Sosa's 3-run HR in 9th beats Mets, May 3, 1996

With the Cubs trailing 2-1 and the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth, Mets manager Dallas Green intentionally walked Mark Grace to bring Sammy Sosa to the plate. Sosa, who was coming off a year in which he set career highs with 36 homers and 119 RBI and finished eighth in National League MVP voting, was 0-for-3 against Paul Wilson in the game with two strikeouts. But he didn't miss the first pitch he saw in the ninth. Sosa hit it onto Waveland Avenue, and the Cubs won 4-2. Green's reaction to his miscalculation is priceless. Harry Caray was on the call. Here's the box score from Baseball Reference: bit.ly/2aUwvJk

[@coinbuyer-8605]

Sends me right back to my childhood. Coming home from school in the mid 90's and seeing if there was a Cubs game on WGN. Harry Caray, my favorite. Almost sends shivers throughout my body to hear his voice again and do his famous home run call, plus on a Sammy Sosa game winner. There's a long drive. It might be! Cubs win! Cubs win! Cubs win! Hooooooly cow! Thank you so much for uploading. Many things to love about this clip. I think the funniest part is the shout of victory Harry does at 2:29. I NEVER remember Harry doing that. Again, chills. Like a time machine. Technology like this is amazing. Cubs beat the Diamondbacks in similar fashion today, so that reminded me of how Harry used to call home runs, especially walk-offs, and I remembered seeing this clip on KZbin a year or two ago. So glad I found it again. Can't stop watching it now.

[@robertyancey5712]

I miss the CUBS that when you know when they were on T.V., it was automatic: WGN. Not that way anymore!!!🤔😎

[@josephhale9198]

Born stl 81. Watched alot of wgn and tbs Braves cubs.

[@SuperClemente18]

Sammy hit 40 home runs that season in 96 and missed a month and half with an injury

[@williamkoscielniak820]

Yup. Cubs could have made the playoffs that year and Sammy could have knocked on the door of 50 homers. He was on fire that season and that was pre-roids.

[@jonmolina948]

He got hit on the hand by a pitch and broke some bones. Sosa and Big Mac had a short preview of the homerun chase in 1996.

[@outsiderdf]

This was his real breakout year before injury. Then 97 was more about getting back...and 98 was well you know. He likely could have hit 50 in 96 and 60 in 97 before the big race.

[@outsiderdf]

@@williamkoscielniak820 Sosa is basically the same size here as he was in 98. Either he was roiding by 95, or not at all. Pick one.

[@futuregohan4837]

@@outsiderdf Sosa Wasn't On Steroids At All He Had The Misfortune Of Using An Corked Bat

[@DK-gq7qe]

who remembers when they went like 0-16 or something to start the 1997 season. and the guy on the rooftop across the street wouldnt leave until they won a game! HOW DO I REMEMBER THIS!!!!

[@jovanvasic6802]

Daniel t the season was over before it began

[@thepunditspundit1776]

0-14

[@jamesbowman8138]

People were more paying attention to the Bulls .

[@sooner282000]

I miss Harry Carey!!!!! he is the reason why I became a Cubs fan back in 1984, and ever since then win lose or draw I love my Cubs!!!!!

[@ChicagoSportsTVClassics]

I feel the same way. 1984 was the first year I really followed the team.

[@davem1212]

joel maldonado 1984 for me too. Good ole WGN tv and Harry's voice as a 10 year old drew me in. It's 2016 and I hope we freakin win this year. We play the Giants to start the divisional series.

[@sooner282000]

I will be cheering hard for the Cubs!!!

[@davem1212]

joel maldonado Tonight it starts

[@sooner282000]

keep it going cubs!! GO CUBS GO

[@DK-gq7qe]

man! louis gonzales, mark grace, brian McRae, scott servais, ryno! how do i remember this. i was like 9 years old watching this game. aaah memories. why do i remeber random guys like mickey morandini!

[@coinbuyer-8605]

Same here, born in 1987. Don't forget Steve Buchele (sp?) and Dave Magadan. Most people have long forgotten them.

[@jonnydanger7181]

Mandela effect

[@stephenjohnson9632]

Paul Kilgus, Eddie Zambrano, Chico Walker, Jeff Kunkel, Domingo Ramos, Mark Clark, Julio Zuleta, Mike Harkey, Kevin Orie, Hee Sop Choi, Amaury Telemaco, Tuffy Rhodes, Candy Maldonado, Kevin Roberson, Shawn Boskie, Randall Simon, Hectór Villanueva, Kal Daniels, and Doug Strange.

[@futuregohan4837]

@@stephenjohnson9632 I Only Remember Tuffy Rhodes And Julio Zuleta Mostly Because Of Nippon Professional Baseball

[@Whatacomedian_]

What a terrible decision to intentionally walk grace. 😭😭😭

[@robertbutts9835]

Sosa was incredible and should be in the hall of fame

[@someguy23475]

Funny how he sucked before doing steroids.

[@randalldecker335]

@@someguy23475 well this comment is stupid.

[@someguy23475]

You obviously don’t remember when he played for the Texas Rangers.

[@randalldecker335]

@@someguy23475 you obviously dont remember the years he played in Chicago before he started using. Was still hitting 30-40 hrs

[@someguy23475]

That’s when he was using. He started way before 1998.

[@swedishchefhands9037]

I miss old intentional walks. It kept everyone honest about the fact that with baseball, anything can happen.

[@AdamB5000]

Even though the title is a built-in spoiler, I got goosebumps. You can feel the energy building in the stadium as they walk Grace and Sammy is coming to the plate. It was a great time in baseball.

[@shuffle877]

I was recording this game the day it happened and caught the last three innings after I got home from school. What a great memory to relive. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@robertthompson8790]

shuffle877 god bless the VCR. !!!!

[@nollm23]

Oh, look at Dallas Green! LOL!

[@slapshot68]

Before he introduced his iconic batting stance n HR jump

[@geovasic]

Sammy Sammy Sammy

[@joewinter2999]

I miss Harry Carey's voice.

[@anthonybenson7836]

Wish Harry was here to see the Cubbies win the world series

[@MichaelBradley1967]

*_This_* is why they should have kept the IBB the way it was. Always strange shit happening after throwing those 4 pitches out there, like the pitcher forgot how to throw a _good_ pitch. Not to mention accidentally throwing one of those pitches too close to the batter and giving up a hit.

[@jorgejohnson451]

Michael Bradley Excellent point.

[@adamkyle153]

Michael Bradley Good point I never thought about it like that. Plus the additional factor of an accident passed ball to advance runners.

[@dalethelander3781]

That limp-wrist first pitch into the dirt.

[@StivenBonillaNY]

Amazing Called by Harry Caray. 2:03

[@nalvarado1384]

Stiven Bonilla THERE'S A DRIVE! WAY BACK!!! IT MIGHT BE.... - CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!! CUBS WIN!!! HOLY COW!!! CUBS WIN!!!

[@CFLaserLungs]

I remember racing home from school just to watch the Cubs, Sammy and his kiss, along with Harry! I remember this game like it was yesterday. I would vcr tape the games just to capture these moments. Holy cow!!!!!

[@luisdavidalvarez4065]

El mejor jugador que ha pasado por chicago. The best player in Chicago.

[@rruss81]

I was at that game. Great memory

[@martys4814]

I miss that Hop…..He definitely was and still my favorite Cub…

[@Antesdelfinadmin]

Boy, oh boy. I miss Harry!! He was a true Cubs fan!

[@dalethelander3781]

After he migrated across town from the White Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals before that.

[@macroevolve]

It looked like Dallas Green was beside himself after the homerun.

