Chicago Hockey Insider has no direct affiliation to the Chicago Blackhawks, NHL or NHLPA
Former Chicago Cubs Legend Sammy Sosa Addresses PED Rumors
Photo credit: Marquee Sports Network
The Chicago Cubs Sammy Sosa spent the majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs, there were allegations of PEDs used during the 1998 season and the homerun record chase.
The 1998 season was magical as the Cubs' lead slugger Sammy Sosa captured our imagination, trying to beat Roger Maris' 61 home runs in a season.
Both McGwire and Sosa will surpass the record consecutively, and Sosa will have 66 home runs by the season's end.
Later, the record would be tainted allegations of PED usage, which Sosa was asked about to this day.
The season-long chase culminated on September 8, 1998, when McGwire, facing Sosa and the Cubs, hit his 62nd home run of the season to break the record. McGwire finished the season with 70 home runs, while Sosa finished with 66. The 1998 home run record chase, as well the previous year's pursuit of the record, was widely credited by sports analysts with restoring interest in MLB among its fan base following the 1994 strike that resulted in that season prematurely ending and the cancellation of the 1994 World Series. McGwire's record was later broken in 2001 by Barry Bonds, who hit 73 home runs.
The home run competition would be heavily advertised to increase viewership and the MLB fanbase which declined after the 1994 strike.
While Sammy Sosa's Cubs would never win a World Series, the chase in itself was a piece of MLB history that will live in infamy, and in the minds of those who experienced it in real-time.
Sosa's ambivalent nature when about the usage of PEDs leaves us wondering if he has truly learned from the consequences of his actions.
«This is um like I say um,» Sosa stumbled. «This is not a question I expected from you. This is not an interview that I'm really going to sit down with you, you know, for you to come out, you know, with that piece right now. But like I said, I'm a mature man. I feel great. And let's see what happens.»
Compared to someone like Jose Canseco who blew the top off of the topic and named names.
It's a shame he'll never be able to live this one down for all of our sakes.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 19 | 142 ANSWERS Former Chicago Cubs Legend Sammy Sosa Addresses PED Rumors Do you think right-fielder Sammy Sosa used PEDs during his time with the Chicago Cubs? | ||
| Yes | 132 | 93 % |
| No | 10 | 7 % |
| List of polls | ||
