Sammy Sosa: An Autobiography (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Marcos Bretón (Author) "People always ask me how I stay in shape over the winter when I'm home in my country, the Dominican Republic..." (more)
Key Phrases: home run number, hitting coach, disabled list, San Pedro, White Sox, Santo Domingo (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What separates Sosa from the mainstream of sports star bios is the likability and exuberance of the subject and the form in which it was written. Cast as an oral history, Sosa lets Sammy's voice--as well as those of his family, friends, and some important coaches--come through, and juxtaposed voices can make for some interesting observations.

Sosa, of course, needs no introduction. Born in poverty in the Dominican baseball incubator of San Pedro de Macoris, he seemed destined to be just another good, solid journeyman ballplayer, a guy who could post eye-catching numbers and not hurt you too much in the field. Then came the miracles of 1998 and '99, back-to-back seasons of 66 and 63 taters with 158 and 143 RBIs, an MVP award, and the affection of fans everywhere. What happened?

Sosa works best as it answers that, creating almost a dialogue between Sosa and Jeff Pentland, whom the Cubs elevated to Major League hitting coach midway through Sammy's and the team's disappointing 1997. Pentland took a hard look at Sosa and saw the untapped talent. "The two things that really stood out were his attitude and his aggressiveness," he says. "I've always felt as a coach the more aggressive the player is, the better, because it's your job as a teacher to harness that aggression to where it's productive. At that point, Sammy was aggressive, but wildly aggressive." From there on, it's pretty much Sosa and Pentland, and through their exchanges we can see how and why the new hitter in Sammy emerges. It's good baseball analysis--technical, anecdotal, and brimming with the excitement and pride of Sammy's remarkable achievements. When Sosa tries to pull biographical heartstrings, it's soppy and sentimental; when it sticks to baseball, it's as crisp as the crack of the bat. --Jeff Silverman

Product Description

" How did Sammy Sosa, who never played an inning of organized baseball until he was fourteen, go from a life of crushing poverty to superstardom in the major leagues? In SOSA, Sammy tells his story in his own words. The result is a moving, intimate chronicle of a man whose charisma, joy, and sportsmanship-combined with awesome talent-make him a favorite of baseball fans everywhere, an unsurpassed hero in his homeland, and a true international ambassador of the game.

Here Sammy sets the record straight and reveals the forces that shaped him as a human being. We read about a boy who, after his father's death, must drop out of school to help put food on his family's table. We meet the American businessman who bought Sammy his first baseball glove and knew that Sammy's work ethic and determination would be the key to his success. We watch Sammy's numerous attempts to get signed to a pro contract, with one rejection after another. And when he finally gets his break, we follow Sammy as he leaves behind his tearful mother to become a rookie speaking only Spanish in the lowest levels of the American minor leagues.

Sammy's first years in the big leagues were exciting seasons. His eagerness to succeed made him an impatient hitter, and here, for the first time, he tells the inside story of his rise to stardom...a journey that culminated in his hypercharged slugging battle with Mark McGwire in 1998, when his simple love of baseball captured the hearts of fans and nonfans alike. A story of courage, generosity, and humility, SOSA is the autobiography of a man who transcends his game."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (May 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527351
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527354
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,542,430 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lovely, inspiring little book about a Big Man in Baseball., May 29, 2000

By	TundraVision (o/~ from the Land of Sky Blue Waters o/~) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The subtitle of this book is "an Autobiography." Yet in the last pages, in the last sentence of the "Author's Note," it says that "All interviews with Sammy Sosa were conducted in Spanish and translated into English." So what we really have here is a book with the inherent pro-subject slant of any AUTObiography coupled with the biases and outlook of the true author, Marcos Bret`on. A lot of time is spent detailing the claimed biases against what they (Sammy and/or the author) call "Latin players" by which they mean any ball player coming from outside the USA (they include Puerto Ricans in this group) who speaks Spanish as his first language.