[@jovanvasic6802]

macroevolve he ate his 🧢

[@williamkoscielniak7871]

I remember watching this game as a kid. Sammy wasn't too pleased that they intentionally walked Grace to get to him and made em' pay! Pre-Roid Sammy was a really fun player to watch. He'd give you 35 bombs and 30 stolen bases a year, and he had an absolute cannon in right field, and he had really good range as well. He never could learn how to play the wall for the life of him, but that was somehow endearing.

[@jamiealexander7065]

Lol, another idiot. He was not natural here 😂

[@RABAT16]

Tanta gloria que le dio Sammy al beisbol cuando más lo necesitaba. Y lo tienen como cero a la izquierda. Los cubs y el nuevo gerente de MLB DEBERIAN RECONOCER EN VIDA LOS APORTES QUE LE HIZO SAMMY SOSA AL BEISBOL.

[@holdenmcgroin9774]

As a 9 year old I had setup my VCR to automatically start recording when game started while I was in grammar school. I still have the tape but it’s losing the nice picture.

[@ryanhedrick]

Jeff you are awesome man.... do you have this stuff on VHS? Where do you get it? Love your channel man, it truley brings me back.... Bravo bro!!!

[@mbrand19971]

That game became the popularity Sammy Sosa would have for the Cubs for eight seasons.

[@chicubfannin]

The sad thing about this game is what happened to young Paul Wilson. He looked like he was going to be a great pitcher and his career ended with an arm injury that season. Some think that him pitching into the 9th in cold windy weather at Wrigley that day played a part in his arm injury.

[@dalethelander3781]

He certainly served up a meatball to Sosa with that hanging slider.

[@williamkoscielniak820]

I remember watching this game when I was a kid. It was awesome!

[@kapo2012fb]

decisions like that is the reason why Dallas Green didn't last long as Mets manager

[@bigblue9996]

He lasted 3 years. That's a miracle for the Mets

[@justafanintexas7913]

He had no talent.

[@jdt2003]

Absolute Gold

[@krlm2280]

I'm a lifelong dodger fan but WGN had some of the best televised games during the 80s and 90s the camera angles everything was is on point and sosa still had the high bat stance once lowered the bat even it was over 60 hr left and right

[@jackhat8070]

This is my favorite home run he ever hit tbh and it’s one of only ones online that Harry called

[@dellncuciamasivaramirez8531]

Yo llamé a Samy Sosa y le pregunté Samy verdad k hacen 22 años de ese juego, y el me dijo k si k no lo a olvidado ese juego de ese día y k toda vía no han encontrado la pelota.22 años buscandola y toda vía no han podido dar con ella

[@cavalierfan1995]

i was at my uncles house watching this game he was waiting for the reds game as was i but to see the cubs in the mid afternoon was fun to see love the days when cable was just 40 channels

[@r.m.4219]

la verdad es que ahora hoy 11 de abril 2020 estando en la casa por lo de el cuarentena y un poco des orientado observe ese histórico juego y es bien emocionante independiente de todas las críticas que se le a echo a sosa hay que reconocer que fue grande que nos puso a caminar orgulloso y donde quiera que íbamos para darnos a conocer con or huyo decíamos,, soy de la tierra de sammy sosa

[@josepinela4636]

Sammy fue un gran jugador que le dio' gloriosos momentos de gozo y alegria a Chicago cubs y a todo el Baseball en America. creo debe haber una Reconciliacion y reconocer sus errores y pedir perdon' y volver a la ciudad de chicago como lo que fue' todo un idolo pero hay que ser honesto y humilde y Reconocer sus propios errores

[@jarmaljackson]

I remember watching this game as a kid. Sammy was that guy!

[@mattdaugherty7865]

We're here Harry, we're here! Go Cubbies!

[@frederinborquezsoriano]

That'as good the home run 🤣🤣🤣🤣🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴

[@codym2049]

Do you possibly have the comeback vs the rockies in 2008?

[@ChicagoSportsTVClassics]

I don't, sorry. But Comcast SportsNet Chicago has played it as a Cubs Classic. Maybe they will again.

[@hankkingsley2976]

I had forgotten how that much later skip sounded just like Harry

[@JC-hi8fk]

Intentionally walking to get to Sosa haha that strategy was probably short lived

[@ChicagoCubsChampions]

Can you upload game 2 of the 2003 nlcs?

[@ChicagoSportsTVClassics]

I'm in the process of doing just that.

[@tubenachos]

Sosa batting stance looks so different here compared to 98-03.

[@mmcneil777]

tubenachos Steroids...

[@futuregohan4837]

Indeed

[@outsiderdf]

Hence going from a roided 40 HRs, to a roided 60 HRs. While steroids can get you places, they don't give you talent. He changed his stance and added a toe tap to increase his power from the waist down using his legs and butt to generate more power.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

Why would you intentionally walk the winning run on base? Sosa's power was becoming something already by this time. Yes, Grace was a great hitter, but he was no HR threat.

[@futuregohan4837]

Unlike Sosa Who Was An HR Threat

[@Bradley5221]

Chris Kreager Sammy was 0-3 that day so they gambled that he would strike out. With Sammy it's either a strike out or home run lol. Cubs win Cubs win Cubs win. Oh Harry could always make a game exciting

[@jameskoog9263]

I truly miss hearing Harry.

[@cozm0859]

Lol .214 average and skinny as hell. Apparently he really changed his diet and started working out! That's the only explanation for why he got so much bigger!

[@outsiderdf]

CoZm085 Except not skinny as hell, so, stfu, he hit 36 that year.

[@cozm0859]

outsiderdf don't get mad at me cause your boy was a juice head.

[@mattray9904]

Not even close to skinny. Sammy was over 200 pounds by this time at closer to 5'10" than the 6'0" they listed him. His season average wound up .273 with 40 home runs despite missing the last month. But this was probably already his 2nd season juicing. He looked like a different person in '95 than '94. Though a presumably clean Sammy did show legit talent in '93 and '94. Already 30-30 in the former then hit .300 in the latter and had a strong arm. Problem was that talent was completely unfocused with no plate discipline, stat-obsessed, poor fundamentals missing cutoff men and a cancer. He could have been a strong 5 tool all-star even without roids, but not the immortal 60 home run guy he became.

[@mmcneil777]

Yah..a lot of protein..hit the weights...lol.

[@SuperClemente18]

CoZm085 the beginning of the season you idiot...sammy hit 40 home runs that season in 96 and missed a month and a half with an injury

[@louiswoodardjr2038]

I Miss Harry Carey👍👼

[@nathanmilander1254]

It's weird watching Sammy without the toe tap and not holding the bat vertically

[@rickmontgomery3037]

Watch Wilson's reaction at 3:40, he knew Sammy got it too ;-)

[@BeefPapa]

Few things in baseball like a 90s Wrigley day game.

[@noelmoanery7071]

Que se vaaaaa¡¡ Dominicana power

[@davidjames1684]

The Phillies win the pennant! The Phillies win the pennant! Oops, wrong team, wrong game, wrong year.

[@josepinela4636]

Sammy tenía otro estilo de bateo, en ese momento,y fué un He genuino, Sammy le dió muchos momentos de júbilo y alegría a los fanaticos de Chicago y tuvo su gloria.El cometió muchos errores, Pero creo que tanto El como la gerencia y los fanaticos de Chicago deberían reconciliarse El pedir disculpas, por sus errores y ellos reconocer las contribuciones de Sammy al Béisbol.

[@carlosantigua6115]

Cuales errores en ese tiempo toda esa gente consumia esteroides, los pichert también (Roger clement's) tenias q batear, tenias q hacer contacto, ademas en ese entonces habían muchísimos más peloteros mas corpulentos y mas musculosos q Sammy, y no bateaban, los gringos le deben mucho al Sammy y a Mark McGwire, la pelota en ese entonces estaba en el suelo, esa es la historia que hay q decirla como sucedió.

