The crack of the bat. The roar of a crowd. A few hops as he headed down the first base line. This scene played out time and time again over the years. Chicago Cubs became synonymous with Sammy Sosa and vice versa. In 1998, the slugging outfielder played a huge role in perhaps saving baseball in the Great Home Run Chase.
At that point, few doubted that someday, his number would be retired, the Cubs would erect a statue outside the Friendly Confines and he’d punch a ticket to Cooperstown. But, as we know know, this story plays out in a very different way.