Summary
Sammy Sosa not only was a Chicago icon for 15 years, he dined with kings and presidents after electrifying and rejuvenating baseball with a home run barrage in 1998. Joining the White Sox in 1990 as a skinny prospect after a trade from Texas, a bulging Sosa was shipped out in disgrace by the Cubs following a 2004 season in which he left the final game early. But in between, Sosa was a towering figure, as popular at Wrigley Field as any player in history. Bleacher fans would respectfully salute him he sprinted to his position in right field and demand a curtain call after each home run, always followed by a heart tap, a kiss and gesture toward the heavens. Sosa became the first player to hit 60 home runs in...
Sammy Sosa not only was a Chicago icon for 15 years, he dined with kings and presidents after electrifying and rejuvenating baseball with a home run barrage in 1998. Joining the White Sox in 1990 as a skinny prospect after a trade from Texas, a bulging Sosa was shipped out in disgrace by the Cubs following a 2004 season in which he left the final game early. But in between, Sosa was a towering figure, as popular at Wrigley Field as any player in history. Bleacher fans would respectfully salute him he sprinted to his position in right field and demand a curtain call after each home run, always followed by a heart tap, a kiss and gesture toward the heavens. Sosa became the first player to hit 60 home runs in three different seasons, although he never led the league in any of them. In 1998, when he was MVP, he lost the historic home run battle to St. Louis' Mark McGwire (70-66) as both surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61 set in 1961. In 2001, he finished behind Barry Bonds, who broke McGwire's record with 73 homers. McGwire, Bonds and Sosa all are alleged to have used performance-enhancing substances during those homer-happy seasons. McGwire and Sosa were among the players who testified before a Senate committee investigating drugs in baseball and Sosa denied using them. In fact, he kept a bottle of Flintstone vitamins in his locker at Wrigley Field, smiling and pointing to them when allegations first surfaced. His career in Chicago began to spiral downward in 2003. He spent time on the disabled list that season and was hit in the head by a pitch that cracked his helmet. Then on June 3, Sosa was caught using a corked bat and suspended for seven games. Other bats he had given to the Hall of Fame were X-rayed but none was found to contain cork. In 2004, his last in Chicago, he also was on the disabled list after straining his back after sneezing while talking to reporters. He was dealt to Baltimore following the season after the Cubs claimed security cameras caught him leaving the season's last game early.
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Eric Karros made home videos of Cubs in 2003, but no one has seen them
Chicago Tribune reporterHOUSTON—They have been transferred to DVDs, placed in a safety deposit box and hidden from the outside world for the last five years. Former Cub Eric Karros' home movies of the '03 stretch run are a sports collector's dream, though they're...Tags: Derrek Lee, Eric Karros, Ron Santo, Major League Baseball, National League
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Karros not sure what to do with 2003 Cubs tapes
Chicago Tribune reporterThey have been transferred to DVDs, placed in a safety deposit box and hidden from the outside world for the last five years. Former Cub Eric Karros' home movies of the '03 stretch run are a sports collector's dream, though they're definitely not for...Tags: Derrek Lee, Eric Karros, Ron Santo, Major League Baseball, National League
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Newsday's 100: The super elite Hall of Fame
When Goose Gossage is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next Sunday, he'll become the 234th player so honored. Does he belong there? Well, 85.8 of the 543 voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America said he does in the most...Tags: Carlton Fisk, Pie Traynor, Christy Mathewson, George Sisler, Manny Ramirez
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Facts, figures
All-Star Game MVPs 2007 - Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle, AL 2006 - Michael Young, Texas, AL 2005 - Miguel Tejada, Orioles, AL 2004 - Alfonso Soriano, Texas, AL 2003 - Garret Anderson, Anaheim, AL 2002 - None 2001 - Cal Ripken Jr., Orioles, AL 2000 - Derek...Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Josh Hamilton, Major League Baseball, Michael Young, Comerica Incorporated
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Hamilton does everything but win Home Run Derby
mark.herrmann@newsday.comJosh Hamilton didn't quite call his shot. The Rangers outfielder mused in the afternoon about hitting the first fair ball out of Yankee Stadium, but he didn't come close to predicting how he would touch 'em all in the Home Run Derby. He didn't hit a ball...Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Josh Hamilton, Miguel Tejada, Major League Baseball, Drug Trafficking
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Morneau tops in derby
Josh Hamilton dreamed it. Now he's done it.
With a dazzling display of power Monday night, the Texas Rangers slugger hit a record 28 homers in the first round of the All-Star Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium before he was beaten out by Minnesota's Justin...Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Josh Hamilton, Bobby Abreu, Major League Baseball, Texas Rangers
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Baseball is no longer a game of shadows
Los Angeles Times Staff WriterNEW YORK -- Barry Bonds is back home in Los Angeles, unemployed and unwanted in the sport he dominated for two decades. Baseball is throwing itself a party here, a coming-out party for a new wave of stars, a huge and happy step away from the steroid...Tags: Josh Hamilton, Major League Baseball, National League, Addiction, Michael Young
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What they're saying about the Orioles
Baltimoresun.com staffHere's a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Orioles: • Steve Henson of Yahoo Sports gives the Orioles a B-minus in his list of midseason grades: Such a shame the Orioles are in a division with those powerhouse Rays, and, oh...Tags: Erik Bedard, Miguel Cabrera, Major League Baseball, Johan Santana, Jermaine Dye
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Big Z: Start would be an honor
No Cubs pitcher has started the All-Star Game since Claude Passeau in 1946, when he also was the loser. National League manager Clint Hurdle has not announced his choice, but it very well could be Carlos Zambrano, who not only has the league's third-...Tags: Jeff Samardzija, Matt Murton, Major League Baseball, Eric Patterson, National League
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Steroid Summer? A decade later, the feats of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa just don't feel the same to many in and around baseball
Sentinel Staff WriterBig Mac and Slammin' Sammy. Ten years ago, they captivated a nation with an unprecedented combination of brute force, grace under pressure and sheer joy. For one glorious summer, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased Roger Maris' single-season home run...Tags: Upper House, History, Major League Baseball, National League, Michael Jordan
Jul 20, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 19, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 18, 2008
|Column| Newsday
Jul 16, 2008
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Jul 15, 2008
|Story| Newsday
Jul 15, 2008
|Story| Allentown Morning Call
Jul 15, 2008
|Story| Los Angeles Times
Jul 9, 2008
|Story| Baltimore Sun
Jul 11, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 13, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
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