Sosa keeping hope alive in hometown
Posted: Wednesday September 16, 1998 08:26 PM
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Sosa has become more than just a national hero to the residents of the Dominican Republic AP |
SAN PEDRO DE MACORIS, Dominican Republic (AP) -- This is where the
fantasy begins, the town that produced so many major leaguers. And for
local kids with a glove and a bat, inspiration comes nightly on TV as they
watch one of their own -- slugger Sammy Sosa.
"He's our hope," said Jose Richardson, caressing a baseball bat Tuesday
night as he waited in vain for Sosa to hit home run No. 63. "When we see
what Sammy has done, things seem possible."
Against the San Diego
Padres, Sosa went 1-for-5 on Tuesday, a night after striking out four
times, and again trailed Mark McGwire in
the chase for the single-season home run record.
But in the town where he once shined shoes and now owns a mall, Sosa's
still No. 1.
San Pedro de Macoris overflows with dreams of baseball greatness. U.S.
and Japanese teams run a dozen baseball camps here, and players like Mariano
Duncan, Julio Franco,
Jose
Offerman and Joaquin Andujar all played on the ragged diamonds.
It seems almost everyone has a relative trying to make it big in
baseball.
Jose's 18-year-old brother Miguel has gotten further than most: He plays
outfield for the Florida Marlins'
Dominican farm team, earning $175 a week during the three-month season. His
signing bonus was $7,500 -- about three years' average wages in the
Dominican Republic. During the off-season, he practices full time.
In his bedroom, Miguel has "21" -- Sosa's number with the Chicago Cubs -- stenciled
on the wall near a picture of his grandparents. A baseball bat props the
window open.
Jose, 19, is still trying to win a contract himself. His friend,
19-year-old Frank Ramirez, is a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles'
farm team.
The Richardsons live with their mother in a cramped house on a dirt
street a few blocks from Plaza 30-30, a small shopping center that Sosa
built a few years ago. There's a statue of him in the courtyard and a
disco, Sammy's Hit Club, that has seen business soar since Sosa's streak
began.
In the nearby Papi Sports Bar, the talk was of ERAs, RBIs and other
baseball lore.
As they watched Sosa swing and miss on the flickering screen, locals
recalled the young boy who once shined shoes to help support a poor family,
and then worked in a clothing factory.
"Sammy had it hard," said Mauricio Castellano, a cook. "Whatever they pay
him up there -- he's earned it down here."
"Sammy is our inspiration," chimed in Luis Santana, 23, who works for a
flour factory. "Just one more reason to keep hope that someday, somebody
else in this town will make it big."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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