Breton concludes that: "Sosa became a living antidote to baseball's recent poisonous past, in particular the 1994 baseball strike that canceled the World Series. And in the process, Sosa developed an appeal that extended beyond his sport." "Plainly stated, Sosa sells in Peoria, and everywhere else."

This book recounts a modern Horatio Alger tale: Sammy's impoverished origins in the Dominican Republic to the American icon he is today. The chronological narrative is carried along in many voices: Sammy/Breton, Sammy's friends, mentors, relatives, and coaches. Sammy and all his brothers and sisters grew up in "a one-bedroom house with dirt floors and no indoor plumbing." ... and he would "practice on my street by hitting dried husks of maize again and again." "So many Dominican prospects like Sammy are malnourished by the time they reach their teens that they haven't developed physically yet."

"Asked early in 2000 about his biggest regret, Texas Governor and presidential hopeful George W. Bush - formerly managing partner of the Texas Rangers - said "My biggest mistake was trading Sammy Sosa."

The book lets long-suffering Cub fans re-live that magical 1998 season after Sammy first pays proper deference: "That spring of 1998 was a very sad time for all Chicago. Our community lost one of our favorites - my beloved friend Harry Caray. Harry helped me so much. He was such a good person to me. ... he was just one of those special people, and I know he is with God now. We all mourned his loss. And so before the start of the 1998 season, I decided I would dedicate it to him. Every time I hit a homer, I would be hitting it for Harry - and for Mama, of course."

The book concludes with the for-the-Cubs-normal season of 1999. After that, us "maybe next year" Cub stalwarts can all give another listen to Steve Goodman's wry anthem "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request." [on the No Big Surprise CD.]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Latino Hero, November 30, 2002

By	Bert Ruiz "Author" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sammy Sosa is arguably the greatest Latino player in major league baseball. His magnificent 1998 home run race with Mark McGwire captivated the nation. Afterwards he was invited to the White House and made a special Ambassador to his native country, the Dominican Republic. However, what few people know is how hard Sammy Sosa worked to reach stardom.

"Sosa an Autogiography," is a special story. In fact, it is inspiring. Sammy Sosa grew up poor. He was skinny and initially wanted to be a boxer. However, his talent for baseball came out from urging of his older brother and the support of his devoted mother.

Co-author Marcos Bretón details the early years of Sosa's early major league career in Texas and then with the Chicago White Sox. It was a difficult time for Sosa, going up and down from the major and minor leagues. Nevertheless, Sosa worked hard and never lost hope. The trade to the Cubs and his rise to stardom was the result of a strong dedication to excellence.

Perhaps, the greatest part of this book is Sosa's loyalty to his family, the people of the Dominican Republic, and the fans of the Chicago Cubs. Although Sosa has reached great heights he still wants the fame that is associated with winning the World Series. This is a great book for kids and adults alike...the bottom line is "hard work works."

4.0 out of 5 stars Five years ago, this would have been much more enjoyable to read, March 31, 2009

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

There was a time when Sammy Sosa was one of the most popular sports figures in the nation. His enthusiasm, skills at the plate and signature hop after hitting a home run were all endearing characteristics. His story of rising from extreme poverty in the Dominican Republic to one of the greatest all-time home run hitters was inspiring. This book was published in 2000, when Sosa was at the height of his fame.
A few years later, he was found to be using a corked bat in a game, and he claimed that he used it by accident. This caused him to be suspended and there was talk of his being a source of dissension on the Cubs. The final event in his role as a Cub occurred on the last day of the 2004 season, when Sosa requested that he be allowed to sit out the game. When he left the ballpark early, he was wildly criticized and the Cubs traded him to the Baltimore Orioles the subsequent winter. While he played a few more seasons, his decline in performance was dramatic. There were also later charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs.
This autobiography of Sosa also includes snippets from important people in his life and shows him at his peak, in terms of skills and popularity. In his prime, he was an extremely positive role model, which is how he is depicted in this book. Given what has happened to Sosa in the subsequent years, it was a bit saddening to read once again what he once was.