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Listen to the radio broadcast Starters: Brad Woodall vs. Steve Trachsel WP: Rod Beck   LP: Alberto Reyes HR: Loretta (6), Burnitz (36), Cirillo 2 (14), Hughes (9), Sosa 2 (62), Grace (16).

The Cubs right fielder was in one of those hot streaks. He had hit No. 59 two days earlier and No. 60 the next day to tie Babe Ruth's 1927 record. Now the slugger was chasing history in Roger Maris' 61 single-season mark as well as Sosa's buddy, Mark McGwire, who had hit his 62nd home run just the weekend before. Sosa was present when McGwire launched his historic home run at Busch Stadium and had come in from right field to give the giant-sized redhead an equally huge hug.

Both men knew the pressures of facing 90-plus fastballs, of being on center stage at home plate, and having to answer daily queries whether they went 0-for-4 or 4-for-4. Sosa always referred to McGwire as "The Man." It was intense competition and it was fun.

But the 40,846 at Wrigley on Sept. 13 just wanted to see Sammy. And he came through. In the fifth inning against Milwaukee's Bronswell Patrick, Sosa launched an 0-1 pitch 480 feet over the left field bleachers for home run No. 61 and pumped his fists as he rounded the bases.

He struck out in the seventh, but when he came to bat in the ninth the streets behind the left field bleachers were crammed with fans and souvenir seekers. The pitcher? Eric Plunk, who had never given up a home run to Sosa. The crowd stood and chanted "62, 62." Sosa didn't disappoint. He added an exclamation point to the day when he belted another 480-foot home run, this time a solo shot.

The second blast dropped Ruth into fourth place on the single-season home run list with 60. "Babe Ruth was one of the greatest guys to play baseball," Sosa said. "Babe Ruth is still alive. He never died. Everybody remembers Babe Ruth like it was yesterday. I feel great to be there with Babe Ruth, Roger Maris and Mark McGwire."

Sosa climbed to the top of the dugout steps after hitting No. 62 and tipped his cap twice to the cheering crowd. The fans then started chanting "MVP, MVP" and Sosa came out for a third curtain call. The former shoeshine boy from the Dominican Republic who didn't start playing baseball until he was 14 suddenly was in the spotlight and Sosa basked in it, flashing his famous smile. The crowd smiled back, giving him a six-minute standing ovation.

The Cubs won the game, by the way, 11-10 in 10 innings, which kept them one game ahead of the New York Mets in the National League wild card race. Sosa's teammates carried him off the field on their shoulders after the game.

"It's unbelievable," Sosa said. "It was something that even I can't believe I was doing."

McGwire, Maris' son Randy and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig were among the many to call Sosa after the game to congratulate him. His home runs that day gave him a share of the NL record of 10 multi-homer games in a season. Pittsburgh's Ralph Kiner had 10 in 1947.

Sosa's spectacular season didn't end there. He finished the '98 season with 66 home runs and a Major League-leading 158 RBIs to win the Most Valuable Player honors.

Copyright 1998 by the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball