Throughout his career, Sammy Sosa has maintained several titles, some of which are listed below. In 2009, Sosa once again found himself in the midst of a drug-use scandal. He absolutely loved baseball, and he had a natural talent for the game. Unfortunately, the former player did not have a spectacular career with the Orioles. Click through the gallery above to check out Sammys momentous career and transformation over the years! if(diff <= 999) { Sammy Sosa hits a 2-run home run on top of the TV tower in center field to give Cubs a 5-0 lead in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Marlins on Oct. 8, 2003. In a 2009 interview withUnivision,Sammy offered the following explanation: Its a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some. abs_diff -= count * seconds[display[i]]; While many speculated that his lightening skin color was the result of steroid abuse . How old is Sammy Sosa now? }; His change in appearance has been the subject of questions for a while, and the scrutiny has increased this weekend in response toESPN releasinga documentary about his prolific 1998 summer on the baseball diamond. As a rookie with the 1990 White Sox, Sosa would regularly sign autographs in person and through the mail. Sammy Sosa: An Autobiography by Sammy Sosa | Goodreads Should Sammy Sosa be in baseball's Hall of Fame? - Axios Contact us if you know something. He would take gigs like selling oranges on the street, or shining shoes, to help the family make ends meet. Based on information available to us, Sammy Sosa had at least few relationships prior to dating . But that hasn't happened and it might never happen. CHARLES CHERNEY / CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Former Chicago Cubs Star Outfielder Sammy Sosa (Source: thecoldwire.com). Sammy Sosa is the proud father of six children, including Sammy Jr., Keysha, Michael, Kenia, Kalexy, and Ronaldo, who he shares with wife Sonia Rodriguez. While its usually easy to find out who is Sammy Sosa dating, it is harder to keep track of all his hookups and exes, however that may not always be the case. I loved the Dominican outfielder's unique batting stance and emulated it at home plate. Born black, today, Sosa has a whiter complexion. } else { After all the transformation is rather striking as you can see for yourself. I have been tested as recently as 2004, and I am clean.. In his career as a Major League Baseball player, which spanned from 1989 to 2007, Sammy Sosa earned over $120 million in compensation. who starts singing the blues, talking in an exaggerated African-American dialect, eats chitlins, and uses Royal Crown pomade in his hair. Sosa remained a strong hitter for the next six seasons with the Cubs, but he started to encounter some problems in 2003. Sammy Sosa, 51, is considered one of the greatest professional baseball players in the history of the sport and hes had quite the transformation from beginning to end. 1990 Coca-Cola White Sox Sammy Sosa #23 rookie card is a valuable card with a limited supply. } Samuel played in the MLB for almost 18 years of his life. It doesnt affect him, but Im sure he feels a certain way, the caring son told the outlet. Heres How It Can Help You Nab Your Next Job. if(! Sammy Sosa's legacy: persona non grata? - lavidabaseball.com The pair wed in 1992 and renewed their vows in 2004. Sosa didnt have many offers to play for a significant team. if(abs_diff > seconds[display[i]] || show_zero) { Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Once the pale and smiling Sosa was spotted at the Grammy Latino Awards ceremony in Las Vegas, fans had different opinions. Moreover, he has an athletic build body as he regularly hits the gym and eats a balanced diet. Sammy Sosa Face: Skin Bleaching Cream Use Revealed - LALATE Slammin Sammy Looking Frustrated After Losing The Game (Source:www.mlb.com). Sammy Sosa no longer looks like he did during the 1990s when he battled Mark McGwire for home run supremacy. In addition, his endorsements alone netted him almost $10 million. He finished the year with a .308 batting average and 66 home runs, earning him the National Leagues Most Valuable Player award. 30 For 30: Long Gone Summer on ESPN brings back the rivalry into the spotlight. if(!expire) { Sammy Sosa | Popularity. His family lived in an abandoned hospital while Sosa used to polish shoes, sell oranges, and work as a janitor in a shoe factory to contribute financially and help his mother run the household. He earned around $120 million solely from his MLB salary. Drug test results from 2003 found Sammy guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs. Sosa didn't have the most comfortable early life. Sammy has continuously emphasized that he does not want his legacy to be remembered as a baseball steroids scandal. As a child, Sosa worked at a number of jobs, including shining shoes, to help support his family following his fathers death. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. After winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award after his attempt to break the home run record in 1998, he went on to making his mark and winning many more prestigious awards. White Like Me - TV Tropes When questioned why his skin is a lot whiter than what it used to be, Sosa said he uses a bleaching cream that is soft on his skin. The 54-year-old Dominican baseball player is married to . Related: You have entered an incorrect email address! Her unique and creative name made headlines when she was born but shes been kept under wraps most of the time. What is Sammy Sosa Doing Now And Why Did He Turn White? The majority of Dominicans (about 73%) are multiracial while the reminder are of mostly/fully European (16%) and mostly/fully African (11%) descent. Sammy is married to dancer Sonia Rodrguez, with whom he has six children. var diff = increment * (today - start2); Corrections? Sammy Sosa: Cubs 'Threw Me into the Fire' - Chicago Magazine Sammy Sosa is in a relationship with . He had dozens of endorsement deals, some million-dollar deals with brands like PepsiCo, Montgomery Ward, Latin American telco TriCom, etc. He broke his nose in 1979 and had several nose jobs because the first one was botched, making it difficult for him to breathe (if you sing and dance, that's. He is a thoughtful, insightful, and timid young man. A few months earlier, Sosas old video of him sprinting to his position while holding an American flag was trending on Twitter, the Cubs first home game following the 9/11 attack. The former Cubs player was previously married to Karen Lee Bright in 1991. When I call somebody the first thing that I say is, Im not looking for a job. He had a compelling story, too. Sosa, born in the Dominican Republic, has a much whiter complexion than he did during his MLB career. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Celebrities & Notables Running the Boston Marathon, 7 Facts About Gymnast and TikTok Star Olivia Dunne, Nat Sweetwater Cliftons First NBA Season, 8 Negro League Legends Featured in a New MLB Game, Get to Know NCAA Tournament Star Caitlin Clark. Finally, on June 3, 2009, he announced his retirement from baseball. Contrast Black Like Me. Generally, a very hip black male pretends to be a very straight, lame white male. 1990 Bowman Tiffany Sammy Sosa #312 is a stylish card with a maximum sale price of $399. Social media went ablaze with memes ridiculing Sosas new complexion. Now, he could really support his family, by doing something that he loved. (McGwire later admitted to taking steroids and issued an apology.) They don't even look related to each other. Sammy Sosa is the youngest player to record 15 HR and 15 SB seasons in White Sox history. I earned that moniker because I took a liking to the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa. } 6 ft 0 inches, 165 lb (183 cm, 74 kg) Batting Hand. var display = ['day']; Sammy Sosa absolutely found himself in that position in the early 2000s, and he really has never fully recovered. He would play with the Cubs from 1992 until 2004. In only a few weeks, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. This is my life, and I dont take garbage from nobody. Though Sosa was a powerful hitter, he was also undisciplined: his strikeouts (174) outnumbered his hits (161) that year. According to Biography, In 1998, Sosa and the St. Louis Cardinals' Mark McGwire were head-to-head to beat Roger Maris's record of 61 home runs in a single season. if(diff > 0) { delimiter : '') + count.toLocaleString() + ' ' + display[i] + (count != 1 ? Nearly three years later, he made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers. Name: Sammy Sosa Birth Year: 1968 Birth date: November 12, 1968 Birth City: San Pedro de Marcoris Birth Country: Dominican Republic Gender: Male Best Known For: Sammy Sosa is a Dominican. if(! Sosa initially blamed his lighter skin on photographers and strong lights used on a red carpet. The amazing athlete, who retired in 2007, has had many memorable moments while out on the field, including his epic race with Mark McGwire to break Roger Maris 1961 single-season home run record for the Chicago Cubs in 1998, which is the focus of the new ESPN documentary, Long Gone Summer. Is Sammy Sosa single or dating? He began playing at the age of 14. Throughout Sosa's career, there remained a faction of teammates who rolled their eyes at his antic behavior and undisciplined style of play. The athlete made his MLB career debut with the Rangers on June 16, 1989. The former athlete is very involved in his childrens lives and is a loving and caring father to all six children. Why is Sammy Sosa important? - The Famous Celebrity The recent uptick in votes came after Sosa bottomed out at 6.6 percent in 2015, helping him stay above the 5-percent line for remaining on the ballot. ET. Updates? This is my life, and I dont take garbage from nobody. How many people has Sammy Sosa dated? In 1989 he made his professional debut but was soon traded to the Chicago White Sox. While it resolves the controversy surrounding Sosas skin, it is best to look beyond surface appearances and appreciate the legendary player for his skills. Sammy Sosa has made quite the impression in Major League Baseball after playing professionally for 19 seasons and now we're taking a look at his incredible transformation over the years.