Sammy Sosa Biography

Synopsis

Sammy Sosa is a Dominican former professional baseball player. He played right fielder in his career. He collaborated with four major league teams during his career.

Sosa became one of the best hitters in the league while playing for the Chicago Cubs. Sosa and Mark McGwire gained national fame for their remarkable home run hitting.

Early age and education

Sammy Sosa was born on November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macors, Dominican Republic. He was born in a Batey community in Couselo but has officially registered his birthplace as San Pedro De Macors.

Sosa is the son born to Juan Bautista Montero and Lucrecia Sosa . He is of black ethnicity and has Dominican nationality. His paternal family, the Peraltas, are of Haitian and Dominican descent. His father died when he was seven years old.

Race

Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox

Sosa played his first major league game on June 16, 1989. He played with the Texas Rangers, wearing jersey number 17 starting as a starting left fielder. He hit his first home run against Roger Clemens .

On July 29, 1989, the Rangers traded Sosa for Scott Fletcher and Wilson Alvarez . Later, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for Fred Manrique and Harold Baines.

Chicago Cubs

The White Sox traded Ken Patterson and Sosa to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder George before the 1992 season. In 1995, he earned his first-team All-Star title. He hit 268 with thirty-six home runs and 119 RBIs in 144 baseball games.

In 1998, Sosa’s 416 total bases became the most in a single season after Stan Musial’s 429 in 1948. He clinched the National League MVP Award for leading the Cubs to the playoffs in 1998. .

Sosa was also honored with a ticker tape parade in New York City. He was also invited as a guest of the President of the United States. Bill Clinton’s 1999 State of the Union address.

In 2003, the Cubs won the National League Central title. However, the year was bad for Sosa. He remained on the disabled list for the first time since 1996 after removing his injured toenail.

Sosa was waived from the Chicago Cubs-Tampa Bay Devil Devil Rays on June 3, 2003. He was waived from the game in the early innings when umpires discovered that Sosa had been using a corked bat.

Sosa’s 76 bats were tested by Major League Baseball. However, all bats were found to be clean, no cork was found. He sent five bats to the Hall of Fame in recent years, all of the bats were also tested and found clean.

Sosa later stated that he accidentally used the corked bat, which he only used during his batting practice.

During an interview with Cubs manager Dusty Baker, he said that corked bats are strictly prohibited on his team. Sosa was suspended for eight games on June 6.

Sosa’s suspension was reduced to seven games on June 11 after he appealed. He completed the season with 40 home runs. He scored two more in the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins. The Cubs won 3 games to 1 before going down in seven games.

baltimore orioles

On January 28, 2005, Sosa was traded back to the Baltimore Orioles for an infielder/outfielder trade. Jerry Hairston , Jr., infielder Mike Fontenot , and RHP Dave Crouthers . Sosa, along with his agent, agreed to waive the clause guaranteeing his 2006 salary to facilitate the deal.

In January 2006, the Washington Nationals offered Sosa two different minor leagues. He turned down both leagues. The same year he accompanied President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic on several diplomatic trips, including to the United States, Taiwan, and Japan.

Texas Rangers and end of career

On January 30, 2007, the Texas Rangers signed him to a minor league contract worth $500,000. The contract was the previous contract that he turned down from the Nationals.

Sosa began the 2007 season as the Rangers’ designated hitter and occasional right fielder. The same year, Sosa’s No. 21 was awarded to the new pitcher. Jason Marquis for the Chicago Cubs. Sosa later hit his 600th home run off the Marquis.

On December 25, 2008, Sosa announced that he will not retire and will play in the World Baseball Classic. He also announced his willingness to participate in the free agent market in hopes of signing with a major league club in 2009.

The following year, Sosa announced that he was retiring from baseball. He officially announced in the Dominican Republic that he was calmly eyeing his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Sammy Sosa is a married man. He married Sonia Rodriguez , a popular dancer on Dominican television. The couple married on December 18, 2004, in Altos de Chavon, La Rumania. Before their official wedding, the couple had already been civilly married for twelve years.

Sosa shared four children; two daughters Keysha Sosa , Kenia Sosa and two sons Michael Sosa and Sammy Sosa Jr.

Sosa also had two children with his ex-wife. Karen Lee Bright , Kalexy and Rolando . Sosa and Bright were married in 1990 and divorced in 1991.

Net worth

Sammy Sosa has earned an enormous amount of money through his successful career as a baseball player. He earns $124,068,000 annually on average. The former baseball player signed with the Texas Ranger to a minor league contract worth $500,000.

Sosa earned $17,875,000 for the 2005 season, and the Cubs paid $7 million in salary for him. He completed the 2005 season hitting .221 with 14 home runs. It was one of his worst performances since 1992.

In 1997, Sosa signed a four-year extension contract worth $42.5 million. He lives in North Miami Beach (he owns a house). The home is valued at $7.6 million and has a patio, pool, koi pond, and deck with exotic ocean views. Sammy Sosa is very fond of luxury cars.