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31. Sammy Sosa

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31. Sammy Sosa
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macoris, Sa D.R.
  • Weight: 165 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: June 16, 1989
  • Final Game: September 29, 2007
  • Silver Slugger - 1995
  • TSN All-Star - 1995
  • Most Valuable Player - 1998
  • Roberto Clemente Award - 1998
  • Silver Slugger - 1998
  • TSN All-Star - 1998
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1998
  • Hank Aaron Award - 1999
  • Silver Slugger - 1999
  • TSN All-Star - 1999
  • Silver Slugger - 2000
  • TSN All-Star - 2000
  • Silver Slugger - 2001
  • TSN All-Star - 2001
  • Silver Slugger - 2002
  • TSN All-Star - 2002
  • MVP - 1995
  • MVP - 1996
  • MVP - 1997
  • MVP - 1998
  • MVP - 1999
  • MVP - 2000
  • MVP - 2001
  • MVP - 2002
  • MVP - 2003
 
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It has to be considered a given that the PED question has hurt many players in their quest for Cooperstown. It is very possible that anyone associated with it will fail to get elected and the Hall will be devoid of some of the game’s greatest record setters. Yet, of all the people whose careers got tarnished, we can’t help but wonder if Sammy Sosa took the biggest fall of them all.

Barry Bonds may be the man most synonymous with power in the Steroids Era, but it was Sammy Sosa who was the period’s most consistent Home Run Threat. “Slammin” Sammy belted 50 plus homers in four straight seasons and had nine consecutive 100 RBI campaigns. He was popular with the fans and the media, and seemingly never saw a camera he couldn’t smile into.

Things changed drastically upon the Steroids Trial. “Slammin” became “Surly”, and he forgot the English language when questioned by Congress. As fans poured through the inflated statistics, they would notice that unlike Bonds, McGwire and Clemens, Sosa did not have the same amount and quality of productive seasons prior to allegedly taking PEDs. Sosa became instantly unlikable, and the once media darling, became one of its many pariahs.

Like other entries, should Major League Baseball classify the late 90’s/early 00’s as an “era”, Sammy Sosa would have a legitimate shot, as he was one of the game’s top offensive producers. Somehow, we don’t think that will happen, and if it does Sosa will still struggle to gain Hall of Fame admittance.
  

Should Sammy Sosa be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 37.9%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 7.6%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 4.1%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 50.3%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
  • Eligible In: Sunday, 01 January 2012
  • Position: Outfield
  • Played For: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers
  • Major Accolades and Awards: MVP (1) (NL) (1998)
    TSN Major League Player of the Year (1) (1998)
    Roberto Clemente Award (1) (NL) (1998)
    Hank Aaron Award (1) (NL) (1998)
    All-Star (7) (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2004)
    Silver Slugger (6) (NL) (1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2002)
    Most Runs Scored (3) (NL) (1998, 2001 & 2002)
    Most Total Bases (3) (NL) (1998, 1999 & 2001)
    Most Home Runs (2) (NL) (2000 & 2002)
    Most Runs Batted In (2) (NL) (1998 & 2001)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1) (NL) (1999)
    Most Intentional Walks (1) (NL) (2001)
    Highest Power-Speed # (1) (NL) (1995)
    Most Outs Made (1) (NL) (1997)
    Most Putouts by a Rightfielder (3) (AL) (1990) (NL) (1995 & 2001)
    Most Assists by a Rightfielder (2) (NL) (1995 & 1997)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Rightfielder (1) (NL) (1995)
    Most Double Plays Turned by an Outfielder (1) (NL) (1995)
    Most Total Zone Runs Turned by a Rightfielder (4) (AL) (1991) (NL) (1995, 1996 & 1997)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Rightfielder (3) (NL) (1995, 1998 & 1999)
    Most Total Zone Runs by an Outfielder (3) (NL) (1995, 1998 & 1999)
  • Other Points of Note: Other Top Ten MVP Finishes: (Won the 1998 NL MVP)
    (NL: 1995, 8th), (NL: 1999, 9th), (NL: 2000, 9th), (NL: 2001, 2nd),(NL: 2002, 9th), & (NL: 2003, 8th)
    3   Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    5   Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    3   Top Ten Finishes (Defensive bWAR)
    1   Top Ten Finish (Batting Average)
    1   Top Ten Finish (On Base Percentage)
    7   Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
    5   Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    5   Top Ten FInishes (OPS+)
    4   Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    3   Top Ten Finishes (Most Hits)
    9   Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    2   Top Ten Finishes (Triples)
    11 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
    7   Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    2   Top Ten Finish (Walks)
    2   Top Ten Finishes (Stolen Bases)
    6   Top Ten Finishes (Extra Base Hits)
    7   Top Ten Finishes (Power-Speed #)
    4   Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    3   Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
    5   Top Ten Finishes (Total Zone Runs)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 7.     Putouts by a Rightfielder: 4,017 
    8.     Total Zone Runs by a Rightfielder: 105
    9.     Home Runs: 609
    12.   Power-Speed #: 338.1
    19.   Total Zone Runs by an Outfielder: 105
    31.   Runs Batted In: 1,667
    31.   Assists by a Rightfielder: 127
    32.   Extra Base Hits: 1,033
    33.   Range Factor per Game by a Rightfielder: 2.06
    40.   Total Bases: 4,704
    42.   Putouts by an Outfielder: 4,522
    45.   Slugging Percentage: .534
    48.   Intentional Walks: 154
    51.   Total Zone Runs: 105
    64.   Double Plays Turned by a Rightfielder: 23
    70.   Outs Made: 6,809
    79.   Runs Scored: 1,475
    87.   At Bats: 8,813
    92.   Plate Appearances: 9.896
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame: 2013: 12.5%
    2014: 7.2%
    2015: 6.6%
    2016: 7.0%
    2017: 8.6%
    2018: 7.8%
    2019: 8.5%
    2020: 13.9%
    2021: 17.0%
  • Should be Inducted As A: Chicago Cub

Should Sammy Sosa be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 37.9%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 7.6%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 4.1%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 50.3%
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