Sammy Sosa: An Autobiography

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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

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

sosa.......2004-03-03

The book I read was Sosa and it was great.It was all about sammy Sosa and I think they did great job on an autobiography about him and telling what Sammy Sosa was like when he was a little guy,growing up. A professional athlete,it was amazing how he was a little kid to an adult. He is a great and this book was excellent. I also liked the pictures and the information that they have. I would recommend this book to others.

A Latino Hero.......2002-11-30

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."

A NICE LOOK AT A GOOD GUY.......2002-01-19

SOSA IS A BOOK ABOUT ONE OF GREATEST THE RAGS TO RICHES STORIES IN RECENT YEARS. SAMMY DOES A GOOD JOB TELLING OF HIS LIFE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS A CHILD AND TEENAGER. HE THEN GETS INTO HIS TREMENDOUS RISE TO ONE OF THE MOST FEARED SLUGGERS IN THE GAME TODAY. I ADMIRE HIS MODESTY, VALUES, CONFIDENCE, AND INNOCENCE. HIS LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER IS TRULY ADMIRABLE. SAMMY IS TRULY A GOOD PERSON AND A GREAT PLAYER. SAMMY HAS MANY VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT ARE TRULY NEEDED BY MOST OF TODAYS ATHLETES. SAMMY IS TRULY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN HIS ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE OF THE GAME. THE BOY IN SAMMY IS ALIVE AND KICKING. I ADMIRE SAMMY A LOT MORE NOW THAT I HAVE READ THIS BOOK. A MUST READ FOR ALL BASBALL FANS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED SOME GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY IN THEIR LIFE.

Poignant and powerful -- it's a human story.......2000-12-02

Sammy Sosa is not a robot. He, like you and me, is a fallible human being who is largely the product of his upbringing. In "Sosa: An Autobiography," readers have the opportunity to gain insights into not only Sammy Sosa and professional baseball, but the larger American culture and each of us. A superficial read of this book may leave some wanting more. And certainly there is more to tell. But Sammy's smart enough to know there's a time and there's a place. This book, at this time, is neither.

But to those who recognize the implications, there is plenty of meat: (1) Has baseball exploited Latin players? What should baseball be doing differently for them? (2) Should all players on a team -- all people in any organization -- be treated the same despite their different personalities, their different backgrounds, their different perceptions? (3) What is the value of trust, respect, fairness, honesty, loyalty?

Speaking as someone who spent five years as a Major League scout and 2O years coaching baseball, on a more baseball specific level, how can someone like Walt Hriniak be a Major League hitting coach and try to force everyone -- Sammy Sosa and Ozzie Guillen -- to hit the same way? Someone like that shouldn't be coaching baseball at ANY level. Why aren't all Major League coaches and managers as insightful as Cubs' hitting coach Jeff Pentland? As any excellent teacher or coach knows, whether you're teaching Shakespeare or the circle change, you're not teaching a curriculum, you're teaching people.

Reading Sammy's story allows the intelligent reader to see that Major League baseball is as political as Congress and just about as effective in dealing with real people. Sammy demonstrates that lack of trust and lack of respect will destroy any relationship, any organization. But mutual trust and respect will allow any relationship, any organization to thrive.

If you want everything spelled out for you, buy a dictionary. If you want something to think about, buy "Sosa: An Autobiography."

Great player, so-so storyteller.......2000-11-18

A quick and pleasant read (REAL quick if you skip the stats that comprise about thirty percent of the text). Autobiographies seem to fall into three categories: (1) "tell it all before someone else tells on you" (Billie Holiday's LADY SINGS THE BLUES), (2) "getting even with one's enemies" (Nancy Reagan's MY TURN), and (3) "Gee, I can't believe people pay me to do what I love" (Xaviera Hollander's THE HAPPY HOOKER).

