When PMayo first suggested doing a series of posts about our favorite memories of Sammy Sosa, like many of you I immediately thought about the home runs.  I’m going to be doing more than one of these today and I think it’s important we remember that Sammy Sosa was a 5-tool player when he was young.  He was the young superstar talent that this team had really needed.  And in Sammy’s first full season with the Cubs in 1993 he delivered.  He only played in 67 games in his first season with the Cubs the year before.  He played in 159 in 1993.

The first thing I remembered besides the home runs was the game on July 2, 1993 at Colorado in which Sammy went 6-6.  5 of those hits were singles and the other a double.  Part of the reason I remembered this game was that Sosa had 3 stolen bases.

Sosa didn’t have a great 1993.  He hit only .261/.309/.485.  The slugging was very good.  Not so much for the OBP.  Sosa was 24 years old and despite the low OBP he hit 33 home runs, 25 doubles, and 5 triples.  He had 290 total bases.  He also stole 36 bases that year.  It was one of only 3 years in which he stole 30 bags or more. 

In that July 2 game, Sosa also stole 3 bases.  The Cubs scored 11 runs on 21 hits that game so there was offense all over.  Sandberg had 3 hits.  Grace added a couple as did Steve Buechele and Steve Lake added 3 hits of his own.  But 6-6?  That’s something else.  That’s a game to remember and I always have.

In the 1st inning, Sosa hit a groundball double to LF driving in Mark Grace.  He promptly stole 3rd.  In the 3rd inning Sosa hit a line drive single to LF.  Sosa singled and stole a base in the 5th and 6th innings.  Sosa then singled again in the 7th and 9th innings (caught stealing in the 9th). 

Later that year at home against the Dodgers in late September, Sosa went 2-3 with a walk and a hit by pitch.  He stole 4 bases that game.  Sosa was hit by a pitch in the 4th inning and stole 2nd base.  He walked in the 5th and stole 2nd.  He singled in the 7th and stole 2nd.  And in the 8th he singled and stole 2nd. 

At this time of Sosa’s career he wasn’t only a threat at the plate, but also on the bases.  He was a complete player.  It was a lot of fun to watch and I’m thankful I got to see it.