Joining the Cubs in 1992, Sammy Sosa gradually developed into one of the NL’s premier home run hitters. Over the next six years Sosa gradually increased his home run tally, evolving into the feared slugger that would challenge baseball’s most hallowed record: the single-season home run record. This bat, obtained directly from the Chicago Cubs in January 1998, was used by Sammy during the 1997 season – the “calm before the storm.” During the summer of ’97, Sosa drove in 119 runs and clubbed 36 home runs – a very enviable number, but nothing like what he would do during the following summer when he and Mark McGwire put on the greatest home run race of all-time.

Sosa’s 1997 Louisville Slugger L159 model bat appears to be un-cracked and shows good game use with several ball marks visible on the barrel. The barrel end has two small chips and Sosa’s number “21” is written on both ends in silver marker. The Cubs slugger has signed the barrel in gold marker, adding his number “21.” The bat comes with a LOA from the Chicago Cubs and Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication for the game use and signature.

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