Jeni Watson
Samuel Peralta Sosa is a former professional baseball right fielder of Dominican descent. For 19 seasons, he was a member of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs. He is one of only nine players in MLB history to hit 600 home runs in their career.
About Sammy Sosa | Family and Education
Juan Bautista Montero and Lucrecia Sosa gave birth to Sammy Sosa in San Pedro de Macors, Dominican Republic.
His farming father died while he was only eight years old. The athlete’s mother was a single parent who reared him, his four brothers, and two sisters.
He also helped his mother run the household by polishing shoes, selling oranges, and working as a janitor in a shoe factory.
The right fielder was a dedicated young man whose talent and perseverance was quickly recognized.
Sosa, then 16, was asked to a tryout by a Texas Rangers scout five hours away from his home. Omar Minaya, impressed by the fragile little boy’s determination, offered him a $3,500 signing bonus.
He bought a bike with some of the money and donated the rest to his mother.
Professional Life and Career
Samuel spent over 18 years of his life in Major League Baseball. He began and concluded his playing career with the Texas Rangers.
Early Years with Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox
On June 16, 1989, the athlete debuted in Major League Baseball with the Rangers. He wore the number 17 jersey for the Texas Longhorns and had a promising career with the team.
Following that, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he spent a few seasons until being dealt with the Chicago Cubs.
The businessman started strong with the Red Sox, but he faded later on.
A career with the Chicago Cubs
The 51-year-old was dealt with the Cubs in 1992, where he enjoyed his most memorable moments.
He improved as a baseball player while playing for the Cubs. He also made his first All-Star squad during the 1995 season.
Similarly, He shattered Roger Maris’ long-standing record of 61 home runs with 66 with the Cubs and facing teammate Mark McGwire.
McGwire broke the record for home runs with 70. For their quest to shatter the home run record, they received a lot of media and public attention.
The now-millionaire hit 20 home runs and drove in 47 runs during the 1998 season, the most in MLB history.
He was also selected the National League’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Cubs to the playoffs.
In addition, he and McGwire split Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year title.
He was also honored in the Ticker-Tape Parade, and President Bill Clinton invited him to speak at the State of the Union Address. The Babe Ruth Home Run Award was also presented to him.
After hitting 64 home runs in 2001, he became the first baseball player to hit more than 60 home runs in three seasons. For his offensive performance, he was nominated for and earned the Silver Slugger Award.
After utilizing a corked bat during the 2003 season, Sosa was dismissed from the game and subsequently suspended for seven games.
Following the incident, 76 of his other bats were evaluated and determined to be clean and cork-free, including 5 Hall of Fame bats.
The baseball player apologized and stated that it was an honest error and that he had only used the bat for practice.
With the Baltimore Orioles during his playing career
The Cubs traded him to the Baltimore Orioles the following season when he had back spasms as a result of excessive sneezing and was placed on the disabled list.
With the Orioles, the former player had a less-than-stellar career.
Furthermore, he did not perform well in the 2005 season, prompting the Baltimore Ravens to decline his contract offer.
As a result, he became a free agent and was signed by the Texas Rangers, albeit only for a minor league contract.
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Retirement
Sammy spent the last several years of his career in the lesser leagues, where he competed for a slot against newcomers.
The contract was initially turned down by the player, but he eventually accepted it. Despite this, he played in the 2007 season before retiring in 2008.
He, on the other hand, elected not to retire and instead wanted to try out the free agency scene. The Dominican player indicated an interest in participating in the World Baseball Classic, but he was not selected for the squad.
He retired from baseball on June 3, 2009.
Sammy Sosa retired for a reason.
Sosa received few offers to play for a major league team and was not selected for the World Baseball Classic. Furthermore, the steroid controversy played a role.
Sammy has made it clear that he does not want his legacy to be associated with drug usage or controversy because neither of these things happened.
The father of six maintained that it was his passion for the game, not the drugs, that kept him going. He also gave his best because he worked hard and didn’t dwell on his shortcomings.
Highlights and Awards in His Career
Sammy Sosa has held several titles during his career, some of which are listed here.
- Seven All-Star selections (1995, 1998–2002, and 2004)
- NL MVP (1998)
- 6 Silver Slugger Awards (1995, 1998, and 2002)
- Hank Aaron Award (National League) (1999)
- Award for Roberto Clemente (1998)
- 2nd in NL home runs (2000 and 2002)
- 2nd in NL RBIs (1998 and 2001)
Relationship Status
Karen Lee Bright, a former Cubs player, was his first wife. Two years into their marriage, however, they divorced.
The union was rumored to have terminated because of Sammy’s domestic abuse against Karen.
Samuel began dating and eventually married Sonia Rodriguez, a prominent Dominican dancer, and child artist, in 1992.
Keysha, Kenia, Sammy Junior, Michael, Kaley, and Rolando are their six children.
Their oldest daughter is also pursuing a career in the arts. The former athlete is a loving and attentive father to all six of his children.
He puts a lot of work into giving his children the greatest childhood possible and being an outstanding father because he grew up impoverished and without a father figure.
Net Worth | Sammy Sosa
His net worth is $70 million. During his MLB career, he earned roughly $120 million in compensation alone. In addition, his endorsements alone netted him almost $10 million.
He has scores of endorsement deals, some worth millions of dollars, with companies like PepsiCo, Montgomery Ward, and Latin American telco TriCom. He is an entrepreneur and businessman as of 2022.
Body Measurement | Age, Height, Weight
On November 12, 2021, the former MLB player will turn 53 years old. The athlete stands 6 feet tall and weighs about 225 pounds (102 kg).
Social Media
The father of six is unfamiliar with social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. He is, however, on Facebook, but he is not particularly active there.
Despite this, he frequently posts gorgeous photos of his children and wife.
Sosa’s old video of him rushing to his place while clutching an American flag was recently trending on Twitter during the Cubs’ first home game after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Frequently Asked Question:
What is the value of Sammy Sosa’s rookie card?
Sammy Sosa’s rookie card costs between $4.42 and $200.
What is the value of a signed Sammy Sosa baseball card?
A single signed baseball card of Sammy Sosa is worth between $125 and $150.
Quick Facts | Sammy Sosa
| 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 | 53 years old |
| Height | 6 feet; 1.83 m |
| 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 |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Jersey, Rookie Cards, Signed baseball, Posters |
| Last Update | May, 2022 |
