Let’s say you could go back in time five years. You walk into the clubhouse at Wrigley Field. Players and media members are gathered around a TV and you pop in a tape of last nights Rangers Cubs game. It’s the fifth inning. Jason Marquis leaves a cutter up in the zone and Sammy Sosa hammers it to right center field for his 600th home run. His white and blue uniform and trademark hop out of the batters box are a familiar sight. However, it’s not the Cubs white and blue uni but the Rangers.
What do you think would be more surprising to those in the room? That he hit 600 against the Cubs and not for them, or that it took him five years to do it?
In 2002 Sosa was coming off a season where he hit .328 and drove in 160 runs, both career highs. He hit 64 home runs (2 shy of his career best), which was the third time in four years he hit over 60. Sammy’s star had never shined brighter. Then it all fell apart.
June 3, 2003 Sosa was ejected when pieces of cork were found in his bat after it shattered all over the infield. Sosa was suspended for eight games, which was shortened to seven after an appeal.
October 14, 2003 Sosa could only watch as a hindered catch in foul territory completely unraveled the Cubs World Series aspirations. It opened the door for a Marlins rally that night and again the following night as the Marlins, not the Cubs, won the National League pennant and eventually the World Series.
May 17, 2004 Sosa sneezed twice causing bask spasms and eventually landing the slugger on the disabled list.
October 3, 2004 Sosa, frustrated by injury and upset about being moved to 6th in the batting order, skipped out on the teams final game of the season. The following day he spoke critically of the team’s manager Dusty Baker blaming him for the team’s struggles.
January 28, 2005 The Cubs traded Sosa to Baltimore for Jerry Hairston Jr. and a couple of minor leaguers.
While Sammy was suffering through his personal struggles, baseball itself had come under fire when the growing steroid speculation was catapulted into the nations conscious.
March 18, 2005 Sosa appeared before Congress as part of a panel of players in regards to a Congressional steroid investigation. Through his lawyer he denied using steroids saying, "Everything I have heard about steroids and human growth hormones is that they are very bad for you." Needless to say it did not go well.
That was the beginning of a miserable year for Sosa. He finished batting just .221 with only 14 home runs and 45 RBI.
After being cut loose by Baltimore and unable to find a team willing to sign him to a big league contract Sosa retired in February of 2006 just 12 home runs shy of 600.
January 30, 2007 Less than a year later Sosa signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.
"You guys won't be disappointed," Sosa said. "I wanted to come back in 2006, but I was beaten mentally. I'm fresh. I'm relaxed. I've got my game face again, and I feel great. My body's in shape. I'm ready to go."
So Sammy Sosa is back. He’s a legitimate middle of the order bat again and last night he hit his 600th home run joining Aaron, Bonds, Ruth and Mays. That’s the Mount Rushmore of baseball greats. So why is it that nobody seems to think Sammy belongs?
How do you go, in just five years, from being a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer to nearly everyone questioning your credentials?
That’s the reality of baseball today. Baseball fans look on baseball with new eyes. Can we get back to the way we viewed baseball and our heroes just five years ago? Sure, in time we will look at baseball and players accomplishments the way we used to. But it appears we will never be able to view the players of the last five, ten or even fifteen years the same way again. And that’s a shame.