Inside The Cubs

On This Day in History: Chicago Cubs Slugger Sosa Wins MVP

On this day in Chicago Cubs history, slugger Sammy Sosa wins the 1998 National League MVP award.

Kade Kistner

On This Day in History: Chicago Cubs Slugger Sosa Wins MVP
On This Day in History: Chicago Cubs Slugger Sosa Wins MVP /
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On November 19, 1998, Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa moonwalked his way to the National League MVP award. 

While Sosa didn't win the award unanimously, he did garner 30 of the 32 first place votes. Sosa's season in which he slashed an otherworldly .308/.377/.647 with 66 home runs and a MLB-leading 158 RBI was one of the best all-around seasons ever put together by a player. 

Sosa also led the Cubs to a postseason berth as the Wild Card that faced the Atlanta Braves in the National League Divisional Series. Atlanta would end up sweeping the Cubs in a best-of-five series.

Mark McGuire came second in voting that season while Texas Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzalez took home the American League award.

However, it is worth noting that these awards and seasons came at the height of the steroid era. So, take these awards and laurels with an extra grain of salt.

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Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Cubs. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

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