So, Sosa surpassed Jackie Robinson today by hitting #587 and moves onto 5th all time for HRs. Job well done by Sammy.
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BALTIMORE -- During a 97-minute rain delay Wednesday, several of the 31,540 fans at Camden Yards used umbrellas, plastic bags and their shirts to keep boxes containing their Sammy Sosa bobblehead dolls dry.
Little did they know how valuable those promotional handouts would become shortly after the game eventually began.
With one out in the first inning, Sosa slammed career home run No. 587 off Rangers right-hander Chris Young to move past former Oriole Frank Robinson and claim sole possession of fifth place on the all-time list.
The solo homer traveled 345 feet and barely landed on top of the flag court in right field, but Sosa performed his patented hop coming out of the batter's box to indicate that he knew the ball had enough distance.
Sosa's hop has also recently served as an indication that the slugger has found a groove after a prolonged slump.
He tied Robinson on Tuesday with a two-run homer off Kenny Rogers. He has now left the ballpark in four of the past nine games to raise his total to 13 home runs this season.
The significance of Sosa's career numbers may be somewhat marred by the era in which he has played, but it took Sosa 1,689 at-bats less than Robinson to pass his mark. Of the all-time top 10 home run hitters, only Mark McGwire and Harmon Killebrew had less at-bats than Sosa.
Currently in his 17th season in the Majors, the 36-year-old slugger is 73 homers shy of Willie Mays, who is fourth all-time with 660.
Still, Sosa's most recent contribution wasn't enough to lift the O's in an 11-8 loss to the Rangers in 11 innings.
Slammin' Sammy
Rangers at Orioles, July 27
Sammy Sosa slugged his 13th homer of the season and 587th in his career, moving him past Frank Robinson and into sole possession of the fifth spot on the all-time home run list:
Rank Player Home Runs
1. Hank Aaron 755
2. Babe Ruth 714
3. Barry Bonds 703
4. Willie Mays 660
5. Sammy Sosa 587
"I'm not in the mood tonight, guys," Sosa said, spurning reporters' request for a postgame interview after he went 1-for-5 in the deflating loss.
Long after his historic homer cleared the right-field wall, Sosa was thrown out at home plate by Gary Matthews to end the 10th inning. Sliding into home, he raised his right leg and hit Rangers catcher Rod Barajas in the arm, causing both benches to empty.
While no fighting ensued -- Sosa called the Rangers clubhouse to apologize after the game -- the craziness of a four-hour and 13-minute, 11-inning night may have made some of the fans forget about Sosa's home run.
At least they have the bobblehead as a souvenir to remind them.
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