{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_66_homers.jpg","caption":"

Sammy Sosa broke out offensively with the Cubs in the mid-1990s, and while he's never admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs, his rise came during baseball's Steroid Era. Nevertheless, he put himself in some elite company offensively alongside some of baseball's all-time best.

Here are 10 Sosa stats that reflect how special he was at the plate.

"},{"index":3,"title":"Good company","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_thumb.jpg","caption":"

Sosa is one of seven players in MLB history with multiple seasons of 400 total bases. Aside from Sosa and Todd Helton, the other five all played prior to World War II (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Chuck Klein, Rogers Hornsby and Jimmie Foxx).

"},{"index":5,"title":"Chicago's 30-30 man","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_generic_1998_road_hr_slide.jpg","caption":"

In 1993 and 1995, Sosa hit 30+ home runs and stole 30+ bases. He’s the only player in Cubs history with a 30-30 season. In fact, he’s the only Chicago major leaguer to do it, as no White Sox player has yet pulled it off.

"},{"index":7,"title":"Still the MLB record","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_thumb.jpg","caption":"

Only 67 players in Cubs history have hit 20 home runs in a season, but Sosa is the only one of them that was able to hit 20 in a single month (June 1998). Twenty home runs in a month remains the MLB record.

"},{"index":9,"title":"Slammin' Sammy","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_2004.jpg","caption":"

Sosa hit nine career grand slams. He hit 246 career home runs before finally hitting his first grand slam on July 27, 1998. Then, he hit his second grand slam the next day. None of his first 246 home runs were grand slams; nine of his final 363 home runs were grand slams.

Also, his first grand slam at Wrigley didn’t come until Sept. 15, 2004. His first seven slams were on the road.

"},{"index":11,"title":"Five great years","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_1998_sept_23.jpg","caption":"

Sosa’s 292 home runs from 1998-2002 is an MLB record over a five-year span. The previous record was 284 by McGwire (1995-99). Before McGwire, the record was 256 by Babe Ruth (1926-30).

"},{"index":13,"title":"Home cooking","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sammy_sosa_ozzie_guillen_both_mjs_slide.jpg","caption":"

Sosa has the most career home runs in Chicago ballparks with a Chicago-flavored 312 (counting regular season only). He hit 293 at Wrigley Field, 11 at Old Comiskey Park and 8 at New Comiskey Park/Guaranteed Rate Field.

"},{"index":15,"title":"172 in 162","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sammy_sosa_0713.jpg","caption":"

From May 25, 1998 through June 5, 1999, Sosa played 162 games. In those 162 games, he hit 76 home runs with 172 RBIs and a .675 slugging percentage.

"},{"index":17,"title":"60 and over club","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sammy-sosa-cubs-jesus-christ-slide.png","caption":"

In MLB history:

1,369 players have at least three seasons of 10+ home runs
561 players have at least three seasons of 20+ home runs
182 players have at least three seasons of 30+ home runs
46 players have at least three seasons of 40+ home runs
4 players have at least three seasons of 50+ home runs
1 player has at least three seasons of 60+ home runs: Sammy Sosa.

"},{"index":19,"title":"Sammy and Ted","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sammy_sosa_new_look_slide.jpg","caption":"

In 2001, Sosa scored 146 runs and drove in 160 — 306 combined runs and RBIs. He's the only player to amass 300 runs and RBIs collectively in a season since Ted Williams in 1949 (150 runs, 159 RBIs).

"},{"index":21,"title":"Hat trick","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/chicago/2020/06/08/sosa_thumb.jpg","caption":"

Sosa is tied with Johnny Mize with six career games with three home runs. All six of Sosa’s three-homer games were with the Cubs. Three of them were in 2001 alone.

"}]}

10 crazy Sammy Sosa stats that reflect his offensive dominance