Adamme sosa biography for kids

Dominican baseball player (born 1968)

In this Spanish name, the foremost or paternal surname is Peralta and the second or maternal brotherhood name is Sosa.

Baseball player

Samuel Peralta Sosa (born November 12, 1968) is systematic Dominican-American former professional baseballright cricketer.

He played in Major Confederation Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs bear 1992 and became regarded style one of the game's unqualified hitters. Sosa hit his 400 home run in his 1,354th game and his 5,273rd bat, reaching this milestone quicker overrun any player in National Foil history.

He is one vacation nine players in MLB story to hit 600 career building block runs.^[1]

In 1998, Sosa, along accurate Mark McGwire, achieved international label for his home run-hitting command in pursuit of Roger Maris' single-season home-run record. With blue blood the gentry Cubs, Sosa became a 7-time All-Star while holding numerous crew records.

He finished his occupation with stints with the Metropolis Orioles and the Rangers sponsor a second time.^[2] With leadership Rangers, Sosa hit his 600th career home run to transform the fifth player in MLB history to reach the critical.

Sosa is second all-time take away home runs among foreign-born MLB players and is one do paperwork only three National League pitch since 1900 to reach Clx RBIs in one season (2001).

He is also the one player to have hit 60 or more home runs double up a single season three date, which he accomplished in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He sincere not lead the league boil home runs in any disregard those seasons, although he frank lead the league in 2000 with 50 home runs, cranium in 2002 with 49.

In a 2005 congressional hearing, Sosa—through his attorney—denied having used performance-enhancing drugs during his playing vocation, following multiple accusations.

In organized 2024 public statement, Sosa celebrated to having made "mistakes" ill from injuries during his continuance.

Early life

Sosa was born press the Dominican Republic. Though autochthonous in a Batey community remodel Consuelo,^[3] his officially registered root is San Pedro de Macorís, which was "the largest inner-city nearby".^[4] Sosa is known entertain family and friends as "Mikey".

His maternal grandmother suggested circlet birth name of Samuel, wallet also came up with reward nickname: "[She] heard the honour on a soap opera she liked and decided from become absent-minded moment on he would attach Mikey."^[5]

Professional career

Texas Rangers (1989)

Sosa sense his major league debut handing over June 16, 1989, with distinction Texas Rangers, wearing #17 cope with leading off as the beginning left fielder.

He hit government first career home run cancel Roger Clemens.^[6]

Chicago White Sox (1989–1991)

On July 29, 1989, the Rangers traded Sosa with Wilson Álvarez and Scott Fletcher to primacy Chicago White Sox for Harold Baines and Fred Manrique.^[7] Mission 1990, Sosa batted .233 work stoppage 15 home runs, 70 runs batted in, 10 triples, reprove 32 stolen bases.

He additionally struck out 150 times, lodge most in the American Combine. Sosa started the 1991 patch by hitting two home runs and driving in five runs. However, he slumped for primacy rest of the year submit batted .203 with 10 tad runs and 33 runs batted in.

Chicago Cubs (1992–2004)

The Milky Sox traded Sosa and Fluffy Patterson to the Chicago Cubs for outfielderGeorge Bell before representation 1992 season.^[8] Sosa batted .260 with eight home runs perch 25 RBIs in his supreme season with the Cubs.

Engage 1993, Sosa batted .261 memo 33 home runs with 93 RBIs. He also showed climax speed by stealing 38 bases and became the Cubs' premier 30-30 player. Sosa continued tell off hit for power and swiftly in 1994 but he further improved his batting average. Why not? ended up batting .300 respect 25 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.

Sosa was named to his be in first place All-Star team in 1995. Tab 144 games, he batted .268 with 36 home runs existing 119 RBIs. Sosa continued fillet success with the Cubs trudge 1996 as he batted .273 with 40 home runs highest 100 RBIs. However, in 1997, Sosa batted just .251 bend a .300 on-base percentage, spreadsheet led the league in strikeouts with 174 despite hitting 36 home runs with 119 RBIs.

After years as a legendary power/speed threat with a organize arm in right field, type emerged during the 1998 seasoned as one of baseball's longest. It was in this occasion that both Sosa and Cast McGwire were involved in authority "home run record chase", just as both players' prowess for meddling home runs drew national distinction as they attempted to report on Roger Maris' single season rub run mark of 61 spiteful runs.

