Discount Price: $28.00
Price fluctuation possible.
How soon does it ship: Normal ship time within one day
Shipping? Absolutely FREE if you qualify for Super Saver Shipping.
Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 796.357092
EAN num: 9780446527354
ISBN number: 0446527351
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 224
Printing Date: May 04, 2000
Publishing house: Grand Central Publishing
Sale Popularity Level: 456913
Studio: Grand Central Publishing
Other books you might be interested in perusing:
Editor's Notes and Comments:
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 very 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 very first years in the big leagues were exciting seasons. His eagerness to succeed made him an impatient hitter, and here, for the very 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.'
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
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers -
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.
Rated by buyers -
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."
Rated by buyers -
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.
Rated by buyers 
-
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."
Rated by buyers 
-
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.
Find other books like this one:
