History of Sammy Sosa in Timeline
Sammy Sosa is a Dominican-American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 18 seasons, mainly with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became one of the best hitters in baseball. He achieved his 400th home run during his 1,354th game and his 5,273rd at-bat, the fastest any player in the National League had reached this milestone. Sosa became one of only nine players in MLB history to hit 600 career home runs.
1900: National League Record
Sammy Sosa is one of only three National League players since 1900 to have achieved 160 RBIs in a single season, a testament to his hitting prowess.
1948: Total Bases Record
In 1998, Sosa achieved the most total bases in a season since Stan Musial in 1948.
November 12, 1968: Birth of Sammy Sosa
Sammy Sosa was born on November 12, 1968.
June 16, 1989: Major League Debut
On June 16, 1989, Sammy Sosa made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers. He notably hit his first home run off of pitcher Roger Clemens.
July 29, 1989: Trade to the Chicago White Sox
On July 29, 1989, the Texas Rangers traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox.
1989: Cubs' First Postseason Appearance Since 1989
The Cubs reached the postseason for the first time since 1989, marking a significant moment for the team and Sosa's contribution to their success.
1990: Strong Season with the White Sox
In 1990, Sammy Sosa showcased his offensive potential with the White Sox, hitting 15 home runs, 70 RBIs, and stealing 32 bases.
1991: Slump with the White Sox
Following a promising start, Sosa experienced a hitting slump for the remainder of the 1991 season.
1992: Sosa Joins the Chicago Cubs
In 1992, Sammy Sosa joined the Chicago Cubs, where he would later become one of the team's most celebrated hitters.
1992: Trade to the Chicago Cubs
Sammy Sosa was traded to the Chicago Cubs before the start of the 1992 season.
1992: Worst Performance Since 1992
Sammy Sosa's performance declined in 2005 to his worst since 1992.
1993: 30-30 Season with the Cubs
Sosa achieved the impressive 30-30 feat in 1993, hitting over 30 home runs and stealing over 30 bases, showcasing his blend of power and speed.
1994: Improved Batting Average
Sammy Sosa significantly improved his batting average in 1994 while maintaining his power and speed.
1995: Start of 10-Year Home Run Streak
Between 1995 and 2004, Sammy Sosa hit 479 home runs, the most in any 10-year span in history.
1995: First All-Star Selection
In 1995, Sosa was selected for his first All-Star game, recognizing his rising prominence in the league.
1995: Silver Slugger Awards
Sosa's outstanding hitting earned him Silver Slugger Awards in 1995.
1996: Continued Power and RBI Production
Sosa continued to excel in 1996, consistently hitting home runs and driving in runs for the Cubs.
1996: First Time on Disabled List Since 1996
In May of 2003, Sammy Sosa went on the disabled list for the first time since 1996 after having an injured toenail removed.
1997: High Strikeouts Despite Home Runs and RBIs
Despite a strong performance in home runs and RBIs, Sammy Sosa also led the league in strikeouts in 1997, highlighting a challenge in his batting approach.
June 1998: Record Home Runs in a Month
In June 1998, Sammy Sosa set a major-league record for most home runs in a month with 20.
1998: Breaking Records, But Not Leading the League
Despite breaking the single-season home run record in 1998 with 70 home runs, Mark McGwire did not lead the league in home runs that year.
1998: Home Run Chase with Mark McGwire
In 1998, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire captivated the world in a thrilling race to break Roger Maris' single-season home run record.
1998: 60+ Home Run Seasons
In 1998, Sammy Sosa hit 60 or more home runs for the first time.
1998: National League MVP and Sportsman of the Year
Sammy Sosa's historic performance in 1998 earned him the National League Most Valuable Player Award. He also shared the prestigious Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" award with Mark McGwire, acknowledging their impact on the sport.
1998: The Home Run Chase
The 1998 season was defined by the dramatic home run chase between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, drawing immense attention to baseball. Sosa's pursuit of the record ultimately fell short of McGwire's 70 home runs, but Sosa's 66 home runs still made history.
1999: 60+ Home Run Seasons
In 1999, Sammy Sosa hit 60 or more home runs for the second time.
1999: Another Strong Home Run Season
Sosa continued his home run hitting prowess in 1999, hitting 63 home runs.
1999: Original Publication of Baseball's 100 Greatest Players
The Sporting News originally published the book "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players" in 1999, without Sammy Sosa included.
2000: Leading the League in Home Runs and Babe Ruth Award
In 2000, Sosa led the league in home runs and received the Babe Ruth Home Run Award.
2000: Games in Tokyo Dome
In 2000, the Cubs played two regular-season games against the Mets at the Tokyo Dome, where Sammy Sosa did not hit a home run.
2000: Leading the League in Home Runs
Sammy Sosa dominated the league in 2000, hitting more home runs than any other player.
2001: First Player to Hit 60+ Home Runs Three Times
Sosa became the first baseball player to hit 60 or more home runs in three different seasons in 2001.