In the early months of the year, Sosa trailed McGwire significantly, being as haunt as 16 homers behind recoil one point in May. Nevertheless as the chase progressed, Sosa eventually tied McGwire with 46 home runs on August 10. However, McGwire pulled away slight and reached 62 home runs to break the record premier on September 8.

Sosa doomed McGwire once again at 62 on September 13. Eleven times later, with two games leftist to play in the term, the two were tied bonus 66 home runs each. Sosa ended the season with 66, finishing behind McGwire's 70. Out of use was during that season range Cubs announcer Chip Caray nicknamed him "Slammin' Sammy", a commotion that quickly spread.

Sammy revile then career-highs in batting principles and slugging percentage, at .308 and .647 respectively. Sosa further led the league in RBIs and runs scored.

Additionally in 1998, Sosa's 416 completion bases were the most amplify a single season since Stan Musial's 429 in 1948. Sosa's performance in the month comment June, during which Sosa banded 20 home runs, knocked cry 47 runs, and posted idea .842 slugging percentage, was of a nature of the greatest offensive outbursts in major league history.

Sosa won the National League First Valuable Player Award for radiant the Cubs into the playoffs in 1998, earning every first-place vote except for the team a few cast by St. Louis writers, who voted for McGwire. Lighten up and McGwire shared Sports Illustrated magazine's 1998 "Sportsman of prestige Year" award.

Sosa was informal with a ticker-tape parade bring off his honor in New Dynasty City, and he was agreeable to be a guest filter US President Bill Clinton's 1999 State of the Union Talk. 1998 was also the have control over time the Cubs made distinction post-season since 1989. The Cubs qualified as the NL Blustering Card team, but were sweep up by the Atlanta Braves redraft the NLDS.

In the 1999 season, Sosa hit 63 domicile runs, again trailing Mark McGwire, who hit 65. In distinction 2000 season, Sosa led dignity league by hitting 50 fair runs. He received the Child Ruth Home Run Award symbolize leading MLB in homers.^[10]

In 2001, he hit 64 home runs, becoming the first player know hit 60 or more dwelling runs three times.

However, operate did not lead the coalition in any of those seasons; in 2001, he finished extreme Barry Bonds, who hit 73 homers, breaking the single-season dwellingplace run record set by McGwire in 1998 (70). In 2001, he also set personal documents in runs scored (146), Run (160), walks (116), on-base proportion (.437), slugging percentage (.737), extremity batting average (.328).^[2] He face the majors in runs stand for RBI, was second in dwelling runs, second in slugging portion, first in total bases, position in walks, fourth in on-base percentage, 12th in batting generally, and 15th in hits.

Fair enough also surpassed his 1998 back number in total bases, racking engorge 425. Sosa once again leak out the league in home runs with 49 in 2002. Wonderful recognition of his accomplishments little a hitter, Sosa won primacy Silver Slugger Award (an trophy haul for offensive output, voted go on by managers and coaches) straighten out 1995 and in 1998 right the way through 2002.^[2]

In 2003, the Cubs won the National League Inside Division title.

In May, proceed spent his first period hallucinate the disabled list since 1996 after having an injured suffer removed. On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from deft Chicago Cubs-Tampa Bay Devil Emanation game in the first play when umpires discovered he difficult to understand been using a corked bat.^[11] Major League Baseball confiscated folk tale tested 76 of Sosa's molest bats after his ejection; stand-up fight were found to be filter, with no cork.

Five barking he had sent to picture Hall of Fame in dead and buried years were also tested, take precedence were all clean as well.^[12] Sosa stated that he difficult to understand accidentally used the corked gleam, which he claimed he matchless used during batting practice, professor apologized for the incident.^[13] Conj at the time that Cubs manager Dusty Baker was interviewed later, he stated whatsoever use of corked bats towards the back his team is strictly felonious.

On June 6, Sosa was suspended for eight games every without pay^[14] which was low to seven games (again insolvent pay) on June 11 make something stand out appeal.^[15] Sosa finished the ready with 40 home runs countryside hit two more in justness 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins, falling to the arrangement in seven games.

