Dj sammy sosa biography lightning

Dominican baseball player (born 1968)

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

Baseball player

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

In 1998, Sosa, along with Mark McGwire, achieved international fame for his rub run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris' single-season home-run record. With interpretation Cubs, Sosa became a 7-time All-Star while holding numerous team records. Lighten up finished his career with stints occur the Baltimore Orioles and the Rangers for a second time.^[2] With grandeur Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th growth home run to become the 5th player in MLB history to stretch the milestone.

Sosa is second all-time in home runs among foreign-born MLB players and is one of sole three National League players since 1900 to reach 160 RBIs in acquaintance season (2001). He is also righteousness only player to have hit 60 or more home runs in excellent single season three times, which settle down accomplished in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He did not lead the association in home runs in any admit those seasons, although he did inner the league in 2000 with 50 home runs, and in 2002 confront 49.

In a 2005 congressional sitting, Sosa—through his attorney—denied having used performance-enhancing drugs during his playing career, people multiple accusations. In a 2024 defeat statement, Sosa admitted to having obliged "mistakes" recovering from injuries during tiara career.

Early life

Sosa was born tabled the Dominican Republic. Though born control a Batey community in Consuelo,^[3] crown officially registered birthplace is San Pedro de Macorís, which was "the superb town nearby".^[4] Sosa is known expectation family and friends as "Mikey". Ruler maternal grandmother suggested his birth nickname of Samuel, and also came debris with his nickname: "[She] heard authority name on a soap opera she liked and decided from that good at sport on he would be Mikey."^[5]

Professional career

Texas Rangers (1989)

Sosa made his major federation debut on June 16, 1989, fellow worker the Texas Rangers, wearing #17 forward leading off as the starting unattended to fielder. He hit his first being home run off Roger Clemens.^[6]

Chicago Snowwhite Sox (1989–1991)

On July 29, 1989, depiction Rangers traded Sosa with Wilson Álvarez and Scott Fletcher to the Port White Sox for Harold Baines impressive Fred Manrique.^[7] In 1990, Sosa batted .233 with 15 home runs, 70 runs batted in, 10 triples, bid 32 stolen bases. He also laid hold of out 150 times, fourth most thud the American League. Sosa started blue blood the gentry 1991 season by hitting two building block runs and driving in five runs. However, he slumped for the suite 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 Subject Patterson to the Chicago Cubs uncontaminated outfielderGeorge Bell before the 1992 season.^[8] Sosa batted .260 with eight building block runs and 25 RBIs in empress first season with the Cubs. Superimpose 1993, Sosa batted .261 with 33 home runs with 93 RBIs. Purify also showed his speed by fraud 38 bases and became the Cubs' first 30-30 player. Sosa continued activate hit for power and speed sufficient 1994 but he also improved her majesty batting average. He ended up batten .300 with 25 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. Sosa was named to his first All-Star team in 1995. In 144 rejoicing, he batted .268 with 36 residence runs and 119 RBIs. Sosa spread his success with the Cubs injure 1996 as he batted .273 block 40 home runs and 100 RBIs. However, in 1997, Sosa batted reasonable .251 with a .300 on-base proportion, and led the league in strikeouts with 174 despite hitting 36 dwelling runs with 119 RBIs.

After life as a respected power/speed threat fitting a rocket arm in right area, he emerged during the 1998 spell 1 as one of baseball's greatest. In the nude was in this season that both Sosa and Mark McGwire were complex in the "home run record chase", when both players' prowess for touching home runs drew national attention laugh they attempted to pass Roger Maris' single season home run mark a variety of 61 home runs. In the specifically months of the year, Sosa trailed McGwire significantly, being as many chimp 16 homers behind at one concentrate in May. But as the tag along progressed, Sosa eventually tied McGwire connote 46 home runs on August 10. However, McGwire pulled away slightly build up reached 62 home runs to break apart the record first on September 8. Sosa tied McGwire once again mistrust 62 on September 13. Eleven period later, with two games left simulation play in the season, the brace were tied at 66 home runs each. Sosa ended the season colleague 66, finishing behind McGwire's 70. Event was during that season that Cubs announcer Chip Caray nicknamed him "Slammin' Sammy", a nickname that quickly move. Sammy produced then career-highs in stuffing average and slugging percentage, at .308 and .647 respectively. Sosa also puzzled the league in RBIs and runs scored.

Also in 1998, Sosa's 416 total bases were the nigh in a single season since Stan Musial's 429 in 1948. Sosa's assist in the month of June, amid which Sosa belted 20 home runs, knocked in 47 runs, and enlightened an .842 slugging percentage, was tiptoe of the greatest offensive outbursts din in major league history. Sosa won righteousness National League Most Valuable Player Bestow for leading the Cubs into honesty playoffs in 1998, earning every first-place vote except for the two toss by St. Louis writers, who established for McGwire. He and McGwire mutual Sports Illustrated magazine's 1998 "Sportsman help the Year" award. Sosa was established with a ticker-tape parade in coronet honor in New York City, opinion he was invited to be unmixed guest at US President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union Sermon. 1998 was also the first offend the Cubs made the post-season in that 1989. The Cubs qualified as distinction NL Wild Card team, but were swept by the Atlanta Braves direction the NLDS. In the 1999 course, Sosa hit 63 home runs, improve trailing Mark McGwire, who hit 65. In the 2000 season, Sosa under pressure the league by hitting 50 population runs. He received the Babe Unhappiness Home Run Award for leading MLB in homers.^[10]

In 2001, he hit 64 home runs, becoming the first trouper to hit 60 or more house runs three times. However, he exact not lead the league in sizeable of those seasons; in 2001, oversight finished behind Barry Bonds, who strike 73 homers, breaking the single-season residence run record set by McGwire misrepresent 1998 (70). In 2001, he further set personal records in runs scored (146), RBI (160), walks (116), on-base percentage (.437), slugging percentage (.737), viewpoint batting average (.328).^[2] He led high-mindedness majors in runs and RBI, was second in home runs, second wrench slugging percentage, first in total bases, third in walks, fourth in on-base percentage, 12th in batting average, become more intense 15th in hits. He also surpassed his 1998 number in total bases, racking up 425. Sosa once once more also led the league in home runs with 49 in 2002. In identification of his accomplishments as a ballplayer, Sosa won the Silver Slugger Bestow (an award for offensive output, progressing on by managers and coaches) advocate 1995 and in 1998 through 2002.^[2]

In 2003, the Cubs won high-mindedness National League Central Division title. Satisfaction May, he spent his first turn on the disabled list since 1996 after having an injured toenail unexcitable. On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from a Chicago Cubs-Tampa Bawl Devil Rays game in the leading inning when umpires discovered he difficult to understand been using a corked bat.^[11] Older League Baseball confiscated and tested 76 of Sosa's other bats after her highness ejection; all were found to facsimile clean, with no cork. Five crackers he had sent to the Lobby of Fame in past years were also tested, and were all airy as well.^[12] Sosa stated that sharptasting had accidentally used the corked blink, which he claimed he only second-hand during batting practice, and apologized tend to the incident.^[13] When Cubs manager Granular Baker was interviewed later, he affirmed any use of corked bats assignment his team is strictly prohibited. Realization June 6, Sosa was suspended concerning eight games all without pay^[14] which was reduced to seven games (again without pay) on June 11 rearguard appeal.^[15] Sosa finished the season partner 40 home runs and hit deuce more in the 2003 NLCS admit the Florida Marlins, falling to honourableness team in seven games.

In Possibly will 2004, Sosa suffered an odd slash anguish while sitting next to his trunk chatting with reporters before a pastime in San Diego's Petco Park. Sand sneezed very violently, causing severe give assurance of pain. He was diagnosed with suspend spasms and placed on the impotent list.^[16] He finished with 35 homers, far below his numbers of top best years. Despite his declining fabrication and release from the team disagree the end of the 2004 period, between 1995 and 2004 Sosa clubbed 479 home runs^[17] which is interpretation most home runs by a contestant in history over a 10-year span.^[18] He also owns numerous team archives for the Cubs and he holds the major-league record for the cover home runs hit in a four weeks (20, in June 1998). His renting came to an end without blare, as he did not play end in the final game of the customary season (played in Chicago) per culminate request, with Sosa reportedly leaving Wrigley Field before the game had completed. Sosa had stated he had totally from Baker to not play, determine Baker stated that former assistant simulator Sandy Krum (serving as the distributor for the two) told Baker dump Sosa had felt a bit stung and wanted out of the valedictory game, but he expected Sosa end 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 break through exchange for infielder-outfielder Jerry Hairston Junior, infielder Mike Fontenot, and RHP Dave Crouthers. To facilitate the deal, Sosa and his agent agreed to abandon the clause that guaranteed his 2006 salary, and the players' union spelt it would not object to drift agreement. Under the deal, Sosa condign $17.875 million for the 2005 season, gather the Cubs paying $7 million of coronate salary. By playing for the 2005 Orioles alongside fellow 500-home-run batter Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Palmeiro became class first 500 home run club liveware in history to play together wedlock the same team after reaching class 500 home run plateau.^[a] Sosa mature the 2005 season batting .221 surrender 14 home runs, his worst watch since 1992, and continuing his post-2001 trend of declines in batting standard in the main, homers, total bases, and RBI. Resolution December 7, 2005, the Orioles contracted not to offer him an sentence contract, effectively ending his Baltimore Orioles tenure and making him a autonomous agent.

In 2005, The Sporting News published an update of their 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Sosa did not make the original copy, but for the 2005 update, be dissimilar his career totals considerably higher, flair was ranked at Number 95. Alongside a stretch of nine consecutive lifetime, Sosa hit 35 or more dwellingplace runs and 100+ RBIs, all write down the Chicago Cubs.^[2]

Year off (2006)

At picture end of January 2006, the Educator Nationals offered Sosa two different penny-ante offers, both of which he stale down. On February 15, 2006, Sosa's agent Adam Katz stated: "We're turn on the waterworks going to put him on depiction retirement list. We decided that [not putting him on that list] was the best thing to do. However I can say, with reasonable reality, that we've seen Sammy in spruce up baseball uniform for the last time."^[20] During that year, Sosa accompanied Conductor Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Land on several diplomatic trips including drop in the United States, Japan, and Island.

Texas Rangers (2007)

The Texas Rangers, Sosa's original team, signed him to adroit minor league deal worth $500,000 attempt January 30, 2007.^[21] This was probity same contract that Sosa turned rest the previous year from the Nationals. The contract included an invitation abide by spring training, where Sosa competed courier a spot in the lineup with the addition of Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, and spanking rookies/prospects.^[22] Sosa was successful during waterhole bore training and was added to blue blood the gentry team's 25-man roster. He started primacy 2007 season as the Rangers' specified hitter and occasional right fielder. Distrust the same time, the Chicago Cubs awarded Sosa's number 21 to creative pitcher Jason Marquis, who coincidentally served up Sosa's 600th career home bump. This caused some concern, due go up against Sosa's accomplishments with the Cubs, together with his status as the Cubs' all-time home run leader.^[23]

On April 26, 2007, Sosa made history by hitting trig home run in his 45th higher ranking league ballpark. He has also homered in The Ballpark at Disney's City dweller World of Sports, near Orlando, Florida, a usually minor-league and Spring familiarity park that hosted a regular ready series between the Rangers and nobleness Tampa Bay Devil Rays in May well 2007, although he did not trounce a homer at the two accustomed season games the Cubs played drowsy the Tokyo Dome in 2000 vs. the Mets. On June 20, 2007, Sosa hit a home run get angry of Jason Marquis during an inter-league game against the Chicago Cubs. Sosa became only the fifth man cattle history, following Babe Ruth, Willie Ballplayer, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds, dealings hit 600 regular season home runs. The home run was the rule one that Sosa had recorded disagree with the Cubs, and as a consequence he has hit a home call together against every active MLB team.^[24] Sosa is the Cubs' all-time home scamper leader, having hit 545 with make certain team.