[@piplh]

Who's the moustachioed guy at 2:49 giving Sammy a high five? It looks like Rod Beck, but he wasn't with the Cubs until 2 years later.

[@iamkazie9401]

piplh muser was a coach

[@Nickrj3]

Doug Jones

[@nalvarado1384]

from his sadden "struuuuuuuck him out" to his ferocious cheer "HOOOLLY COW!!!!"

[@StivenBonillaNY]

Excellent

[@dalethelander3781]

"Juuuuuuuuuust a bit outside!" Oops, wrong announcer.

[@nalvarado1384]

@dalethelander3781 LOLOLOL no! That would be Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker who played Harry Doyle in the "Major League" Movies.

[@fukame8191]

that's cool Sammy

[@Jckuz1man]

Wow the outfield had seats and not bleachers? Looks so much different than this year when I saw it, my very first game at wrigley I went to was this year

[@dalethelander3781]

Ahhhhh, yes, the $1 bleachers.

[@jimmyolsen5897]

Sammy Sosa was the most exciting Cub ever

[@jovanntdiaz7261]

2018 2019 infinito duro

[@CBrolley]

Always fun to beat the Mets regardless of the standings. (Was that a corked bat?)

[@leonelreyesfernandez9165]

La Creta que palo hay primer lanzamiento

[@yeaRightAJ]

Ah the Mets playing the same type of baseball for 20 years

[@InMotionForAMillion]

Harry Caray definitely forgot what planet he was on at least 3 times in this video.

[@dalethelander3781]

He loved his Budweiser.

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

I was THERE!!!

[@iSynthetic-]

What stupid decisions. He was due for at least a hit and he smashes a walk off. Yeah walk the other guy and pitch to one of the best homerun hitters of all time

[@jamesbowman8138]

I predicted that the cubs would win world series in an election year.

[@NicanTlacaWarrior1]

Before he got hurt, Wilson had nasty stuff.

[@Hooozyer]

He struck out Sanberg which is something amazing

[@jeffpapas4602]

Vin Scully would have stopped talking at 2:17. One of the main differences between two legends.

[@cstomp1]

Agreed, but differences is the key word. Completely different styles. If Harry would have shut up he wouldn't be Harry. I wouldn't change a thing about his call. It's what we loved about the guy. My favorite Scully call is Kirk Gibson. Epic and iconic.

[@dalethelander3781]

@@cstomp1 "In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened."

[@carlosmanuelberiguete7398]

Que yegua ese lanzador

[@roweshowtactical]

Imagine booing to get to Sammy Sosa lol. Dude should be in the HOF

[@alllivesmatter3561]

No he should not be, and never will be.

[@roweshowtactical]

@@alllivesmatter3561 You are an idiot

[@juancarlosbelboder2534]

Sammy sosa was awsome. An ATG

[@franantoniodelapaz6856]

Why didn't Sammy Sosa go to the hall of Fame? That's nota fare

[@jaydenfarrell]

I have the ball from my grandpa from that game

[@jovanntdiaz7261]

2019

[@simplygu]

This is probably before Sammy Sosa starting using PED's. He had 40 home runs in only 124 games and 498 at bats in 1996, so who knows maybe he was juicing? Also, Luis Gonzalez is on the Cubs here looking very lean in his pre PED days as well. In 1996, Gonzalez hit .271 with 15 HR & 79 RBI in 483 at bats for the Cubs. Five years later, Gonzalez hit .325 with 57 HR & 142 RBI for Arizona. He denies ever using PED's. Yeah... Ok... Right?

[@mattray9904]

simplygu Probably not as Sammy gained a ton of weight in '94-'95 offseason and looked completely different as noted by at least one Chicago writer. The difference was even more striking this year(1996) as you can see from Sammy's arms and face. I'd say '95 was Sammy's first season on steroids, but it's possible he went to stronger steroids and/or longer cycles as from that point, Sammy literally started gaining 10-15 pounds of muscle each offseason until he was a bloated 236 in 2000 and looked ridiculous. That was the case with Big Mac who juiced from at least the late 80's, which was obvious from his appearance around 1992, but went to more potent drugs (basically every common steroids + HGH) and 12 week cycles from '94 on and gained 15 pounds in each the '94-'95 and '95-'96 offseasons. As for Gonzo, he gained 10 pounds of muscle working with Jeff Bagwell's trainer in the offseason prior to the '99 season and suddenly became a great hitter in his 30's....hmmm. People overlooked it because he was wiry, but he had proportionately large arms and was one of the most vascular players of that era and most steroids due cause increased vascularity. As for Sammy, if I'm right then at least Sammy showed he could be a .300 hitter and 30-30 guy with a strong arm by 25 yrs old so even without roids, the talent was there as he could at least be a Raul Mondesi, who going off memory, I thought may have juiced himself. Incidentally, regardless of if I'm right about Sammy starting in '95, he'd have had a shot at 40-40 that year if not for the shortened season just like he was on pace for over 50 Homers in 1996 before his season-ending injury.

[@mattray9904]

simplygu Btw, I don't know why Gonzo even bothers denying it, same with Brady Anderson. It's not like they're going to the HOF and everyone thinks they used steroids anyway. I do wish Bagwell or Piazza would admit it now that they're in as that would expose the voters as the hypocritical fools as they are, especially after they put known steroid user Pudge Rodriguez in.

[@simplygu]

Well if he was on PEDs... it didn't help him in 1997. He played in all 162 games in '97... but hit "only" 36 HR. One season later of course in 1998... he hit 66 HR.

[@jeffcupp1]

I wonder how many Harry had put back by this point ? 😏

[@___David___Savian]

Comedian Will Ferrell was announcing this game as Harry Carey. Nice surprise !!

[@mbcomunicacionrodriguezcab6094]

Sosa salon de la Fama

[@joseolivo4824]

Sammy the best players at this time

[@tommyo2450]

And the best cheater.

[@Cwaays]

Why the Mets bench still there

[@krlm2280]

In disbelief

[@dalethelander3781]

I know. "Hit the showers, gentlemen, we lost."

[@dr.manhattan4537]

Paul Wilson was done after that. He finished the season 26 starts 5-12 W/L record and an ERA of 5.38!!! Dallas Green destroyed those young trio of Mets pitchers confidence; Pulsipher, Isringhasuen and Wilson. Generation K. At least Jason Isringhausen had a decent career.

[@jurgostuff]

Could've used Sammy the past couple of days!

[@erictorres410]

Wow que palo papá que mal le salió la jugada jajajajajsjaja sosaaaaa

[@rmartin7558]

I always thought that that design was one of MLB's worst on field team jacket concepts.

[@BestTits]

yay

[@josemanuelcuello9955]

Por faltar el respeto bravo sammy

[@davidjames1684]

The epitome of stupidity by Dallas Green. Walk the tying run on base and then pitch to their power hitter. Sammy Sosa goes 0 for 3 and Dallas Green just assumes he will go 0 for 4? Better keep that guy away from the Vegas gambling tables with that attitude. Also, it appears the pitcher was supposed to throw outside but didn't. A double mistake cost them the game.

[@stopbullshitting4484]

Slammin sammy

[@mbcomunicacionrodriguezcab6094]

Jajajjaja ajajajajaja este maniyer tenia k estar loco

[@sacramento1543]

Un hombre de 3 cero y vas a mandar a que le pichen sabiendo el bate que tiene jajaja que bruto póngale cero

[@josemanuelpaniagua7577]

Ese fue su peor error darle la base al otro para picharle a sammy sosa

[@philsilverman9831]

Was Sosa juiced ? Would have been a triple .

[@jovanntdiaz7261]

Stronggggggh

[@jovanntdiaz7261]

Ta loco con Sammy no papá salón de la fama así que déjense de vaina

[@candybanks8717]

Really un-corked on that.

[@Feelsbadman23]

Candy Banks I see what you did there. Got a like lol