Highlights
Sammy Sosa not only was a Chicago icon for 15 years, he dined with kings and presidents after electrifying and rejuvenating baseball with a home run barrage in 1998. Joining the White Sox in 1990 as a skinny prospect after a trade from Texas, a bulging Sosa was shipped out in disgrace by the Cubs following a 2004 season in which he left the final game early. But in between, Sosa was a towering figure, as popular at Wrigley Field as any player in history. Bleacher fans would respectfully salute him he sprinted to his position in right field and demand a curtain call after each home run, always followed by a heart tap, a kiss and gesture toward the heavens. Sosa became the first player to hit...
Sammy Sosa not only was a Chicago icon for 15 years, he dined with kings and presidents after electrifying and rejuvenating baseball with a home run barrage in 1998. Joining the White Sox in 1990 as a skinny prospect after a trade from Texas, a bulging Sosa was shipped out in disgrace by the Cubs following a 2004 season in which he left the final game early. But in between, Sosa was a towering figure, as popular at Wrigley Field as any player in history. Bleacher fans would respectfully salute him he sprinted to his position in right field and demand a curtain call after each home run, always followed by a heart tap, a kiss and gesture toward the heavens. Sosa became the first player to hit 60 home runs in three different seasons, although he never led the league in any of them. In 1998, when he was MVP, he lost the historic home run battle to St. Louis' Mark McGwire (70-66) as both surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61 set in 1961. In 2001, he finished behind Barry Bonds, who broke McGwire's record with 73 homers. McGwire, Bonds and Sosa all are alleged to have used performance-enhancing substances during those homer-happy seasons. McGwire and Sosa were among the players who testified before a Senate committee investigating drugs in baseball and Sosa denied using them. In fact, he kept a bottle of Flintstone vitamins in his locker at Wrigley Field, smiling and pointing to them when allegations first surfaced. His career in Chicago began to spiral downward in 2003. He spent time on the disabled list that season and was hit in the head by a pitch that cracked his helmet. Then on June 3, Sosa was caught using a corked bat and suspended for seven games. Other bats he had given to the Hall of Fame were X-rayed but none was found to contain cork. In 2004, his last in Chicago, he also was on the disabled list after straining his back after sneezing while talking to reporters. He was dealt to Baltimore following the season after the Cubs claimed security cameras caught him leaving the season's last game early.
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Ken Griffey Jr. has left knee scoped
White Sox outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this week. During Tuesday's operation in Cincinnati, Reds orthopedic physician Dr. Tim Kremchek repaired partially torn cartilage and meniscus in the troublesome left knee,...Tags: Ken Griffey Jr., Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Major League Baseball, Nick Masset
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White Sox CF Griffey Jr. has left knee scoped
The Associated PressWhite Sox outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee this week. During Tuesday's operation in Cincinnati, Reds orthopedic physician Dr. Tim Kremchek repaired partially torn cartilage and meniscus in the troublesome left knee,...Tags: Ken Griffey Jr., Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Major League Baseball, Nick Masset
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Cubs GM not worried about damage to Dodgers' dugout
Tribune reporterThe mystery over who broke a water pipe in the Cubs' dugout after their Game 3 loss in Los Angeles didn't have quite the same buzz as the one over who smashed Sammy Sosa's boom box after the final game of 2004. General manager Jim Hendry said he didn't...Tags: Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles, Lou Piniella, Carlos Zambrano
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Phillies' Ryan Howard, Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia deserve MVPs
More Tylenol, please. The regular season is over, which means it's time to pass out the hardware for performances exceptionally well done. Frankly, it's going to take an exceptional performance to get the 2008 awards correct. Statistical analysts and...Tags: Dontrelle Willis, Referenda, Florida Marlins, Geovany Soto, Baseball
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The hits — and misses — keep coming for the Cubs
Tribune reporterThe Cubs' postseason history is up to 10 pages in the team's media guide, a far cry from the New York Yankees' but much thicker than it was only a decade ago. While the Cubs have had many more lows than highs in October, they've had plenty of interesting...Tags: Mark Guthrie, Florida Marlins, History, Baseball, Goose Goslin
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Back to the future
RedEyeRedEye takes a look at the 2003 Cubs playoff roster and where the players are now. Pitchers Antonio Alfonseca: Last with Phillies in 2007 Joe Borowski: Released by Indians in July Matt Clement: Released by Cardinals in August after shoulder surgery...Tags: Mark Guthrie, Aramis Ramirez, Baseball, Kyle Farnsworth, Antonio Alfonseca
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Tampa Bay Rays' Joe Maddon turns the team around his way, unconventionally
Sentinel Staff WriterOn Sept. 15, the Tampa Bay Rays suffered one of their most deflating losses in franchise history. The Boston Red Sox came into Tropicana Field and blew out the Rays 13-5 to creep into a virtual tie for the American League East lead. At that moment, Joe...Tags: Minnesota Twins, Public Employees, Bruce Springsteen, History, Baseball
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And he can eat 50 eggs, too
Mr. Flip always has felt a special affinity with Paul Newman. It could be because of his tremendous body of work or his appealing persona. But it's really because Mr. Flip often has been mistaken for him. (When the paper bag is off, of course.) Newman,...Tags: Baseball, Easter, Paul Newman, Billiards, Snooker and Pool, National League
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Swimming with the fishes
1. Twin killing The White Sox are gonna have to learn to deal with the piranhas quick, or else they'll be swimming with the fishes, right Ozzie? 2. Thanks, but no Danks Am I the only one worried that the White Sox's postseason hopes rely partly on Mr....Tags: Chicago Bears, All Stars, Baseball, John Danks, Lou Piniella
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Twins close in on Sox with 9-3 victory
Chicago Tribune reporterMINNEAPOLIS — Aside from Ken Griffey Jr. moving ahead of Sammy Sosa for fifth place on the all-time home run list, the White Sox's 9-3 blowout loss Tuesday night at Minnesota provided some chilling thoughts. "That's not a loss, that was a [rear]-...Tags: Ken Griffey Jr., Baseball, John Danks, Ozzie Guillen, Mark Buehrle
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Tigers stall Rays' push for AL East
Scott Kazmir wanted to be the center of the biggest celebrations in Tampa Bay Rays history. His plans were derailed by two stunning homers from one of the most unlikely players. Ramon Santiago homered twice off the Rays ace for his second and third...Tags: Tim Wakefield, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays
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Tigers stall Rays' title push
Scott Kazmir wanted to be at the center of the biggest celebration in Tampa Bay Rays history. His plans were derailed by two stunning homers from one of the most unlikely players. Ramon Santiago connected twice against the Rays ace, giving him nine...Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, Major League Baseball, Baseball
Oct 15, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Oct 15, 2008
|Story| Associated Press
Oct 8, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Oct 5, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Sep 30, 2008
|Story| ChicagoSports.com
Sep 30, 2008
|Story| RedEye
Sep 27, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
Sep 29, 2008
|Column| Baltimore Sun
Sep 30, 2008
|Column| RedEye
Sep 24, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Sep 26, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
Sep 26, 2008
|Story| Orlando Sentinel
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