Mel Ott

Sammy Sosa had 108 RBIs in 2002, the eighth straight year he drove in 100 or more runs. In doing so, he tied the NL record, held by Willie Mays (1959-66) and Mel Ott (1936-42).

Your article on the Vecsey brothers shows that putting ego, money and self-promotion ahead of family is not restricted to the millionaire athletes they cover.—CHRIS MANCUSO, Philadelphia

When the recently installed Bishop Stanley Ott of Baton Rouge designed his personal coat of arms, he included a small baseball because he's a fan—and a second cousin of Hall of Famer Mel Ott.

WILLIE McCOVEY: San Francisco's 41-year-old slugger smashed two home runs—the 511th and 512th of his career—which boosted him past Mel Ott as the National League's alltime lefthand-hitting home-run champion.