Top Ten All Time Chicago Cubs By Position

Right Field — Sammy Sosa (1992-2004)

Okay, this may be the most controversial selection of all. Sammy Sosa was among those lumped in with Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro and others as PED users. There was a reported positive drug test in 2003 (when it was supposed to be confidential), but there is neither a confirmation of the test (because it was supposed to be confidential) nor what he tested for.

The one indiscretion we do know of positively is that he was caught with a corked bat in a game.

Sosa was in the middle of one of the greatest seasons in baseball history. when he and Mark McGwire were battling to break Roger Maris‘ record for most home runs in a season. Both were bashing away all season, until the end of the season, when McGwire finished with 70 homers and Sosa with 66.

Sosa hit .284/.358/.569, with 545 home runs and 1,414 RBI. He had 1,985 hits and scored 1,245 runs in 1,811 games.

Sosa led the Cubs to two playoff appearances in his tenure. While McGwire had the home run record in 1998, Sammy was in the playoffs, though the Cubs lost to the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. In 2003, he struggled again against the Braves, but the Cubs won that series.

In the NLCS that season, Sosa did his best to carry the Cubs to the World Series. He hit .308/.455/.577, with 2 homers, 6 RBI and 7 runs scored.

Sosa was a beloved Cub for most of his career with the Cubs, but that relationship deteriorated to the point that there is not much mention of him and the Cubs these days.

In his prime, however, it sure was fun to see Sammy Sosa’s enthusiasm and love of the game.

Next: Catcher -- The Homer In The Gloamin