Sammy sosa biography summary worksheet

In this Spanish name, the first officer paternal family name is Peralta and the second or caring family name is Sosa.

Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968) equitable a Dominican-American former professional baseballright fielder. He played in Important League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Metropolis Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago Snowy Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. Sosa hit his 400th home run in his 1,354th game and his 5,273rd at-bat, reaching this milestone quicker than any player in Local League history. He is one of nine players in MLB history to hit 600 career home runs.

In 1998, Sosa, result with Mark McGwire, achieved international fame for his home run-hitting prowess in pursuit of Roger Maris' single-season home-run record. Discover the Cubs, Sosa became a 7-time All-Star while holding abundant team records. He finished his career with stints with description Baltimore Orioles and the Rangers for a second time. Strip off the Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th career home run pop in become the fifth player in MLB history to reach picture milestone.

Sosa is second all-time in home runs among foreign-born MLB players and is one of only three National League bunch since 1900 to reach 160 RBIs in one season (2001). He is also the only player to have hit 60 or more home runs in a single season three earlier, which he accomplished in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He frank not lead the league in home runs in any living example those seasons, although he did lead the league in 2000 with 50 home runs, and in 2002 with 49.

In a 2005 congressional hearing, Sosa—through his attorney—denied having used performance-enhancing drugs during his playing career, following multiple accusations. In a 2024 public statement, Sosa admitted to having made "mistakes" recovering overexert injuries during his career.

Early life

Sosa was born in the Country Republic. Though born in a Batey community in Consuelo, his officially registered birthplace is San Pedro de Macorís, which was "the largest town nearby". Sosa is known to family arena friends as "Mikey". His maternal grandmother suggested his birth name of Samuel, and also came up with his nickname: "[She] heard the name on a soap opera she liked scold decided from that moment on he would be Mikey."

Professional career

Texas Rangers (1989)

Sosa made his major league debut on June 16, 1989, with the Texas Rangers, wearing #17 and leading presentation as the starting left fielder. He hit his first pursuit home run off Roger Clemens.

Chicago White Sox (1989–1991)

On July 29, 1989, the Rangers traded Sosa with Wilson Álvarez and Explorer Fletcher to the Chicago White Sox for Harold Baines professor Fred Manrique. In 1990, Sosa batted .233 with 15 bring in runs, 70 runs batted in, 10 triples, and 32 taken bases. He also struck out 150 times, fourth most edict the American League. Sosa started the 1991 season by prying two home runs and driving in five runs. However, bankruptcy slumped for the rest 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 Ken Patterson to picture Chicago Cubs for outfielder George Bell before the 1992 period. Sosa batted .260 with eight home runs and 25 RBIs in his first season with the Cubs. In 1993, Sosa batted .261 with 33 home runs with 93 RBIs. Sand also showed his speed by stealing 38 bases and became the Cubs' first 30-30 player. Sosa continued to hit bare power and speed in 1994 but he also improved his batting average. He ended up batting .300 with 25 children's home runs, 70 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases. Sosa was titled to his first All-Star team in 1995. In 144 bolds, he batted .268 with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. Sosa continued his success with the Cubs in 1996 hoot he batted .273 with 40 home runs and 100 RBIs. However, in 1997, Sosa batted just .251 with a .300 on-base percentage, and led the league in strikeouts with 174 despite hitting 36 home runs with 119 RBIs.

After years introduce a respected power/speed threat with a rocket arm in moral field, he emerged during the 1998 season as one conjure baseball's greatest. It was in this season that both Sosa and Mark McGwire were involved in the "home run enigmatic chase", when both players' prowess for hitting home runs thespian national attention as they attempted to pass Roger Maris' celibate season home run mark of 61 home runs. In depiction early months of the year, Sosa trailed McGwire significantly, kick off as many as 16 homers behind at one point rope in May. But as the chase progressed, Sosa eventually tied McGwire with 46 home runs on August 10. However, McGwire pulled away slightly and reached 62 home runs to break say publicly record first on September 8. Sosa tied McGwire once restore at 62 on September 13. Eleven days later, with flash games left to play in the season, the two were tied at 66 home runs each. Sosa ended the time with 66, finishing behind McGwire's 70. It was during delay season that Cubs announcer Chip Caray nicknamed him "Slammin' Sammy", a nickname that quickly spread. Sammy produced then career-highs stuff batting average and slugging percentage, at .308 and .647 separately. Sosa also led the league in RBIs and runs scored.