Cynically, you could say there's a fourth category--the market-driven, "strike while the iron is hot" autobiography. Sosa's book probably falls into this last category, though it is presented as a "Gee, I can't believe it" type (but with touches of the defensiveness found in "getting even" types of autobiographies). Hispanic journalist Breton had done a good job of interviewing people in Sosa's life and arranging testimonials in a way that keeps Sosa's story moving. Baseball fans will probably enjoy reading what Sosa has to say about how he improved his batting technique, how he handled the disappointment of being sent back to the minor league, how he viewed his home-run competition with Mark McGwire in 1998. Young people looking for a sports hero will benefit from what Sosa ("Mikey" to his friends and family) has to say about loyalty to family, remembering where one comes from, learning from ones mistakes, handling gossipers and nay-sayers, believing in oneself, and giving back to one's community. People looking for a profound psychological portrait of the author or an insightful take on the business and game of baseball will be disappointed. While no-one would expect someone as guileless as Sosa to trash his teammates and fellow ballplayers, the book could have used a few more clubhouse anecdotes.

At the Plate with...Sammy Sosa (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies)
Average customer rating:

Terriblious!!!!!!!! this book sucks

At the plate with Sammy Sosa

Excellent

RECOMMENDED

Sammy Sosa review

At the Plate with...Sammy Sosa (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies)
Matt Christopher
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316134775

Customer Reviews:

Terriblious!!!!!!!! this book sucks.......2007-02-27

This book is terrible. He is 1 of the worst players in the MLB!!!!!

In the home run derby he corked his bat and they found out!!!! and then they let him use that bat they r stupid!!!!!!!!!!

They should have kicked him out of the MLB for life!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the plate with Sammy Sosa.......2004-07-15

I think this book is very good because it's very educational for us kids.I really recommend this book to other kids because it gives an authur's message of hard work really pays off.

Excellent.......2004-06-19

This great book on Sammy Sosa is superior in every way to most of the "cash-in" paperbacks written on baseball superstars. Well-written, engaging and full of information, Sosa may not be baseball's Superman, but he is an interesting guy profiled in this interesting book. Buy it[...]

RECOMMENDED.......2004-06-13

This is a fun book that looks at a great superstar whose legacy will get better over time.

STEVEN TRAVERS(...)

Sammy Sosa review.......2004-06-03

I liked the biography that I read because I learned that he has turned into one of the most homerun hitters of all time.
This book has some interesting facts about his life I was especially surprised to learn that when he was seven he wanted to help his mother inside the house instead of playing with his brothers and sisters.
I would highly recommend it to people who like to read about other people and sport books. I loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Sammy Sosa (Amazing Athletes)
Jeff Savage
Manufacturer: First Avenue Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sammy Sosa Biography
Un Excelente ser humano ( a great human being)
A story of Sosa in his early life and travels in baseball.

Sammy Sosa: A Biography
Bill Gutman
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671032747

Book Description

HOME RUN HERO!

All season long, the nation watched Sammy Sosa chase one of the most revered records in all of sports: the single-season home run record set by Roger Maris in 1961. One of baseball's greatest sluggers, Slammin' Sammy smashed an amazing 20 homers in June 1998, setting the record for round-trippers in a month. In September, Sammy continued at an incredible pace, surpassing Maris's 61 just days after Mark McGwire. Sammy's late-season home runs kept him neck-and-neck with his friend Big Mac in the race to see who would set the new single-season home run record.

Sammy has won the hearts of fans throughout the world not just for his power home runs, but also for his charm, his smile, and his respect for the game. Find out all about the spectacular Sammy Sosa, from his humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic to a record-breaking year in the major leagues.

Read about one of baseball's top power hitters, an all-around outstanding player who's home run records have led to superstardom!

Customer Reviews:

Sammy Sosa Biography.......2000-05-22

Sammy Sosa was born in the Dominican Republic. He didn't start playing baseball until he was in high school. During high school he really didn't play much. When he went to college he played on a team. Then he got picked up by the Chicago White Sox. When he was with the white sox I new more about baseball then he did. But now that he is with the cubs he knows just as much about baseball that any other professional baseball player does. My likes and dislikes about the book are, well i don't have any dislikes about the book. I always enjoy reading biographies on my favorite sports stars. So over all the book was one of the best books I've ever read and i haven't read that many books in my life time.

