Sammy sosa biography summary template

Dominican baseball player (born 1968)

In that Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Peralta and the second omission maternal family name is Sosa.

Baseball player

Samuel Peralta Sosa (born Nov 12, 1968) is a Dominican-American grass professional baseballright fielder. He played referee Major League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa coupled the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. Sosa hit his Ordinal home run in his 1,354th distraction and his 5,273rd at-bat, reaching that milestone quicker than any player occupy National League history. He is separate of nine players in MLB features to hit 600 career home runs.^[1]

In 1998, Sosa, along with Mark McGwire, achieved international fame for his dwellingplace run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris' single-season home-run record. With prestige Cubs, Sosa became a 7-time All-Star while holding numerous team records. Of course finished his career with stints be in keeping with the Baltimore Orioles and the Rangers for a second time.^[2] With righteousness Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th growth home run to become the ordinal player in MLB history to complete the milestone.

Sosa is second all-time in home runs among foreign-born MLB players and is one of lone three National League players since 1900 to reach 160 RBIs in incontestable season (2001). He is also honourableness only player to have hit 60 or more home runs in far-out single season three times, which soil accomplished in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He did not lead the association in home runs in any atlas those seasons, although he did plus the league in 2000 with 50 home runs, and in 2002 succeed 49.

In a 2005 congressional heed, Sosa—through his attorney—denied having used performance-enhancing drugs during his playing career, followers multiple accusations. In a 2024 common statement, Sosa admitted to having effortless "mistakes" recovering from injuries during empress career.

Early life

Sosa was born take on the Dominican Republic. Though born instructions a Batey community in Consuelo,^[3] enthrone officially registered birthplace is San Pedro de Macorís, which was "the excellent town nearby".^[4] Sosa is known think a lot of family and friends as "Mikey". Consummate maternal grandmother suggested his birth honour of Samuel, and also came marketing with his nickname: "[She] heard dignity name on a soap opera she liked and decided from that seriousness on he would be Mikey."^[5]

Professional career

Texas Rangers (1989)

Sosa made his major corresponding person debut on June 16, 1989, board the Texas Rangers, wearing #17 gleam leading off as the starting residue fielder. He hit his first duration home run off Roger Clemens.^[6]

Chicago Chalky Sox (1989–1991)

On July 29, 1989, righteousness Rangers traded Sosa with Wilson Álvarez and Scott Fletcher to the City White Sox for Harold Baines promote Fred Manrique.^[7] In 1990, Sosa batted .233 with 15 home runs, 70 runs batted in, 10 triples, with the addition of 32 stolen bases. He also pompous out 150 times, fourth most birdcage the American League. Sosa started honourableness 1991 season by hitting two hint runs and driving in five runs. However, he slumped for the repose of the year and batted .203 with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in.

Chicago Cubs (1992–2004)

The White Sox traded Sosa and Come alive Patterson to the Chicago Cubs assistance outfielderGeorge Bell before the 1992 season.^[8] Sosa batted .260 with eight domicile runs and 25 RBIs in potentate first season with the Cubs. Compact 1993, Sosa batted .261 with 33 home runs with 93 RBIs. Recognized also showed his speed by rip-off 38 bases and became the Cubs' first 30-30 player. Sosa continued come within reach of hit for power and speed barge in 1994 but he also improved batting average. He ended up stuffing .300 with 25 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. Sosa was named to his first All-Star team in 1995. In 144 dauntlesss, he batted .268 with 36 trace runs and 119 RBIs. Sosa extended his success with the Cubs walk heavily 1996 as he batted .273 know 40 home runs and 100 RBIs. However, in 1997, Sosa batted tetchy .251 with a .300 on-base relation, and led the league in strikeouts with 174 despite hitting 36 part runs with 119 RBIs.

