Back-to-back McGwire and Sosa linked again Click here for more on this story Posted: Monday July 12, 1999 08:51 PM   I love you, man: Sammy Sosa (right) and Mark McGwire will be working together, batting third and fourth for the NL. AP NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa spent most of last season making home run history together. Now they will be side-by-side in the same lineup for the first time Tuesday. NL manager Bruce Bochy put baseball's two biggest sluggers back-to-back in his lineup for Tuesday's All-Star game, with Sosa batting third, followed by McGwire. "It's an honor for me to be together with Mark again and play," Sosa said after the lineup was released Monday. Last year, the two energized the entire sport with their chase of Roger Maris' home run record. McGwire hit his 61st and 62nd homers -- tying and passing Maris -- with Sosa in attendance. All-Star Preview Special CNN/SI-TV presents an All-Star Preview Special this Tuesday, July 13 at Noon ET. Baseball legend Ozzie Smith and Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci will join CNN/SI anchor Bob Lorenz live from Boston's Fenway Park. Network coverage from Boston will run Sunday through Wednesday with in-depth reports, interviews, analysis and live press conferences.   "With everything that we did last year, it will be great for everyone who loves baseball," said Sosa, who missed last year's All-Star game with an injured shoulder. McGwire might have won last year's home run race -- outdistancing Sosa 70-66 -- but Sosa won the love of the fans, who made him the NL's leading vote-getter. "Last year was the year that everybody recognized me the way I was supposed to be recognized," Sosa said. "This year I am the leader in votes. That shows the appreciation there." Sosa has the midway lead in homers this year, with a major league-best 32 at the All-Star break. McGwire is four back, tied for second in the NL. The exploits of the two sluggers has even gotten their fellow teammates this week star struck. Many of the 23 first-time All-Stars said one of their goals this week was to get autographed baseballs from McGwire and Sosa. Even Ken Griffey Jr., with 56 homers each of the last two seasons, appreciated their accomplishments. "Every time you turned on the TV, somebody was getting excited," Griffey said. "I think it was a lot of fun not only for myself to watch but for all of baseball."   Related information Stories Pedro and Boston: A love affair All-Star Day at a Glance: Suffering from expo-sure Stats Home Run Leaders Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.