Head back in time as Sammy Sosa hits home runs No. 61 and 62 in 1998. 1990’s Week, proudly presented by Prevagen.

Sept. 13, 1998: Sosa hits 61 and 62

Sosa’s record-setting home runs weren’t the only thrilling parts of a wild afternoon at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs led most of the game after a 6-run 3rd inning, but the Brewers stormed back to take a late lead and force some late-inning heroics from the Cubs offense. That included Sosa’s 62nd homer of the season with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning, setting the stage for Gary Gaetti’s game-tying single two batters later.

Sosa’s blast off Brewers pitcher Eric Plunk tied him with Mark McGwire for the home run lead as they became the first two players to hit more than 61 homers in a Major League Baseball season.

Earlier in the contest, Sosa hit his 61st homer off Bronswell Patrick, a 2-run shot in the 5th inning to give the Cubs an 8-3 lead.

Grace eventually won the game with his two-out homer into the right-field bleachers in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Fun Facts

• Google.com was founded in 1998.
• “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” was published.
• “Titanic” became the first film to surpass $1 billion at the box office and won a record 11 Academy Awards.
• Ricky Gutierrez set the Major League Baseball record for seeing the most pitches in a single at-bat (20) on June 26, 1998 against Bartolo Colon.