Sosa Ties McGwire's Home Run Record, Changes Baseball History
Sammy Sosa's 62nd home run of the season marked a historic moment in baseball, tying Mark McGwire's record and cementing Sosa's place in the sport's annals. On a sunny afternoon at Wrigley Field, Sosa hit two powerful home runs, including a 480-foot shot in the fifth inning and another 480-foot homer in the ninth, to surpass Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs, a mark that had stood for 37 years. The victory came in an 11-10, 10-inning game against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Sosa's teammates and fans celebrating in a frenzy of cheers and paper cups.
Key Takeaways:
- Sammy Sosa hit two home runs, tying Mark McGwire's record of 62 home runs in a single season.
- Sosa's 62nd home run record ties Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs, a mark that had stood for 37 years.
- Sosa trails McGwire by only two weeks in the quest for the most treasured record in baseball, with both players having two weeks left to break the record.
- The Cubs' 11-10, 10-inning victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday capped an unforgettable afternoon at Wrigley Field.
- Sosa's teammate, Randy Maris, son of Roger Maris, called Sosa to congratulate him on his achievement.
- Commissioner Bud Selig and the Rev. Jesse Jackson also congratulated Sosa on his historic milestone.
- Sosa's achievement has been dubbed "the greatest home run derby of all time" by the media and fans.
Statistics:
- Sosa's 62nd home run of the season tied McGwire's record of 62 home runs in a single season.
- Sosa hit two massive home runs, with both shots measuring 480 feet, to surpass Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs.
- The Cubs' victory over the Brewers came in an 11-10, 10-inning game, with Sosa's home runs accounting for four of the team's 11 runs.
- Sosa's teammates and fans celebrated the historic moment with cheers, paper cups, and six minutes of chanting "Sam-mee! Sam-mee!"
Sources:
- Associated Press, June [no date given]
- Mark A. Duncan / Associated Press (photographer)
- Rick Gano, Associated Press (author)
- The Chicago Tribune ( implied, as the article was sourced from the AP and shared through this publication)