Special edition Icon of the week: Happy birthday Sammy Sosa
One of the most powerful baseball slugger, Sammy Sosa had an interesting career. From rags to being beloved by America, to his long fall from grace.
Sosa was born in San Pedro de Marcoris, Dominican Republic, on November 12, 1968. However when Sosa turned 7 years old, his father died and to support his family Sosa had to find a job. During that time Sosa played a primitive form of baseball, and quickly showed that he had a natural talent for the sport. By the age of 16 Sosa go into the texas rangers, where he agreed on a salary of $3,500. Sosa used a little of that money to buy a bike and he gave the rest to his mother.
In 1986 Sosa came to Sarasota, Florida, United States, and he made his professional debut in minor league team in the Gulf Coast League. After showing his skills on the field Sosa was traded to the Chicago White Sox. In his first season he hit 15 home runs and stole 32 bases, posting a batting average of .233. He also became the only player in the American League to reach double digits in doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases. Sosa second season with the White Soxs was more tame, and he was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
During his time with the Cubs Sosa stats kept getting better, but he was constantly critiqued for showing off, and an inability to …show more content…
In 2003 the umpires found out that his bat was corked, which resulted in suspension and doubts to whether his high number of hits were all legitimate. The troubles did not stop there, he was also accused of using performance enhancing drugs (steroids). Although Sosa did deny those charges, the damage was done. Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote "Sosa's once-lovable image has been severely tarnished by both the corked-bat incident and the way he's reacted to suspicions of steroid use, not to mention a mysterious dip in his offensive numbers," Notable Sports
One of the most powerful baseball slugger, Sammy Sosa had an interesting career. From rags to being beloved by America, to his long fall from grace.
Sosa was born in San Pedro de Marcoris, Dominican Republic, on November 12, 1968. However when Sosa turned 7 years old, his father died and to support his family Sosa had to find a job. During that time Sosa played a primitive form of baseball, and quickly showed that he had a natural talent for the sport. By the age of 16 Sosa go into the texas rangers, where he agreed on a salary of $3,500. Sosa used a little of that money to buy a bike and he gave the rest to his mother.
In 1986 Sosa came to Sarasota, Florida, United States, and he made his professional debut in minor league team in the Gulf Coast League. After showing his skills on the field Sosa was traded to the Chicago White Sox. In his first season he hit 15 home runs and stole 32 bases, posting a batting average of .233. He also became the only player in the American League to reach double digits in doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases. Sosa second season with the White Soxs was more tame, and he was traded to the Chicago Cubs.
During his time with the Cubs Sosa stats kept getting better, but he was constantly critiqued for showing off, and an inability to …show more content…
In 2003 the umpires found out that his bat was corked, which resulted in suspension and doubts to whether his high number of hits were all legitimate. The troubles did not stop there, he was also accused of using performance enhancing drugs (steroids). Although Sosa did deny those charges, the damage was done. Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote "Sosa's once-lovable image has been severely tarnished by both the corked-bat incident and the way he's reacted to suspicions of steroid use, not to mention a mysterious dip in his offensive numbers," Notable Sports