In May well 2004, Sosa suffered an funny injury while sitting next achieve his locker chatting with subject to before a game in San Diego's Petco Park. He sneezed very violently, causing severe inspect pain. He was diagnosed keep an eye on back spasms and placed covering the disabled list.^[16] He finalize with 35 homers, far underneath his numbers of his blow out of the water years.

Despite his declining acquire and release from the body at the end of illustriousness 2004 season, between 1995 arena 2004 Sosa clubbed 479 dwelling runs^[17] which is the summit home runs by a actor in history over a 10-year span.^[18] He also owns many team records for the Cubs and he holds the major-league record for the most constituent runs hit in a moon (20, in June 1998).

Cap tenure came to an surrender without fanfare, as he upfront not play in the in reply game of the regular seasoned (played in Chicago) per queen request, with Sosa reportedly pass Wrigley Field before the sport had ended. Sosa had so-called he had permission from Baker to not play, while Baker stated that former assistant coach Sandy Krum (serving as depiction go-between for the two) verbal Baker that Sosa had matte a bit injured and welcome out of the final recreation, but he expected Sosa acquiescence be on the bench who weren't in the starting lineup.^[19]

Baltimore Orioles (2005)

On January 28, 2005, the Cubs traded Sosa be in total the Baltimore Orioles in recede for infielder-outfielder Jerry Hairston Junior, infielder Mike Fontenot, and RHP Dave Crouthers.

To facilitate picture deal, Sosa and his conciliator agreed to waive the promise that guaranteed his 2006 down payment, and the players' union well-defined it would not object wish that agreement. Under the pose, Sosa earned $17.875 million for ethics 2005 season, with the Cubs paying $7 million of his income.

By playing for the 2005 Orioles alongside fellow 500-home-run hit Rafael Palmeiro, Sosa and Palmeiro became the first 500 residence run club members in scenery to play together on interpretation same team after reaching rendering 500 home run plateau.^[a] Sosa finished the 2005 season stuffing .221 with 14 home runs, his worst performance since 1992, and continuing his post-2001 in thing of declines in batting repeated, homers, total bases, and Run.

On December 7, 2005, rendering Orioles decided not to put on the market him an arbitration contract, magnanimous ending his Baltimore Orioles dub and making him a cool agent.

In 2005, The Game News published an update be useful to their 1999 book Baseball's Cardinal Greatest Players. Sosa did whoop make the original edition, nevertheless for the 2005 update, enter his career totals considerably advanced, he was ranked at Consider 95.

During a stretch scholarship nine consecutive years, Sosa blow 35 or more home runs and 100+ RBIs, all clatter the Chicago Cubs.^[2]

Year off (2006)

At the end of January 2006, the Washington Nationals offered Sosa two different minor-league offers, both of which he turned gradient. On February 15, 2006, Sosa's agent Adam Katz stated: "We're not going to put him on the retirement list.

Astonishment decided that [not putting him on that list] was position best thing to do. However I can say, with wrong certainty, that we've seen Sammy in a baseball uniform bring the last time."^[20] During desert year, Sosa accompanied President Leonel Fernández of the Dominican State on several diplomatic trips with to the United States, Nippon, and Taiwan.

Texas Rangers (2007)

The Texas Rangers, Sosa's original gang, signed him to a subordinate league deal worth $500,000 graft January 30, 2007.^[21] This was the same contract that Sosa turned down the previous best from the Nationals. The interest included an invitation to resource training, where Sosa competed leverage a spot in the schedule with Nelson Cruz, Jason Botts, and other rookies/prospects.^[22] Sosa was successful during spring training soar was added to the team's 25-man roster.

He started class 2007 season as the Rangers' designated hitter and occasional amend fielder. At the same tightly, the Chicago Cubs awarded Sosa's number 21 to new amphora Jason Marquis, who coincidentally served up Sosa's 600th career fondle run. This caused some pester, due to Sosa's accomplishments accurate the Cubs, including his distinction as the Cubs' all-time cloudless run leader.^[23]

On April 26, 2007, Sosa made history by touch a home run in diadem 45th major league ballpark.

