Ex-Cubs star Sammy Sosa faces ‘roadblock’ to get again into good graces of workforce, Hall of Famer says

Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire set the summer time of 1998 on hearth with an epic home-run chase that noticed the St. Louis Cardinals slugger finally break Roger Maris’ file for many dingers in a single season with 70 whereas the Chicago Cubs outfielder hit 66.

Sosa would hit 60 or extra house runs thrice in his profession and gained the National League MVP in 1998 regardless of not main the league in homers.

Former Cubs participant Ryne Sandberg waves earlier than throwing out a ceremonial first pitch earlier than the National League Championship Series recreation between Los Angeles and Chicago at Wrigley Field on Oct. 18, 2017.
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It’s what got here after that tarnished Sosa’s fame. Sosa used a corked bat in a recreation in 2003 and was wrapped up in Major League Baseball’s steroids scandal, although he maintained he by no means used “unlawful performance-enhancing medicine” whereas he performed.

Ryne Sandberg spoke briefly about Sosa’s standing with the group. Sandberg will likely be receiving a statue outdoors Wrigley Field in the summertime of 2004. The Hall of Fame second baseman advised ESPN he supported the group’s choice to not immortalize Sosa in the identical method.

5-TIME ALL-STAR RETURNING TO TEAM WITH WHICH HE WON MVP: ‘WHERE IT ALL BEGAN’

Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs throughout their 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in recreation 3 of the NLDS at Wrigley Field.
(Dilip Vishwanat/Sporting News by way of Getty Images by way of Getty Images)

“For me, taking part in the sport the precise manner, with respect, was at all times what I used to be taught within the minor leagues,” Sandberg advised the outlet. “That was my Hall of Fame speech. I believe I stated it 28 instances. And there was just a little downside with the way in which that Sammy performed the sport. If that is a roadblock, that is a roadblock.”

Sosa was on the Baseball Writers Association of America poll for his entry to Cooperstown in 2022 – his tenth and closing yr on that poll. He acquired 18.5% of the vote. Any potential new inductees want at the very least 75% of the vote to get into the Hall of Fame.

Current Hall of Famers might find yourself voting Sosa in however he’s not eligible for that till 2024.

Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa strikes out within the fifth inning in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.
(John Zich/AFP by way of Getty Images)

Sosa performed 18 years within the majors. He hit 609 house runs with 1,667 RBI.