Sammy Sosa: Through the Years

SI Staff | Jun 25, 2007

Sammy Sosa: Through the Years

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Signed by the Rangers out of the Dominican Republic in 1985, Sosa was traded to the White Sox on July 29, 1989, in a deal that brought Harold Baines to Texas. Sosa was unimpressive in parts of three seasons on the South Side, hitting only 28 home runs, before getting dealt the Cubs for George Bell.

AP

Sosa was selected to play in six All-Star Games, including in 2001 when he took part in the Home Run Derby at Safeco Field.

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Sosa belted 20 home runs in June 1998 as he joined Mark McGwire in the assault on Roger Maris' single-season record.

AP

Sosa gives his trademarked celebration -- the chest-thumping peace sign -- after belting No. 62 on Sept. 13, 1998.

Ronald C. Modra/SI

Sosa's final home run of the season left him at 66, four shy of record-holder Mark McGwire. Sosa's Cubs would move on to the playoffs, however, while Mac's Cardinals went home.

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

Sosa and McGwire were named SI's Sportsmen of the Year for staging their thrilling home run race in 1998.

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Sosa joined the 500 home run club on April 4, 2003, in a 10-9 loss at Cincinnati.

AP

Sosa's reputation suffered after his bat shattered in a June 2003 game against the Devil Rays and it was found to have cork in the middle. Some of his bats donated to the Hall of Fame were even X-rayed for evidence of cork, though none was found.

Al Tielemans/SI

The closest Sosa came to playing in a World Series was in 2003, when the Cubs blew a 3-1 lead to the Marlins and lost in seven games.

AP

Testifying in front of Congress in March 2005, Sosa denied ever having used "illegal performance-enhancing drugs" and said that he never "injected myself or had anyone inject me with anything."

Lou Capozzola/SI

After an ugly breakup with the Cubs, Sosa played the 2005 season in Baltimore, batting only .221 with 14 home runs before deciding to take all of 2006 off.

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Sosa became only the fifth player in major-league history to hit 600 home runs with this blast against his former team, the Cubs, on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.