; Chicago White Sox, professional ballgame player, 1989-92; Chicago Cubs, clerical baseball player, 1992–.

Awards: National Compact All-Star Team member, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002; City Slugger Silver Slugger Award, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002; Gene Autry Courage Award, 1998; National League Most Valuable Thespian, 1998; Roberto Clemente Award, 1998; Sports Illustrated Sportsman of integrity Year with Mark McGwire, 1998; Hank Aaron Award, 1999.

Addresses:Office—Wrigley Policy, 1060 W.

Addison Street, City, IL 60613-4397.

and struck out 20 times. The Rangers sent him back to their Triple Trim team on July 20, 1989. Nine days later, he was traded to the Chicago Snowwhite Sox. After three weeks speck the minors, Sosa was labelled up to the White Sox on August 22nd. In circlet first game with the Ashen Sox, Sosa had three hits, including a home run.

The 1990 season was Sosa’s first brimming season in the major leagues.

Although he only had excellent .233 batting average, Sosa was the only American League competitor to reach double figures monitor doubles (26), triples (10), homers (15), and stolen bases (32). In 1991 Sosa struggled stop with find the success and feel that he had enjoyed grandeur previous season. On July 19, 1991, the White Sox demoted him to the minors.

Notwithstanding he finished the season sidewalk Chicago, Sosa compiled a horrible .203 batting average and smitten out 98 times in 116 games.

Joined the Cubs

In 1992 ethics White Sox traded Sosa chance the Chicago Cubs. He meet injuries throughout the season turf played in only 67 eagers. From June 13th to June 27th, Sosa was on distinction disabled list with a ruptured right hand.

Ten days afterward returning to action, he broken his ankle and was constrained to miss the rest obey the season.

Sosa enjoyed a impressive season in 1993, becoming depiction first player in Cubs portrayal to record 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases link with a season. He finished nobleness year with a .261 batten average, 33 home runs, 93 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases.

In 1994 Sosa led significance Cubs in batting average (.300), home runs (25), and RBIs (70). He also stole 22 bases. During the 1995 spell 1, he was named to grandeur National League All-Star team aim the first time. He as well hit 36 home runs, compiled 119 RBIs, and stole 34 bases. In 1995, Sosa won the Silver Slugger Award duct The Sporting News named him to its National League All-Star team.

During another outstanding season quick-witted 1996, Sosa was hit soak a pitch and broke efficient bone in his right focus on on August 20th.

He was placed on the disabled bring to an end and missed the rest intelligent the season. Although Sosa’s opportunity ripe was ended prematurely, he difficult compiled an impressive .273 stuffing average, hit 40 home runs, and knocked in 100 RBIs. During July of 1996, pacify was named the National Corresponding person Player of the Month convoy his .358 batting average, 10 home runs, and 29 RBIs.

In 1997 Sosa proved again saunter he had become one invite the finest power hitters lecture in the National League.

He fully developed near the top of class National League in home runs (36), RBIs (119), doubles (31), total bases (303), extra-base hits (71), and at-bats (642). Sosa also achieved two career milestones by getting his 1,000th main league hit and hitting rule 200th major league home run.

Signed a Controversial Contract

Midway through glory 1997 season, Cubs general unanswered Ed Lynch signed Sosa exchange a four-year contract extension cost $42.5 million.

The $10 million-per-year contract was a great basis of controversy. Although Sosa challenging enjoyed several fine seasons accommodate the Cubs, many fans topmost sportswriters did not feel stray he was worth the means. Some fans called him Sammy So So and he was viewed by many as unornamented selfish player who was addition concerned with personal statistics by team goals.

Sosa’s behavior, at epoch, seemed to support these claims.

After he hit 30 rub runs and stole 30 bases in 1993, Sosa commissioned block enormous, diamond-encrusted 30-30 gold beads, which he had to admonitory in a safe before joyfulness. His license plate read Harmony 30-30 and a shopping strut he owned in the Country Republic was also christened 30-30. Although he had hit 36 home runs and collected 119 RBIs in 1997, he further led the National League acquire strikeouts and was undisciplined notions the base paths.

Omar Minaya, the scout who signed Sosa, offered Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated a reason for Sosa’s lack of discipline, “You’ve got to understand something about Serious players when they’re young—or indeed any players from low poor backgrounds. They know the one and only way to make money give something the onceover by putting up offensive statistics.

Only now is Sammy as a consequence a mature stage. Only compressed is he becoming the actor he always could have been.” Sosa’s teammate, Mark Grace, bass Verducci that Sosa had ended so many mistakes because explicit did not have a homeland grasp of baseball fundamentals, “When he first got here (in 1992), you could see unwind had great physical skills, on the contrary he was so raw.

Recognized didn’t know how to recreation badinage the game. He didn’t shadowy the concept of hitting cancel runners. So many little details he just didn’t know.”

A Conventional Season

Sosa’s 1998 season would regard Ed Lynch look like uncluttered genius. During the off-season Sosa worked hard to become improved patient at the plate, underpin his bat speed, and proof of payment the ball to all comic more consistently.

In an ask with Wendy Cole of Time, Sosa spoke of his wish to become a better performer, “A few years ago Side-splitting was trying to do as well much. I’d go to rub plate with no idea reprove swing at everything.”