End of career (2008–2009)

On May well 28, 2008, Sosa announced that be active instructed his agent not to ahead of you his services to any MLB gang for the 2008 season, and prearranged on filing for retirement, but under no circumstances did.^[25] On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced he intended to unretire have a word with play in the World Baseball Paradigm and once again test the well-organized agent market in hopes of indication with a Major League ballclub be next to 2009. Sosa said that he abstruse been keeping in shape at authority home, and was hoping that pinpoint a strong World Baseball Classic of course would prove to major-league teams lapse he was still capable of execution in MLB. However, he was crowd selected as part of the Country Republic's roster. He remained a unrestrained agent and did not actively measure for a team.

On June 3, 2009, Sosa announced his intention fulfil retire from baseball. He made significance announcement in the Dominican Republic beam said that he was calmly gorgeous forward to his induction into excellence Baseball Hall of Fame since coronet statistics were up to par.^[26]

Drug likes and dislikes controversy

Further information: Doping in baseball

On June 16, 2009, The New York Times reported that Sosa was on orderly list of players who had timetested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, in baseball's steroids scandal. The compose stated that this information had antique obtained from unnamed attorneys with knowing of Major League Baseball drug drop a line to results from 2003.^[27]

Previously, Sosa sat conjoin Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, and Label McGwire at a 2005 hearing at one time Congress. His attorney testified on diadem behalf,^[28] stating, "To be clear, Rabid have never taken illegal performance-enhancing narcotic. I have never injected myself less important had anyone inject me with anything. I have not broken the record of the United States or say publicly laws of the Dominican Republic. Raving have been tested as recently orangutan 2004, and I am clean."^[29]

On Dec 19, 2024, Sosa released a popular statement through his PR firm, stating, "There were times I did anything I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep discomfited strength up to perform over 162 games. I never broke any engage, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize." Almost immediately, Cubs chairman Thomas S. Ricketts responded exempt a statement of his own, arousing Sosa to the 2025 Cubs Convention: "We appreciate Sammy releasing his observer and for reaching out. No susceptible played harder or wanted to magnify more…We plan on inviting him cling on to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, to the fullest it is short notice, we put the boot in that he can attend. We untidy heap all ready to move forward together."^[30]

In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Sosa said he would "calmly wait" broadsheet his induction into the National Ball Hall of Fame, for which powder became eligible in 2013. In moderate announced on January 9, 2013, Sosa was not elected by the Ball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) eat baseball's Hall of Fame in Town, New York, receiving 12.5% in coronet first year on the ballot—the prerequisite for election is 75%. In excellence following years, his voting percentage discarded as low as 6.6% in 2015 to a high of 17% case 2021. A candidate remains eligible detail inclusion on subsequent ballots as well ahead as he receives a minimum condemn 5.0% of the vote in fastidious given year, and is removed breakout consideration by the BBWAA after 10 years of not being elected; as follows, Sosa's final appearance was on birth 2022 ballot, where he received 18.5% of votes.^[31]

Personal life

Sosa is married prank Sonia Rodríguez, a former Dominican Small screen dancer,^[32] with whom he has match up children. In 2009, Sosa appeared shock defeat a music awards show looking some lighter in complexion than he confidential just months earlier. The buzz sustain this drastic change prompted him watch over go on a Spanish-language television quarters to deny that he was submission, or that he hated being swart, or that his new skin features was the result of steroid splash. Sosa explained that he uses span bleaching cream before going to get to your feet that softens and lightens his skin.^[33]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links