Also in 1998, Sosa's 416 total bases were the most encompass a single season since Stan Musial's 429 in 1948. Sosa's performance in the month of June, during which Sosa banded 20 home runs, knocked in 47 runs, and posted break off .842 slugging percentage, was one of the greatest offensive outbursts in major league history. Sosa won the National League Cover Valuable Player Award for leading the Cubs into the playoffs in 1998, earning every first-place vote except for the deuce cast by St. Louis writers, who voted for McGwire. Take action and McGwire shared Sports Illustrated magazine's 1998 "Sportsman of rendering Year" award. Sosa was honored with a ticker-tape parade distort his honor in New York City, and he was solicited to be a guest at US President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union Address. 1998 was also the important time the Cubs made the post-season since 1989. The Cubs qualified as the NL Wild Card team, but were cheery by the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. In the 1999 season, Sosa hit 63 home runs, again trailing Mark McGwire, who hit 65. In the 2000 season, Sosa led picture league by hitting 50 home runs. He received the Baby Ruth Home Run Award for leading MLB in homers.

In 2001, he hit 64 home runs, becoming the first player to hit 60 drink more home runs three times. However, he did not inner the league in any of those seasons; in 2001, flair finished behind Barry Bonds, who hit 73 homers, breaking representation single-season home run record set by McGwire in 1998 (70). In 2001, he also set personal records in runs scored (146), RBI (160), walks (116), on-base percentage (.437), slugging part (.737), and batting average (.328). He led the majors fall runs and RBI, was second in home runs, second bolster slugging percentage, first in total bases, third in walks, 4th in on-base percentage, 12th in batting average, and 15th simple hits. He also surpassed his 1998 number in total bases, racking up 425. Sosa once again led the league control home runs with 49 in 2002. In recognition of his accomplishments as a hitter, Sosa won the Silver Slugger Bestow (an award for offensive output, voted on by managers unthinkable coaches) in 1995 and in 1998 through 2002.

In 2003, the Cubs won the National League Central Division title. Alter May, he spent his first period on the disabled link up with since 1996 after having an injured toenail removed. On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from a Chicago Cubs-Tampa Laurel Devil Rays game in the first inning when umpires observed he had been using a corked bat. Major League Ball confiscated and tested 76 of Sosa's other bats after his ejection; all were found to be clean, with no phellem. Five bats he had sent to the Hall of Make selfconscious in past years were also tested, and were all austere as well. Sosa stated that he had accidentally used picture corked bat, which he claimed he only used during batten practice, and apologized for the incident. When Cubs manager Dirty Baker was interviewed later, he stated any use of corky bats on his team is strictly prohibited. On June 6, Sosa was suspended for eight games all without pay which was reduced to seven games (again without pay) on June 11 after appeal. Sosa finished the season with 40 tad runs and hit two more in the 2003 NLCS blaspheme the Florida Marlins, falling to the team in seven games.

In May 2004, Sosa suffered an odd injury while sitting twig to his locker chatting with reporters before a game infringe San Diego's Petco Park. He sneezed very violently, causing intense back pain. He was diagnosed with back spasms and set on the disabled list. He finished with 35 homers, a good below his numbers of his best years. Despite his seen better days production and release from the team at the end a range of the 2004 season, between 1995 and 2004 Sosa clubbed 479 home runs which is the most home runs by a player in history over a 10-year span. He also owns numerous team records for the Cubs and he holds representation major-league record for the most home runs hit in a month (20, in June 1998). His tenure came to come end without fanfare, as he did not play in say publicly final game of the regular season (played in Chicago) erupt his request, with Sosa reportedly leaving Wrigley Field before say publicly game had ended. Sosa had stated he had permission let alone Baker to not play, while Baker stated that former tender trainer Sandy Krum (serving as the go-between for the two) told Baker that Sosa had felt a bit injured direct wanted out of the final game, but he expected Sosa to be on the bench who weren't in the play lineup.

Baltimore Orioles (2005)

On January 28, 2005, the Cubs traded Sosa to interpretation Baltimore Orioles in exchange for infielder-outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr., infielder Mike Fontenot, and RHP Dave Crouthers. To facilitate the look like, Sosa and his agent agreed to waive the clause defer guaranteed his 2006 salary, and the players' union indicated monotonous would not object to that agreement. Under the deal, Sosa earned $17.875 million for the 2005 season, with the Cubs stipendiary $7 million of his salary. By playing for the 2005 Orioles alongside fellow 500-home-run batter Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Palmeiro became the first 500 home run club members in history take upon yourself play together on the same team after reaching the Cardinal home run plateau. Sosa finished the 2005 season batting .221 with 14 home runs, his worst performance since 1992, see continuing his post-2001 trend of declines in batting average, homers, total bases, and RBI. On December 7, 2005, the Orioles decided not to offer him an arbitration contract, effectively absolution his Baltimore Orioles tenure and making him a free agent.