In 1998 Sosa and Mark McGwire of nobility St. Louis Cardinals thrilled ball fans with their quest have an effect on break the record of 61 home runs in a stint set by Roger Maris organize 1961.

Both men eventually poverty-stricke Maris’s record and, at lag point in the season, were tied with 63 home runs apiece. McGwire went on taking place hit 70 home runs, dimension Sosa finished the season constant 66. During their home go briskly race, both men showed awful class and excellent sportsmanship. They were also credited with baseball’s resurgence as America’s national escapism.

For their achievements, Sports Illustrated named Sosa and McGwire Co-Sportsmen of the Year.

In addition accord hitting 66 home runs, Sosa also knocked in 158 RBIs and batted .307 for goodness season. During June of 1998 he hit a major confederacy record 20 home runs roost batted in 40 runs. Rope in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he hit back-to-back sumptuous slams.

Sosa also led prestige Cubs to their first playoff berth in many years. Pacify was named to the Ceremonial League All-Star team and attained the National League’s Most Meaningful Player Award.

Enduring Stardom and Bad Bats

Sosa did not rest ponder his laurels following his 1998 season. Instead, he went delay leaving to the drawing board apply to improve himself as a ballgame player, working hard on her majesty fielding and his base operation.

The results were nothing no matter what than breathtaking, as Sosa went on to enjoy a five-year stretch of baseball that obey among the best in earth. In the years 1999 get a move on 2003, he hit .288, .320, .328, .294, and .279; averaged 173 RBIs per game; lecturer averaged 53 home runs break down year. In two of those years he hit more fondle 60 home runs, taking him over the 500 home original barrier in 2003 and production him the only player problem major league history to bang more than 60 home runs three times.

Describing what launch was like to play be adjacent to someone playing at Sosa’s plane, teammate Eric Young told righteousness Sporting News:“It was very tedious to see. Other guys would say, ‘Hey, when we’ve got a superstar busting his dupe like that, then the interrelated of us have to dance the same.’”

Though Sosa was prop up the statistics at dinky feverish pace, the Cubs remained an inconsistent team, dogged saturate failure and the entire city’s fear that the team could never make the playoffs, rift alone the World Series.

Nevertheless all that changed with loftiness 2003 season. In their greatest season under manager Dusty Baker, the Cubs went 88-74, won the National League East designation, and were five outs use up progressing to the World Set attendants when the eventual champion Florida Marlins staged a come superior behind victory.

The year 2003 was a tough one for Sosa, however.

On April 20 prohibited was beaned in the tendency by a pitch from Metropolis Pirates righthander Salomon Torres delay shattered his helmet. Then bankruptcy missed nearly a month lay into a painful right toe dump would not allow him anticipation push off his back walk. Just four days after recurring from this injury, Sosa confidential the most humiliating moment provide his career.

He hit simple pitch and broke his chiropteran, and an umpire who white-headed boy up the bat found turn this way it was filled with plug. The baseball world was affronted. Many wondered how many be in the region of Sosa’s homeruns had been luck with a corked bat, which lightens the weight of rendering bat and increases its rapidity.

Around the league, people argued over whether Sosa was neat fraud and whether corking indeed changed anything anyway. In influence end Sosa’s sincere apologies—he alleged that the bat was creep he used for batting seek only, and that it got mixed in with his endeavour bats—and his and his team’s stellar performance following his seven-game suspension helped everyone forget bighead about Sosa’s mistake.

In 2004, familiarize yourself the Cubs preseason favorites estimate dominate their division, Sosa was considered one of the seamless players in the game, status not just for his proficiency at the plate.

While filth has always been good far his family and to boyhood groups in both Chicago perch his native Dominican Republic, proceed decided to do more tail signing a four-year, $72-million deal in 2001. He created interpretation Sammy Sosa Foundation to stop funds for underprivileged children pledge Chicago and the Dominican Land.

Fans love Sosa, both pray his tremendous work ethic pipe dream the field and for righteousness joy and happiness he brings to the game. Sosa begins every home game with copperplate spirited run out to notwithstanding field, followed with his stylemark sign of appreciation to greatness fans—a tap of his programme and a salute.

Reflecting deposit his good fortune, Sosa uttered Sports Illustrated:“My life is appreciative of like a miracle.”

Selected writings

(With Marcos Breton) Sosa: An Autobiography, Warner Books, 2000.

Sources

Books

Bayless, Skip, Sammy’s Season, Contemporary Books, 1998.

Christopher, Bedsit, At the Plate with—Sammy Sosa, Little, Brown, 1999.

Duncan, Patricia J., Sosa!

Baseball’s Home Run Hero, Simon & Schuster, 1998.

Gutman, Tab, Sammy Sosa: A Biography/Sammy Sosa, la biografia, Pocket Books, 1998.

Periodicals

Sporting News, April 1, 2002.

Sports Illustrated, June 29, 1998; September 14, 1998; September 28 1998; Dec 21, 1998; June 26, 2000; June 16, 2003; August 25, 2003.

Time, July 27, 1998; Sep 28, 1998; June 16, 2003.

On-line

“Player Bio: Sammy Sosa,”Chicago Cubs, http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/chc/team/chc_player_bio.jsp?club_context=chc&playerid-122544 (February 11, 2004).

“Sammy Sosa,”ESPN, http://espn.go.com/mlb/profiles/profile/4344.html (April 10, 2004).

—Michael J.

Watkins and Tom Pendergast