If you compare this book about Sammy Sosa to another book i read about Michael Jordan and his airiness I think that Sammy Sosa was ten million times better. On a closing note the book was probably the best book i have ever read in my life time as I have said many other times earlier in my wonderful online book review.

Un Excelente ser humano ( a great human being).......1999-12-30

When I read this book I did it cause I wanted to see if the information about our sammy was okay and yes it was. As a Dominican I'm feeling very proud of Sammy I know how he fought to be where he is now and To do that in this country is not easy. I was borned in Santo domingo and I live here with my parents and Sammy is the guy who inspire me to keep me going I wish I could meet him sooner or later.....That's my dream

Lee todo lo que puedas de Sammy que vale la pena y sentiras la motivacion de luchar, luchar y luchar.........

A story of Sosa in his early life and travels in baseball........1999-11-10

If you're looking for a biography on an amazing baseball player who has become one of the most awsome home run hitters in baseball, check out Bill Gutman's biograpghy on Sosa. In the book Gutman talks about Sosa's early life, his quest to through baseball, and his career today. I chose to read this book because I am a huge baseball fan and like to read about the games stars. Anyone who likes baseball should like this book on Sammy Sosa.

Home Run Heroes: Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa

Average customer rating:

Best Heroes
Record Broken
This is one in Million!!!!!!!!

Home Run Heroes: Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa
Joseph Layden
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0439057469

Customer Reviews:

Best Heroes.......2003-05-02

Dear reader,
This book is about Mark Macgwire and Sammy Sosa.
I like this book because it gives you lots of information you want to know about these heroes. If you're a fan of the Chicago Cubs(Sammy) and the Cardinals(Mark)then you will like this book a lot.

Record Broken.......2002-04-09

This is an okay book. It's mostly the story about how Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa break Babe Ruth's and Roger Maris' record. They hit more than 62 homeruns, nobody has been able to do that, but Mark and Sammy have. Mark McGwire hit 70 homers! Sammy Sosa hit 66 homers! I would reccommend this book for 5th graders and up.

This is one in Million!!!!!!!!.......1999-05-28

This book is great it not only tells you about their homerun records but their lifes too! This book has ineresting facts. If you are still interested about the homerun race you should read this book.

Average customer rating:

Sammy Sosa (Latinos in the Limelight)
Susan Korman
Manufacturer: Chelsea House Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0791069214

Mercedes Sosa, La Negra/ Mercedes Sosa, The Black Woman

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Mercedes Sosa, La Negra/ Mercedes Sosa, The Black Woman
Rodolfo Braceli
Manufacturer: Sudamericana (Argentina)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sammy Sosa: Heroe De Los Jonrones (Lerner Sports Achievers Spanish Series)

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Sammy

Sammy Sosa: Heroe De Los Jonrones (Lerner Sports Achievers Spanish Series)
Jeff Savage
Manufacturer: LernerSports
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0822536811

Customer Reviews:

Sammy.......2002-02-01

This book reflected on Sammy's life as a child and a big leaguer. This book also talks about how he was brought up in life, as a child and as a miner in baseball and when he first was in the majors. Sammy didn't always have a great batting average but he steped up to the plate one day and started hitting moon balls. Then once he started hitting moon balls pitchers where starting to pay a lot more attention to Sammy and the fans started coming and looking at Sammy as the greatest player of all time.

Average customer rating:

S.S greatest hits

Sammy Sosa (Sports Great Books)
John Albert Torres
Manufacturer: Enslow Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0766020657

Customer Reviews:

S.S greatest hits.......2007-04-02

S.S greatest hits

I liked this book because I love baseball and I wanted to read about one of the greatest homerun hitters. This book was a page-turner because the Author describes Sammy Sosa very good and the Author said some fact about Sammy Sosa that I have never heard before. I would like to another book by John Albert Torres because I liked the style he wrote and how he described Sammy Sosa. I would recommend this book to other's that like baseball because he is the most known player on the cubs

Sammy Sosa (All Aboard Reading. Level 3)

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Sammy Sosa (All Aboard Reading. Level 3)
Laura Driscoll
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448420678

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