Sammy Sosa
Born: 11/12/1968 in San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macorís, D.R.
MLB Debut: 1989-06-16 | Final Game: 2007-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Samuel Peralta Sosa
Biography
Sammy Sosa, born in 1968, was a prominent professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1989 to 2007. Known for his powerful hitting and charismatic presence, Sosa played primarily as a position player and became one of the most recognizable figures in Major League Baseball during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 2,354 games, amassing 2,408 hits, 609 home runs, and 1,667 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .273. His ability to blend power with speed was evident in his 234 stolen bases, showcasing his versatility on the field.
Sosa's legacy is particularly tied to the home run race of 1998, where he competed with Mark McGwire for the single-season home run record, ultimately finishing the season with 66 home runs. This thrilling competition not only captivated fans but also played a significant role in revitalizing interest in baseball following the strike of 1994. A seven-time All-Star, Sosa was celebrated for his impact on the game, both statistically and culturally. His contributions to the sport extended beyond the diamond, as he became a symbol of the power-hitting era that defined baseball during his playing days. Despite the controversies surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, Sosa's accomplishments remain a significant chapter in the history of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2354 | 8813 | 1475 | 2408 | 379 | 45 | 609 | 1667 | 234 | 929 | 2306 | 0.273 | 0.344 | 0.534 | 0.878 | 29521.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CHW | AL | 33 | 99 | 19 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 0.273 | 177.6 |
| 1989 | TEX | AL | 25 | 84 | 8 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0.238 | 177.6 |
| 1990 | CHW | AL | 153 | 532 | 72 | 124 | 26 | 10 | 15 | 70 | 32 | 33 | 150 | 0.233 | -611.8 |
| 1991 | CHW | AL | 116 | 316 | 39 | 64 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 33 | 13 | 14 | 98 | 0.203 | -1206.1 |
| 1992 | CHC | NL | 67 | 262 | 41 | 68 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 15 | 19 | 63 | 0.260 | 55.3 |
| 1993 | CHC | NL | 159 | 598 | 92 | 156 | 25 | 5 | 33 | 93 | 36 | 38 | 135 | 0.261 | 779.2 |
| 1994 | CHC | NL | 105 | 426 | 59 | 128 | 17 | 6 | 25 | 70 | 22 | 25 | 92 | 0.300 | 1168.3 |
| 1995 | CHC | NL | 144 | 564 | 89 | 151 | 17 | 3 | 36 | 119 | 34 | 58 | 134 | 0.268 | 1288.5 |
| 1996 | CHC | NL | 124 | 498 | 84 | 136 | 21 | 2 | 40 | 100 | 18 | 34 | 134 | 0.273 | 1396.0 |
| 1997 | CHC | NL | 162 | 642 | 90 | 161 | 31 | 4 | 36 | 119 | 22 | 45 | 174 | 0.251 | 145.4 |
| 1998 | CHC | NL | 159 | 643 | 134 | 198 | 20 | 0 | 66 | 158 | 18 | 73 | 171 | 0.308 | 4776.7 |
| 1999 | CHC | NL | 162 | 625 | 114 | 180 | 24 | 2 | 63 | 141 | 7 | 78 | 171 | 0.288 | 3803.3 |
| 2000 | CHC | NL | 156 | 604 | 106 | 193 | 38 | 1 | 50 | 138 | 7 | 91 | 168 | 0.320 | 4408.3 |
| 2001 | CHC | NL | 160 | 577 | 146 | 189 | 34 | 5 | 64 | 160 | 0 | 116 | 153 | 0.328 | 7015.1 |
| 2002 | CHC | NL | 150 | 556 | 122 | 160 | 19 | 2 | 49 | 108 | 2 | 103 | 144 | 0.288 | 4066.3 |
| 2003 | CHC | NL | 137 | 517 | 99 | 144 | 22 | 0 | 40 | 103 | 0 | 62 | 143 | 0.279 | 2210.1 |
| 2004 | CHC | NL | 126 | 478 | 69 | 121 | 21 | 0 | 35 | 80 | 0 | 56 | 133 | 0.253 | 1049.4 |
| 2005 | BAL | AL | 102 | 380 | 39 | 84 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 45 | 1 | 39 | 84 | 0.221 | -793.1 |
| 2007 | TEX | AL | 114 | 412 | 53 | 104 | 24 | 1 | 21 | 92 | 0 | 34 | 112 | 0.252 | 95.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 53 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 17 | 0.245 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | NLCS | CHN | 7 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 0.308 |
| 2003 | NLDS2 | CHN | 5 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0.188 |
| 1998 | NLDS1 | CHN | 3 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.182 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 2203 | 2138 | 4522 | 143 | 128 | 26 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | CHA | OF | 33 | 29 | 61 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | TEX | OF | 19 | 17 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | CHA | OF | 152 | 137 | 315 | 14 | 13 | 1 |
| 1991 | CHA | OF | 111 | 76 | 214 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1992 | CHN | OF | 67 | 65 | 145 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 1993 | CHN | OF | 158 | 153 | 344 | 17 | 9 | 4 |
| 1994 | CHN | OF | 105 | 105 | 248 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| 1995 | CHN | OF | 143 | 142 | 320 | 13 | 13 | 4 |
| 1996 | CHN | OF | 124 | 124 | 253 | 15 | 10 | 1 |
| 1997 | CHN | OF | 161 | 161 | 325 | 16 | 8 | 1 |
| 1998 | CHN | OF | 159 | 159 | 334 | 14 | 9 | 2 |
| 1999 | CHN | OF | 162 | 162 | 399 | 8 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000 | CHN | OF | 156 | 156 | 318 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
| 2001 | CHN | OF | 160 | 160 | 326 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| 2002 | CHN | OF | 150 | 150 | 284 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 2003 | CHN | OF | 137 | 136 | 212 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| 2004 | CHN | OF | 124 | 124 | 238 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 2005 | BAL | OF | 66 | 66 | 121 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2007 | TEX | OF | 16 | 16 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 14 |
| Center Field | 234 |
| Right Field | 2015 |
| Designated Hitter | 133 |
Awards & Honors
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | TEX | AL | $500,000 |
| 2005 | BAL | AL | $17,000,000 |
| 2004 | CHN | NL | $16,000,000 |
| 2003 | CHN | NL | $16,000,000 |
| 2002 | CHN | NL | $15,000,000 |
| 2001 | CHN | NL | $12,500,000 |
| 2000 | CHN | NL | $11,000,000 |
| 1999 | CHN | NL | $9,000,000 |
| 1998 | CHN | NL | $8,325,000 |
| 1997 | CHN | NL | $5,500,000 |
| 1996 | CHN | NL | $4,750,000 |
| 1995 | CHN | NL | $4,300,000 |
| 1994 | CHN | NL | $2,950,000 |
| 1993 | CHN | NL | $745,000 |
| 1992 | CHN | NL | $180,000 |
| 1991 | CHA | AL | $150,000 |
| 1990 | CHA | AL | $100,000 |
| 1989 | TEX | AL | $68,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $124,068,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 53.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2002 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 63.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2001 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 2nd | 278.0 | 448 | 2 |
| 2000 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 71.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 1999 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 87.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 1998 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 1st | 438.0 | 448 | 30 |
| 1997 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 19th | 5.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1996 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 15th | 12.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1995 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 81.0 | 392 | 0 |