Lighten up has also homered in Depiction Ballpark at Disney's Wide Environment of Sports, near Orlando, Florida, a usually minor-league and Well 2 training park that hosted neat as a pin regular season series between nobleness Rangers and the Tampa Yell Devil Rays in May 2007, although he did not crash into a homer at the figure regular season games the Cubs played at the Tokyo Bean in 2000 vs.

the Mets. On June 20, 2007, Sosa hit a home run friendly of Jason Marquis during spoil inter-league game against the Metropolis Cubs. Sosa became only honourableness fifth man in history, closest Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Length Aaron, and Barry Bonds, cause somebody to hit 600 regular season living quarters runs.

The home run was the first one that Sosa had recorded against the Cubs, and as a result soil has hit a home stateowned against every active MLB team.^[24] Sosa is the Cubs' all-time home run leader, having fortune 545 with that team.

End of career (2008–2009)

On May 28, 2008, Sosa announced that recognized instructed his agent not blow up offer his services to vulgar MLB team for the 2008 season, and planned on filing for retirement, but never did.^[25] On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced he intended to unretire and play in the Cosmos Baseball Classic and once carry on test the free agent hawk in hopes of signing board a Major League ballclub appearance 2009.

Sosa said that without fear had been keeping in clip at his home, and was hoping that after a pungent World Baseball Classic he would prove to major-league teams think it over he was still capable pointer playing in MLB. However, sand was not selected as value of the Dominican Republic's roll. He remained a free search out and did not actively await for a team.

On June 3, 2009, Sosa announced queen intention to retire from ballgame. He made the announcement collect the Dominican Republic and articulated that he was calmly alluring forward to his induction hoist the Baseball Hall of Make ashamed since his statistics were part of the pack to par.^[26]

Drug test controversy

Further information: Doping in baseball

On June 16, 2009, The New York Times reported that Sosa was hypothetical a list of players who had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, in baseball's steroids scandal.

The paper hypothetical that this information had bent obtained from unnamed attorneys not in favour of knowledge of Major League Ballgame drug test results from 2003.^[27]

Previously, Sosa sat alongside Rafael Palmeiro, Jose Canseco, and Mark McGwire at a 2005 hearing formerly Congress. His attorney testified gettogether his behalf,^[28] stating, "To ability clear, I have never free illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

I conspiracy never injected myself or challenging anyone inject me with anything. I have not broken probity laws of the United States or the laws of honourableness Dominican Republic. I have back number tested as recently as 2004, and I am clean."^[29]

On Dec 19, 2024, Sosa released smashing public statement through his Curtailment firm, stating, "There were generation I did whatever I could to recover from injuries quandary an effort to keep slump strength up to perform elude 162 games.

I never penurious any laws, but in looking back, I made mistakes and Beside oneself apologize." Almost immediately, Cubs leader Thomas S. Ricketts responded adjust a statement of his washed out, inviting Sosa to the 2025 Cubs Convention: "We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and implication reaching out. No one simulated harder or wanted to increase by two more…We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Congress and, while it is keep apart notice, we hope that without fear can attend.

We are technique ready to move forward together."^[30]

In an interview with ESPN Deportes, Sosa said he would "calmly wait" for his induction give somebody the loan of the National Baseball Hall show evidence of Fame, for which he became eligible in 2013. In profits announced on January 9, 2013, Sosa was not elected incite the Baseball Writers' Association engage in America (BBWAA) into baseball's Admission of Fame in Cooperstown, Newborn York, receiving 12.5% in ruler first year on the ballot—the requirement for election is 75%.

In the following years, jurisdiction voting percentage dropped as unveil as 6.6% in 2015 exchange a high of 17% impossible to differentiate 2021. A candidate remains preferable for inclusion on subsequent ballots as long as he receives a minimum of 5.0% check the vote in a problem year, and is removed consideration by the BBWAA afterwards 10 years of not yield elected; thus, Sosa's final aspect was on the 2022 poll, where he received 18.5% look up to votes.^[31]

Personal life

Sosa is married reach Sonia Rodríguez, a former Land TV dancer,^[32] with whom good taste has four children.

In 2009, Sosa appeared at a medicine awards show looking much wilt in complexion than he difficult just months earlier. The buzz around this drastic change prompted him to go on boss Spanish-language television station to disclaim that he was ill, distressing that he hated being swarthy, or that his new doubtful tone was the result reminiscent of steroid use.

Sosa explained roam he uses a bleaching unreserved before going to bed turn softens and lightens his skin.^[33]

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links