Sammy's historic hop
Sosa burns his old team to join exclusive 600-homer club and help Rangers beat the Cubs
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Gone.
The familiar swing, familiar crack and all-too-familiar home-run hop -- and just like that, the line drive off Slammin' Sammy's bat rose toward the night sky and dropped behind the wall in right-center field.
The familiar swing, familiar crack and all-too-familiar home-run hop -- and just like that, the line drive off Slammin' Sammy's bat rose toward the night sky and dropped behind the wall in right-center field.
No. 600 in a storied career that rose for 13 seasons at Wrigley Field and fell ingloriously three years ago came on a 1-2 pitch from Jason Marquis -- the guy who wears the No. 21 Sammy Sosa feels the Cubs should have retired -- in the fifth inning of the Texas Rangers' 7-3 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday night.
(AP)
(AP)
PHOTO GALLERY
Sosa hits 600 vs Cubs
No. 600 in a storied career that rose for 13 seasons at Wrigley Field and fell ingloriously three years ago came on a 1-2 pitch from Jason Marquis -- the guy who wears the No. 21 Sammy Sosa feels the Cubs should have retired -- in the fifth inning of the Texas Rangers' 7-3 victory over the Cubs on Wednesday night.
''Oh, Lord, it's something that cannot be explained,'' Sosa said after becoming the fifth player in major-league history -- and first foreign-born player -- to hit 600 homers. ''It's something that's so proud, not only to myself, but to all the people behind me. And hitting my 600th against the Chicago Cubs. The first team that I started with was the Texas Rangers. It was like everything clicked.
''I'm never going to forget this night. Tonight is something that gives me a lot of joy.''
With flashbulbs popping, one night after he struck out three times trying to get the milestone, Sosa delivered a 395-foot opposite-field shot into the home bullpen.
A perfect ending for a day of dramatic departures for the Cubs.
''No matter what happens, all my legacy was in Chicago,'' said Sosa, who waved at the Cubs' dugout as he rounded the bases. ''I spent 13 years with Chicago and put up some beautiful numbers. No matter where I play, if I play against the Chicago Cubs, they will root for me.''
Still making Cubs history, Sosa tapped his heart and blew his kiss as he headed home on his home-run trot -- as he had 599 times before -- while 37,564 who had risen with the flight of the ball remained on their feet in continuous ovation.
He took two curtain calls before the crowd finally settled to allow the game to continue.
''It was a good moment. He's done something not too many players in baseball have ever done,'' Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. ''I wish he'd done it in a losing effort, but it's a tremendous feat and he should enjoy the moment.''
It was a moment that looked like it might never come when Sosa fell out of favor in Chicago -- ducking out of the ballpark during the final game of the 2004 season and getting traded in the offseason -- then fell off the map statistically, amid steroid rumors, before leaving the game after the 2005 season.
''I don't think he went out on the terms that he would have liked to,'' Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee said. ''There were some situations that happened that kind of didn't look good, but overall, I think Cubs fans still respect him for everything he gave to the city, and I think at some point they'll forgive him.''
Whether he ever is embraced at Wrigley Field again the way he was in his heyday, Sosa said that for at least a moment Wednesday night, it felt like 1998 again.
''It was pretty much the same, a very great day,'' he said. ''To be coming a long way and doing that and getting all the support I'm getting is unexplainable.''
As unexplainable as baseball fate creating another moment in Cubs history for Sosa.
Gone. Not forgotten.