Former Major League Baseball player Sammy Sosa. He spent 19 seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs, where he was regarded as one of the game’s best hitters. He was also named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1998.
From 1998 to 2002, the Dominican American was selected to seven straight All-Star games. In addition, his and his teammate’s home run in 1998 drew extensive media and public attention. The right fielder has played for five major league baseball teams in his career.
In addition, when charges of performance-enhancing chemicals were made against him, he received a lot of bad press. He was called to testify in front of Congress. Despite these allegations, he maintained his innocence in the Steroids Scandal in baseball.
In recent photos, the athlete appears to have a lighter skin tone than he did on the field. Many assumed that he was sick or had Michael Jackson sickness, but he denied the claims. He was also accused of hating his heritage and betraying his community by a number of people.
Sammy Sosa | Salary And Net Worth
Sammy Sosa is the former baseball player has an estimated net worth of $70 million. He made around $120 million in pay alone during his MLB career. Additionally, he earned more than $10 million from sponsorships alone.
He has scores of endorsement arrangements, including million-dollar deals with PepsiCo, Montgomery Ward, and Latin American telecommunications company TriCom. He is a businessman and entrepreneur as of 2020.
Early Childhood Development, Family, And Education
Samuel was born in the Dominican Republic’s San Pedro de Macors parents Juan Bautista Montero and Lucrecia Sosa. He was the son of a farmer who died when he was only eight years old. The athlete’s mother reared him alone, along with his four brothers and two sisters.
Additionally, he used to polish shoes, sell oranges, and work as a janitor in a shoe factory to help support his mother financially and manage the home. The right fielder was a diligent child whose ability and sheer desire were quickly noticed.
A scout with the Texas Rangers invited the then-16-year-old Sosa to a tryout five hours from his home. Omar Minaya, impressed by the tiny little boy’s resolve, offered him a $3,500 signing bonus. He utilized a portion of the prizes to purchase a bike and the remainder was given to his mother.
Height, Weight, And Age
The former Major League Baseball player will turn 52 on November 12, 2020. The athlete weighs approximately 225 pounds, or 102 kilograms, and is 6 feet tall.
Baseball Career of Sammy Sosa
Samuel spent over 18 years of his life in the Major League Baseball. He began and concluded his career with the Texas Rangers.
The Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox were his first professional teams.
On June 16, 1989, the sportsman made his Major League Baseball debut with the Rangers. He wore number 17 and had a rather successful career with the Texas squad.
Following that, he was moved to the Chicago White Sox, where he spent a couple seasons before being acquired by the Chicago Cubs. The businessman initially excelled with the Red Sox, but his performance waned slightly as the season progressed.
Career with the Chicago Cubs
In 1992, the Sox moved the 51-year-old to the Cubs, where he had some of his most memorable moments. When he played for the Cubs, he improved as a baseball player in general. Additionally, he was named to his first All-Star squad in 1995.
It was against Cubs and opposing teammate Mark McGwire that he shattered Roger Maris’s long-standing record of 61 home runs with 66 of his own. McGwire set a new mark with 70 home runs. They garnered much media and fan interest during their pursuit of the home run record.
In 1998, the now-millionaire hit 20 home runs and drove in 47 runs, the most in MLB history. Additionally, he was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Cubs to the playoffs.
Additionally, he and McGwire split Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year title. He was also recognized during the Ticker-Tape parade and invited to participate in President Bill Clinton’s State of the Union Address. He was also a Babe Ruth Home Run Award winner.
Sammy Sosa became the first baseball player to hit over 60 home runs three times after hitting 64 in 2001. He was then voted and earned the Silver Slugger Award for his offensive production.
Sosa was ejected from a game and later penalized for seven games during the 2003 season for using a corked bat. Following the event, 76 of his other bats and five Hall of Fame bats were inspected and found to be clean and cork-free. The baseball player apologized and stated that it was an honest error and that he was merely practicing with the bat.
Career with the Baltimore Orioles
After suffering back spasms as a result of excessive sneezing and being placed on the injured list in 2004, the Cubs traded him to the Baltimore Orioles the following season. The former player’s career with the Orioles was not very memorable.
Additionally, he did not perform well during the 2005 season, which contributed to the Baltimore team declining to grant him a contract. As a result, he became a free agent and was acquired by the Texas Rangers, but on a minor league contract.
Retirement
He spent the final years of his career in the minor leagues, where he competed against newcomers for a roster position. Initially, the footballer denied the contract but eventually accepted it. He did, however, participate in the 2007 season and took a year off in 2008 amid speculations of retirement.
He elected not to retire, though, and wanted to test the waters as a free agent. The Dominican player indicated an interest in participating in the World Baseball Classic but was not named to the roster. Finally, he announced his retirement from baseball on June 3, 2009.
Sammy Sosa | Married With Children
Previously, the Chicago Cubs player was married to Karen Lee Bright. They did, however, divorce two years into the marriage. There were allegations that the union had come to an end as a result of Sammy’s domestic abuse against Karen.
In 1992, Samuel began dating and later married Sonia Rodriguez, a well-known dancer and child artist in the Dominican Republic. Keysha, Kenia, Sammy Jr., Michael, Kalexy, and Rolando are their six children.
Additionally, their eldest daughter is pursuing a degree in the arts. The former athlete is very involved in his children’s life and is a devoted parent to all six of his children. As a result of his upbringing in poverty and the absence of a father figure, he makes a concerted effort to provide his children with the best possible childhood and to be an exemplary parent.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Samuel Peralta Sosa |
Birth Date | November 12, 1968 |
Birth Place | San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic |
Nick Name | Mikey or Slammin’ Sammy |
Religion | Christian |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Dominican American |
Education | Not Available |
Horoscope | Scorpio |
Father’s Name | Juan Bautista Montero |
Mother’s Name | Lucrecia Sosa |
Siblings | Six |
Age | 51 |
Height | 6 feet; 1.83m |
Weight | 225lbs |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
Build | Athletic |
Profession | MLB player |
Current Team | Retired |
Position | Right Fielder |
Active Years | 1989-2009 |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife | Sonia Rodríguez |
Kids | Six |
Net Worth | $70 million |
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