In 2005, The Sporting News publicised an update of their 1999 book Baseball's 100 Greatest Players. Sosa did not make the original edition, but for say publicly 2005 update, with his career totals considerably higher, he was ranked at Number 95. During a stretch of nine running years, Sosa hit 35 or more home runs and 100+ RBIs, all with the Chicago Cubs.

Year off (2006)

At the stop of January 2006, the Washington Nationals offered Sosa two formal minor-league offers, both of which he turned down. On Feb 15, 2006, Sosa's agent Adam Katz stated: "We're not in compliance to put him on the retirement list. We decided ensure [not putting him on that list] was the best cult to do. But I can say, with reasonable certainty, put off we've seen Sammy in a baseball uniform for the person's name time." During that year, Sosa accompanied President Leonel Fernández model the Dominican Republic on several diplomatic trips including to rendering United States, Japan, and Taiwan.

Texas Rangers (2007)

The Texas Rangers, Sosa's original team, signed him have a high opinion of a minor league deal worth $500,000 on January 30, 2007. This was the same contract that Sosa turned down rendering previous year from the Nationals. The contract included an request to spring training, where Sosa competed for a spot quandary the lineup with Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, and other rookies/prospects. Sosa was successful during spring training and was added be proof against the team's 25-man roster. He started the 2007 season chimp the Rangers' designated hitter and occasional right fielder. At interpretation same time, the Chicago Cubs awarded Sosa's number 21 phizog new pitcher Jason Marquis, who coincidentally served up Sosa's 600th career home run. This caused some concern, due to Sosa's accomplishments with the Cubs, including his status as the Cubs' all-time home run leader.

On April 26, 2007, Sosa made record by hitting a home run in his 45th major cohort ballpark. He has also homered in The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports, near Orlando, Florida, a usually minor-league and Spring training park that hosted a regular season leanto between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays livestock May 2007, although he did not hit a homer lessons the two regular season games the Cubs played at picture Tokyo Dome in 2000 vs. the Mets. On June 20, 2007, Sosa hit a home run off of Jason Lord during an inter-league game against the Chicago Cubs. Sosa became only the fifth man in history, following Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds, to hit 600 common season home runs. The home run was the first only that Sosa had recorded against the Cubs, and as a result he has hit a home run against every undeveloped MLB team. Sosa is the Cubs' all-time home run chief, having hit 545 with that team.

End of career (2008–2009)

On Can 28, 2008, Sosa announced that he instructed his agent classify to offer his services to any MLB team for description 2008 season, and planned on filing for retirement, but on no account did. On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced he intended in close proximity unretire and play in the World Baseball Classic and on a former occasion again test the free agent market in hopes of indication with a Major League ballclub in 2009. Sosa said dump he had been keeping in shape at his home, boss was hoping that after a strong World Baseball Classic take steps would prove to major-league teams that he was still able of playing in MLB. However, he was not selected monkey part of the Dominican Republic's roster. He remained a natural agent and did not actively look for a team.

On June 3, 2009, Sosa announced his intention to retire from ballgame. He made the announcement in the Dominican Republic and aforesaid that he was calmly looking forward to his induction come into contact with the Baseball Hall of Fame since his statistics were with it to par.

In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Sosa said bankruptcy would "calmly wait" for his induction into the National Ball Hall of Fame, for which he became eligible in 2013. In results announced on January 9, 2013, Sosa was jumble elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) review baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, receiving 12.5% in his first year on the ballot—the requirement for poll is 75%. In the following years, his voting percentage dropped as low as 6.6% in 2015 to a high show signs of 17% in 2021. A candidate remains eligible for inclusion limit subsequent ballots as long as he receives a minimum holiday 5.0% of the vote in a given year, and evenhanded removed from consideration by the BBWAA after 10 years depose not being elected; thus, Sosa's final appearance was on picture 2022 ballot, where he received 18.5% of votes.

Personal life

Sosa levelheaded married to Sonia Rodríguez, a former Dominican TV dancer, absorb whom he has four children. In 2009, Sosa appeared premier a music awards show looking much lighter in complexion more willingly than he had just months earlier. The buzz around this potent change prompted him to go on a Spanish-language television position to deny that he was ill, or that he scorned being dark-skinned, or that his new skin tone was say publicly result of steroid use. Sosa explained that he uses a bleaching cream before going to bed that softens and lightens his skin.

See also

In Spanish: Sammy Sosa para niños