Monday, September 14, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 5
Battle for home-run king continues
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Not so fast, Mark. Slammin' Sammy may win the race for the home-run record after all.
Sammy Sosa tied Mark McGwire yesterday, connecting twice against the Milwaukee Brewers to raise his total to 62.
"It's unbelievable. It was something that even I can't believe I was doing." Sosa said after the Cubs' dramatic 11-10, 10-inning win. "It can happen to two people, Mark and I."
Sosa hit a home run off Bronswell Patrick in the fifth inning, sending an 0-1 pitch 480 feet into the street behind the left-field fence at Wrigley Field. Sosa hit another 480-foot home run in the ninth inning, a solo shot off Eric Plunk.
That one dropped Babe Ruth into fourth place on the single-season list.
With tears and sweat running down his face as he sat in the dugout following his triumphant tour around the bases, Sasa came out for three emotional curtain calls. Fans littered the field while chanting "Sammy! Sammy!" causing a delay that lasted six minutes.
"I have to say what I did is for the people of Chicago, for America, for my mother, for my wife, my kids and the people I have around me. My team. It was an emotional moment," Sosa said.
Sosa was carried off the field at the end of the game, which kept the Cubs one game ahead of the New York Mets in the National League wildcard race. Sosa was on deck when Mark Grace hit the game-winning home run.
In the game with Ruth hit 60 home runs in 1927, that stood as the home run record for 34 years until Roger Maris hit 61.
McGwire broke Maris' mark on Tuesday
against the Cubs and six days later, Sosa surpasseed it, too.
"It was chilling when McGwire did it. I was dumbfounded," Grace said. "I thought pretty much the home-run race was going to be McGwire's. But when my buddy gets hot, he can hit them in a hurry. And he proved that. I just hope Sammy gets the attention he deserves. Not only has he hit 62 homers, but he has carried us. He is without a doubt the MVP of the National League."
Sosa, who has hit four homers in his last three games, was in St. Louis on Tuesday when McGwire hit No. 62. McGwire's Cardinals played in Houston yesterday night; McGwire and Sosa had hit home runs 20 times on the same day
Both of Sosa's home runs cleared the back fence at Wrigley Field, prompting scrambles for the baseballs. Sosa has 10 home runs this year off Milwaukee, the most against any team.
After the first home run, a parade of fans raced after the ball as it went down the street. Sosa rounded the bases pumping his fists as a sellout crowd at Wrigley began stamping its feet.
By the time Sosa struck out in the seventh, the street was filled with fans. When he was up to bat in the ninth with the Cubs trailing 10-8, they were chanting "62! 62!"
The No. 62 ball was retrieved by John Witt of Dixon, Ill., who stuffed it in his pocket and promised to negotiate with Sosa after the game. Witt was sitting in a van off Kenmore Avenue outside the stadium, watching the game on a small TV when he saw Sosa swing. The ball bounced a couple of times and landed at his feet.
"I don't think I had a chance," he said. "It's an unbelievable feeling. How do you know how much it's worth?"
Home-run leader Mark McGwire greets Sammy Sosa at first base during a recent St. Louis Cardinals/Chicago Cubs game at Bustad Stadium. Sosa hit two home runs yesterday to become the second player ever to hit 62 home runs in a season. McGwire and Sosa are now tied for the lead in the home-run race. Photo by Dan Elvasky/KANSAN
Volleyball team suffers first defeat of season
Bechard: Late night may have hurt team in tournament.
ay Laura Bokenkroger
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team improved to 7-1 after winning two of its three matches last weekend at the Doubletree Suites Guest Classic in Indianapolis.
The Jayhawks defeated Butler University (11-15, 15-8, 15-7 and 15-7) on Friday and Eastern Michigan (11-15, 15-6, 15-7 and 15-9) on Saturday. They lost their first match of the season to Kentucky (14-16, 7-15 and 14-16) on Saturday.
Kansas coach Ray Bechard said that the competition would be good preparation for the team's home opener on Friday, as the Jayhawks face San Francisco in the Jayhawk Classic.
"Our main focus is on managing ourselves," Bechard said. "We are preparing ourselves for tough competition as the season progresses."
Bechard said that despite a slow start in the Jayhawks' first match against Butler, they played well in front of a lively home crowd, defeating Butler three games to one.
The Jayhawks led Kentucky 14-12 in games one and three, but dropped both 16-14. Bechard said that getting to bed late the previous night may have hurt them.
Bechard said he was proud of the way his team battled back and praised the players for playing hard all weekend, regardless of whether they were winning or losing.
Setter Laura Rohde collected 136 assists and 21 kills.
"We had a late night and we're coming off an emotional win." Bechard said. "We just did not close out when we needed to, but Kentucky is a quality team and they deserve the win."
Kansas showed improvements defensively in the game against Eastern Michigan, posting 42 digs and 12 blocks.
"We saw growth in areas that needed it." Beard said.
Kansas middle blocker Amanda Reves led the Jayhawks with 44 kills this weekend.
The Jayhawks play San Francisco at 7 p.m. Friday at Allen Field House.
Joltin' Joe all caught up in excitement of home-run race
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Joe DIMaggio is fascinated by baseball's home-run chase.
"I think it's amazing," he told The New York Times in an interview published yesterday. "I don't understand the game now. All these home runs, but Hank Greenberg hit 58 home runs one year, Jimmie Foxx hit 58."
The 83-year-old Hall of Famer said he was caught up in the hoopla surrounding Mark McGwire and Smyma Sosa and their pursuit of Roger Maris and the home-run record. McGwire overtook Maris with home run No. 62 on Tuesday.
DiMaggio was asked about McGwire's use of androstenedione, the testosterone-boosting compound that is banned by the Olympics, NFL and NCAA but legal in baseball.
"All I ever did was ask Pete Sheehy for half a cup of coffee when I got to the clubhouse," the New York Yankees great said. "But there were a lot of half a cups. It stayed hot that way."
Speaking from Hollywood, Fla., where he was visiting patients at the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at Memorial Regional Hospital, DIMaggio also talked about this season's Yankees team that has a chance to set the record for the most victories.
He warned that history is filled with dominant teams that failed to win the World Series
in 1942 we won 103 games, won the pennant by nine games and won the Series opener, then the Cardinals beat us four straight," he told The New York Times. "We weren't hitting and they had some good pitchers. Johnny Beazley beat us twice.
"In the last game we had the bases loaded with two out and he threw me a big curveball, but I hit a grounder to third base. I had seven hits in that Series, all singles."
DiMaggio also spoke of his current counterpart. Yankees centerfielder Bernie Williams.
"Like that kid," he said. "He plays the game to win."
DiMaggio batted .325 with 361 home runs during his 13-year career and hit in a record 56 straight games in 1941. The Yankees won 10 pennants and nine World Series with DiMaggio.
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