2001: Post-2001 Decline
After 2001, Sammy Sosa began a trend of decline in his batting average, home runs, total bases, and RBIs.
2001: 60+ Home Runs for the Third Time
Sammy Sosa reached another significant milestone in 2001, hitting more than 60 home runs for an unprecedented third time in his career.
2002: Leading the League and Silver Slugger Award
Sosa led the league in home runs in 2002 and received the Silver Slugger Award for his offensive output.
2002: Leading the League in Home Runs
Sammy Sosa led the league in home runs again in 2002, solidifying his position as a premier power hitter.
June 3, 2003: Corked Bat Incident
On June 3, 2003, Sammy Sosa was ejected from a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for using a corked bat. He claimed it was an accident, used only for practice, and apologized. MLB investigated and found his other bats to be clean. He received a seven-game suspension without pay.
2003: Positive Drug Test
According to a New York Times report, Sammy Sosa tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
May 2004: Back Injury
In May 2004, Sammy Sosa suffered a back injury from a violent sneeze, landing him on the disabled list.
2004: Drug Test
Sammy Sosa underwent a drug test in 2004, according to his attorney's statement during the 2005 Congressional hearing. The results were reported as clean.
January 28, 2005: Trade to Baltimore Orioles
On January 28, 2005, the Cubs traded Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles. Sosa waived his 2006 salary guarantee to facilitate the trade.
December 7, 2005: Orioles Decline Contract Offer
On December 7, 2005, the Orioles chose not to offer Sammy Sosa an arbitration contract, making him a free agent.
2005: Congressional Hearing on Steroid Use in Baseball
In 2005, Sammy Sosa, along with other prominent baseball players, appeared before Congress to address allegations of steroid use. Sosa's attorney testified on his behalf, denying any use of performance-enhancing drugs.
2005: Congressional Hearing on Performance-Enhancing Drugs
In 2005, Sammy Sosa, represented by his attorney, appeared before a congressional hearing to deny allegations of performance-enhancing drug use during his baseball career.
2005: Ranked in Baseball's 100 Greatest Players
In a 2005 update to their book, The Sporting News ranked Sammy Sosa as the 95th greatest baseball player.
January 2006: Turns Down Nationals Offers
In late January 2006, Sammy Sosa declined two minor-league offers from the Washington Nationals.
February 15, 2006: Agent States Sosa Likely Finished Playing
On February 15, 2006, Sammy Sosa's agent stated that Sosa had likely played his last game in a baseball uniform, though he wasn't officially retiring.
2006: Salary Guarantee Waived
Sammy Sosa and his agent agreed to waive his guaranteed salary for 2006 as part of the trade to the Baltimore Orioles in January 2005.
January 30, 2007: Signs with Texas Rangers
On January 30, 2007, Sammy Sosa signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers, the team he started his career with.
April 26, 2007: Home Run in 45th Ballpark
On April 26, 2007, Sammy Sosa hit a home run in his 45th major league ballpark.
May 2007: Home Run at Disney's Wide World of Sports
Sammy Sosa homered at The Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of Sports during a regular season series between the Rangers and Devil Rays in May 2007.
June 20, 2007: 600th Home Run
Sammy Sosa hit his 600th career home run on June 20, 2007, against the Chicago Cubs, becoming the fifth player in history to reach this milestone.
May 28, 2008: Announces Retirement Plans
On May 28, 2008, Sammy Sosa announced plans to retire, though he never officially filed the paperwork.
December 25, 2008: Intends to Unretire
On December 25, 2008, Sammy Sosa expressed his intention to unretire and play in the World Baseball Classic, hoping to return to MLB in 2009.
June 3, 2009: Announces Retirement
On June 3, 2009, Sammy Sosa officially announced his retirement from baseball in the Dominican Republic.
June 16, 2009: Reported Positive Drug Test
On June 16, 2009, The New York Times reported Sammy Sosa's name was on a list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.
2009: Skin Tone Change and Public Explanation
In 2009, Sammy Sosa appeared publicly with a noticeably lighter skin tone, prompting speculation and discussion. He attributed the change to a skin-bleaching cream he used regularly.
2009: Hopes to Return to MLB
Sammy Sosa hoped to return to Major League Baseball in 2009 after playing in the World Baseball Classic.
January 9, 2013: Hall of Fame Eligibility
On January 9, 2013, Sammy Sosa became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame but was not elected by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), receiving only 12.5% of the vote.
2015: Hall of Fame Voting Decline
In 2015, Sammy Sosa's voting percentage for the Hall of Fame dropped to its lowest point, receiving only 6.6% of the vote.
2021: Hall of Fame Voting Increase
Sammy Sosa's voting percentage for the Hall of Fame saw an increase in 2021, reaching 17%.
2022: Final Hall of Fame Ballot Appearance
In 2022, Sammy Sosa appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for the final time, receiving 18.5% of the votes and failing to reach the required threshold for induction.