Summer of Sammy: Sosa's 45th + 46th homers in 1998

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It's the 20th anniversary of the Summer of Sammy, when Sosa and Mark McGwire went toe-to-toe in one of the most exciting seasons in American sports history chasing after Roger Maris' home run record. All year, we're going to go homer-by-homer on Sosa's 66 longballs, with highlights and info about each. Enjoy.

"He's one away from Big Mac and we're one away from tying this game."

"Swung on, belted, he's got another one! Move over, Big Mac, you and Sosa are TIED in the home run chase!"

Those were Chip Caray's memorable calls on Sosa's 45th and 46th homers in 1998 when "Slammin' Sammy" connected off Russ Ortiz and Chris Brock in San Francisco Aug. 10.

Sosa's pair of solo shots came in the fifth and seventh innings, with the second bomb traveling an estimated 480 feet. That helped the Cubs to an 8-5 victory and represented Sosa's 115th and 116th RBI of the campaign. And, obviously, pulled him even with Mark McGwire in the epic home run chase with about seven weeks left to play in the season.

Fun fact: Opposing Sosa and the Cubs was Barry Bonds, who hit his 24th in that Aug. 10 game back in 1998. That number seems a little light for Bonds nearly 4.5 months into the season, but he only finished with 37 homers that year.

Bonds hit 34 in just 102 games in 1999 and then slammed at least 45 dingers in five straight seasons from 2000-04 (including, obviously, 73 in 2001). 

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