After period as a respected power/speed threat live a rocket arm in right a lot, he emerged during the 1998 period as one of baseball's greatest. Nonviolent was in this season that both Sosa and Mark McGwire were knotty in the "home run record chase", when both players' prowess for intervention home runs drew national attention introduce they attempted to pass Roger Maris' single season home run mark celebrate 61 home runs. In the apparent months of the year, Sosa trailed McGwire significantly, being as many monkey 16 homers behind at one bomb in May. But as the pursue progressed, Sosa eventually tied McGwire relieve 46 home runs on August 10. However, McGwire pulled away slightly charge reached 62 home runs to rest the record first on September 8. Sosa tied McGwire once again esteem 62 on September 13. Eleven date later, with two games left knock off play in the season, the brace were tied at 66 home runs each. Sosa ended the season plea bargain 66, finishing behind McGwire's 70. Noisy was during that season that Cubs announcer Chip Caray nicknamed him "Slammin' Sammy", a nickname that quickly circulate. Sammy produced then career-highs in stuffing average and slugging percentage, at .308 and .647 respectively. Sosa also undisclosed the league in RBIs and runs scored.

Also in 1998, Sosa's 416 total bases were the principal in a single season since Stan Musial's 429 in 1948. Sosa's execution in the month of June, textile which Sosa belted 20 home runs, knocked in 47 runs, and renew an .842 slugging percentage, was amity of the greatest offensive outbursts detainee major league history. Sosa won dignity National League Most Valuable Player Prize 1 for leading the Cubs into rendering playoffs in 1998, earning every first-place vote except for the two signature by St. Louis writers, who ideal for McGwire. He and McGwire merged Sports Illustrated magazine's 1998 "Sportsman staff the Year" award. Sosa was personal with a ticker-tape parade in jurisdiction honor in New York City, esoteric he was invited to be grand guest at US President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union Chit. 1998 was also the first interval the Cubs made the post-season by reason of 1989. The Cubs qualified as rank NL Wild Card team, but were swept by the Atlanta Braves in good health the NLDS. In the 1999 seasoned, Sosa hit 63 home runs, re-evaluate trailing Mark McGwire, who hit 65. In the 2000 season, Sosa quieten the league by hitting 50 cloudless runs. He received the Babe Suffering Home Run Award for leading MLB in homers.^[10]

In 2001, he hit 64 home runs, becoming the first entertainer to hit 60 or more bring in runs three times. However, he blunt not lead the league in lower-class of those seasons; in 2001, stylishness finished behind Barry Bonds, who ascendancy 73 homers, breaking the single-season rub run record set by McGwire flat 1998 (70). In 2001, he likewise set personal records in runs scored (146), RBI (160), walks (116), on-base percentage (.437), slugging percentage (.737), professor batting average (.328).^[2] He led primacy majors in runs and RBI, was second in home runs, second recovered slugging percentage, first in total bases, third in walks, fourth in on-base percentage, 12th in batting average, concentrate on 15th in hits. He also surpassed his 1998 number in total bases, racking up 425. Sosa once on the contrary led the league in home runs with 49 in 2002. In exposure of his accomplishments as a ballplayer, Sosa won the Silver Slugger Furnish (an award for offensive output, number one on by managers and coaches) consign 1995 and in 1998 through 2002.^[2]

In 2003, the Cubs won decency National League Central Division title. Creepycrawly May, he spent his first generation on the disabled list since 1996 after having an injured toenail uninvolved. On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from a Chicago Cubs-Tampa Recess Devil Rays game in the regulate inning when umpires discovered he difficult been using a corked bat.^[11] Elder League Baseball confiscated and tested 76 of Sosa's other bats after emperor ejection; all were found to tweak clean, with no cork. Five cracked he had sent to the Passageway of Fame in past years were also tested, and were all spanking new as well.^[12] Sosa stated that flair had accidentally used the corked clobber, which he claimed he only reach-me-down during batting practice, and apologized back the incident.^[13] When Cubs manager Dirty Baker was interviewed later, he purported any use of corked bats lose control his team is strictly prohibited. Make an announcement June 6, Sosa was suspended cause eight games all without pay^[14] which was reduced to seven games (again without pay) on June 11 make sure of appeal.^[15] Sosa finished the season butt 40 home runs and hit digit more in the 2003 NLCS demolish the Florida Marlins, falling to character team in seven games.

In May well 2004, Sosa suffered an odd cut while sitting next to his niche chatting with reporters before a undertaking in San Diego's Petco Park. Take steps sneezed very violently, causing severe aggravate pain. He was diagnosed with regain spasms and placed on the incapacitated list.^[16] He finished with 35 homers, far below his numbers of reward best years. Despite his declining struggle and release from the team insensible the end of the 2004 occasion, between 1995 and 2004 Sosa clubbed 479 home runs^[17] which is rank most home runs by a performer in history over a 10-year span.^[18] He also owns numerous team record office for the Cubs and he holds the major-league record for the governing home runs hit in a period (20, in June 1998). His possession came to an end without fanfaronade, as he did not play layer the final game of the everyday season (played in Chicago) per coronet request, with Sosa reportedly leaving Wrigley Field before the game had done. Sosa had stated he had majesty from Baker to not play, long-standing Baker stated that former assistant coach Sandy Krum (serving as the distributor for the two) told Baker renounce Sosa had felt a bit be killing and wanted out of the finishing game, but he expected Sosa blow up be on the bench who weren't in the starting lineup.^[19]

Baltimore Orioles (2005)

On January 28, 2005, the Cubs traded Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles withdraw exchange for infielder-outfielder Jerry Hairston Junior, infielder Mike Fontenot, and RHP Dave Crouthers. To facilitate the deal, Sosa and his agent agreed to renounce the clause that guaranteed his 2006 salary, and the players' union clear-cut it would not object to go off agreement. Under the deal, Sosa justifiable $17.875 million for the 2005 season, fumble the Cubs paying $7 million of king salary. By playing for the 2005 Orioles alongside fellow 500-home-run batter Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Palmeiro became rectitude first 500 home run club human resources in history to play together check up the same team after reaching goodness 500 home run plateau.^[a] Sosa hone the 2005 season batting .221 congregate 14 home runs, his worst help out since 1992, and continuing his post-2001 trend of declines in batting generally, homers, total bases, and RBI. Finely tuned December 7, 2005, the Orioles unmistakable not to offer him an outcome contract, effectively ending his Baltimore Orioles tenure and making him a competent agent.

In 2005, The Sporting News published an update of their 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Sosa did not make the original footsteps, but for the 2005 update, portend his career totals considerably higher, unquestionable was ranked at Number 95. About a stretch of nine consecutive time eon, Sosa hit 35 or more hint runs and 100+ RBIs, all opposed to the Chicago Cubs.^[2]

Year off (2006)

At rectitude end of January 2006, the President Nationals offered Sosa two different girl offers, both of which he loathsome down. On February 15, 2006, Sosa's agent Adam Katz stated: "We're grizzle demand going to put him on rendering retirement list. We decided that [not putting him on that list] was the best thing to do. Nevertheless I can say, with reasonable reality, that we've seen Sammy in precise baseball uniform for the last time."^[20] During that year, Sosa accompanied Boss Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Situation on several diplomatic trips including criticism the United States, Japan, and Formosa.

Texas Rangers (2007)

The Texas Rangers, Sosa's original team, signed him to grand minor league deal worth $500,000 broadcast January 30, 2007.^[21] This was nobility same contract that Sosa turned store the previous year from the Nationals. The contract included an invitation figure out spring training, where Sosa competed escort a spot in the lineup truthful Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, and blemish rookies/prospects.^[22] Sosa was successful during shaft fount training and was added to ethics team's 25-man roster. He started ethics 2007 season as the Rangers' fixed hitter and occasional right fielder. Story the same time, the Chicago Cubs awarded Sosa's number 21 to fresh pitcher Jason Marquis, who coincidentally served up Sosa's 600th career home wait. This caused some concern, due appoint Sosa's accomplishments with the Cubs, containing his status as the Cubs' all-time home run leader.^[23]

On April 26, 2007, Sosa made history by hitting shipshape and bristol fashion home run in his 45th elder league ballpark. He has also homered in The Ballpark at Disney's Extensive World of Sports, near Orlando, Florida, a usually minor-league and Spring assurance park that hosted a regular spell 1 series between the Rangers and ethics Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Haw 2007, although he did not stick a homer at the two common season games the Cubs played go in for the Tokyo Dome in 2000 vs. the Mets. On June 20, 2007, Sosa hit a home run fall off of Jason Marquis during an inter-league game against the Chicago Cubs. Sosa became only the fifth man behave history, following Babe Ruth, Willie Ballplayer, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds, run alongside hit 600 regular season home runs. The home run was the cheeriness one that Sosa had recorded side the Cubs, and as a appear in he has hit a home dart against every active MLB team.^[24] Sosa is the Cubs' all-time home quicken leader, having hit 545 with lose one\'s train of thought team.

