Samuel Sosa is born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. One of five
brothers and two sisters, he works in the streets of San Pedro as a child, selling
oranges for the equivalent of a dime and shining shoes for 25 cents.
1983
Sosa plays organized baseball for the first time at age 14. Scouts came sniffing
like bloodhounds on a hunt.
1984
The Philadelphia Phillies sign the 15-year old outfielder, but the deal is nullified
by baseball officials because he is under 16. "I did not care who I signed with,"
Sosa later said. "I only cared about signing and playing."
July 30, 1985
Sosa has been working out at the Toronto Blue Jays' camp, but Texas Rangers
scout Omar Minaya talks Sosa into signing with his club. "It's very aggressive
down there," says Minaya, putting it mildly. Sosa receives a $3,500 signing
bonus. He gives it all to his mother, Lucrecia, except for a small amount which he
spends on his first bicycle.
1986-1988
Although his talent is raw, Sosa's path through the minor leagues is meteoric.
Highlights include: 11 home runs and 22 steals at Class A Gastonia, N.C., in
1987, and 12 triples with 42 swipes at Class A Port Charlotte in 1988.
June 16, 1989
With a .297 batting average, seven HRs, 31 RBI and 16 steals in 66 games at
Double-A Tulsa, Sosa is promoted to the Rangers. At 20 years, seven months,
Sosa becomes the youngest Dominican to suit up in the majors. He goes 2-for-4
with a double against the New York Yankees in his first game.
July 20, 1989
Sosa hits .238 in 25 games with Texas and receives a
return ticket to the minors. He homered off Roger Clemens
and had four hits in one game, but also struck out 20 times
and didn't draw a walk or steal a base in his brief stay. "It's
something that happens in baseball," Sosa said of his first
demotion. "[But] I was ready. I've been ready all my life."
July 29, 1989
Sosa begins to rack up the frequent-flyer miles. He has barely unpacked his bags
at Triple-A Oklahoma City when Texas ships him, along with pitcher Wilson
Alvarez and second baseman Scott Fletcher, to the Chicago White Sox for
slugger Harold Baines and infielder Fred Manrique. On Aug. 22, after three more
weeks in the minors, Sosa makes an auspicious Chicago debut. He goes 3-for-3
with a two-run homer in his first game in right field for the White Sox.
1990
Sosa grew up in what could loosely be termed a house-it
was actually a small section of an abandoned hospital.
Thanks to his major league salary, Sammy's family moves
into a real house in San Pedro de Macoris. It boasts a small
television and, for the first time, the family purchases a
telephone.
July 19, 1991
After two homers and five RBIs against Baltimore on Opening Day, Sosa went into
a colossal slump. On this date, with his average hovering at the Mendoza line
(.200), Sosa is banished to Triple-A Vancouver. He will be recalled Aug. 27 to
finish the season with a .203 average, 10 HRs and 33 RBI-along with 98 Ks in
116 games.
