Sammy Hits #600!

AP Photo from SI.com

A few moments ago Sammy Sosa became the fifth man in Major League Baseball history to hit at least 600 home runs. I tried to call David (who is with his mom), Sammy's biggest fan, to let him know. I called my Mom and Dad who were watching on WGN. I was watching on Fox Sorts Southwest (Rangers broadcast). Our family has been watching Sammy for years and we are all excited.

Kudos to Mom who called this shot this afternoon at 3:00. Never doubt anyone who has been a baseball fan for over 50 years!

Sosa becomes fifth player in 600-homer club<
By STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
June 20, 2007 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Sammy Sosa hit his 600th home run Wednesday night, making him the fifth player to reach the milestone. Sosa, playing for the Texas Rangers following a year out of baseball, hit a 1-2 pitch into the Rangers' bullpen in right-center for a solo homer. It came in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs, the team he played for from 1992-2004. Sosa was the 1998 NL MVP and a seven-time All-Star while hitting 545 of his homers with the Cubs. Sosa bounced out of the batter's box with his trademark hop and thrust his right fist into the air before reaching first base. He was mobbed at home plate by his teammates while the scoreboard showed pictures of all five members of the elite club: Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sosa. No. 600 came off Jason Marquis, the 364th pitcher the 38-year-old Sosa has homered off in his 18 major league seasons. It was Sosa's 12th homer in 62 games this season since signing a minor league deal and making the roster in spring training with Texas, the franchise that gave him his start and for which he hit his first homer in 1989. Sosa also has 52 RBIs, which ranks seventh in the American League. He has homered against every major league team in his career.

Evaluating Sosa's HOF Candidacy ESPN

Sammy Sosa Slams No. 600 Chicago Tribune
Ex-Cub's historic blast helps sink old team; Marquis struggles againRANGERS 7, CUBS 3By Paul SullivanTribune staff reporterJune 21, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Former Cubs icon Sammy Sosa became the fifth player in major-league history to reach the 600-home run plateau Wednesday when he connected off right-hander Jason Marquis in the fifth inning of the Texas Rangers' 7-3 victory over the Cubs.Employing his familiar home run hop and wearing a huge smile as he rounded the bases with the theme from "The Natural" blasting over the sound system, Sosa accomplished something only Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth and Willie Mays had done before him.

No. 600 for Sammy SI.com
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Sammy Sosa's 600th homer resembled so many that came before -- except this time the Chicago Cubs were on the other side. Playing for the Texas Rangers after a year out of baseball, Sosa became the fifth member of the 600-homer club Wednesday night when he connected against his former team. After driving a 1-2 pitch to right-center for a solo shot in the fifth inning of Texas' 7-3 victory, Slammin' Sammy bounced out of the batter's box with his trademark hop and thrust his right fist into the air before reaching first base. He was mobbed at home plate by his teammates while the scoreboard showed pictures of all five members of the elite club: Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sosa. "It was something that cannot be explained," Sosa said. "Getting my 600th against the Chicago Cubs, and my first team (was) the Texas Rangers. It's like everything clicked. My emotions, I don't know what they are."

600 Club: Sosa hits a milestone Dallas Morning News
12:18 PM CDT on Thursday, June 21, 2007
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News egrant@dallasnews.com
ARLINGTON – For a moment Wednesday night, just before the fireworks exploded against an ebony sky and the music from The Natural wafted through Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, all of the turmoil that has nearly choked the life out of Sammy Sosa's baseball career faded.
Fans weren't polarized over his return to the game or his place in history. Instead, they were engrossed by his awesome power and charismatic on-field personality. They were once again entranced by Sammy being Sammy.

Photos from Dallas Morning News

Video from Dallas Morning News