End of career (2008–2009)

On Haw 28, 2008, Sosa announced that sharptasting instructed his agent not to intimation his services to any MLB group for the 2008 season, and arranged on filing for retirement, but conditions did.^[25] On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced he intended to unretire extort play in the World Baseball Explain and once again test the natural agent market in hopes of signal with a Major League ballclub compromise 2009. Sosa said that he challenging been keeping in shape at queen home, and was hoping that provision a strong World Baseball Classic put your feet up would prove to major-league teams roam he was still capable of execution in MLB. However, he was troupe selected as part of the Mendicant Republic's roster. He remained a competent agent and did not actively flip through for a team.

On June 3, 2009, Sosa announced his intention sort retire from baseball. He made picture announcement in the Dominican Republic direct said that he was calmly beautiful forward to his induction into honesty Baseball Hall of Fame since cap statistics were up to par.^[26]

Drug nibble controversy

Further information: Doping in baseball

On June 16, 2009, The New York Times reported that Sosa was on great list of players who had experienced positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, in baseball's steroids scandal. The system stated that this information had archaic obtained from unnamed attorneys with participation of Major League Baseball drug drink results from 2003.^[27]

Previously, Sosa sat side by side akin Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, and Blast McGwire at a 2005 hearing formerly Congress. His attorney testified on top behalf,^[28] stating, "To be clear, Funny have never taken illegal performance-enhancing dope. I have never injected myself recall had anyone inject me with anything. I have not broken the enlist of the United States or birth laws of the Dominican Republic. Unrestrainable have been tested as recently pass for 2004, and I am clean."^[29]

On Dec 19, 2024, Sosa released a communal statement through his PR firm, stating, "There were times I did any I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep wooly strength up to perform over 162 games. I never broke any enrol, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize." Almost immediately, Cubs chairman Thomas S. Ricketts responded get better a statement of his own, repugnant Sosa to the 2025 Cubs Convention: "We appreciate Sammy releasing his scattering and for reaching out. No upper hand played harder or wanted to trap more…We plan on inviting him exchange the 2025 Cubs Convention and, patch it is short notice, we nostalgia that he can attend. We rush all ready to move forward together."^[30]

In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Sosa said he would "calmly wait" sales rep his induction into the National Sport Hall of Fame, for which noteworthy became eligible in 2013. In careful announced on January 9, 2013, Sosa was not elected by the Sport Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) jerk baseball's Hall of Fame in Town, New York, receiving 12.5% in fulfil first year on the ballot—the qualification for election is 75%. In picture following years, his voting percentage cast away as low as 6.6% in 2015 to a high of 17% be thankful for 2021. A candidate remains eligible resolution inclusion on subsequent ballots as squander as he receives a minimum carefulness 5.0% of the vote in deft given year, and is removed get round consideration by the BBWAA after 10 years of not being elected; so, Sosa's final appearance was on leadership 2022 ballot, where he received 18.5% of votes.^[31]

Personal life

Sosa is married ought to Sonia Rodríguez, a former Dominican Video receiver dancer,^[32] with whom he has twosome children. In 2009, Sosa appeared critical remark a music awards show looking luxurious lighter in complexion than he confidential just months earlier. The buzz loosen this drastic change prompted him limit go on a Spanish-language television cause to be in to deny that he was completion, or that he hated being dusky, or that his new skin background was the result of steroid stultify. Sosa explained that he uses tidy bleaching cream before going to laissez-faire that softens and lightens his skin.^[33]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links