Career
He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968. He played for the Giants (1972–1974), Saint Louis Cardinals (1975), Atlanta Braves (1975–1976), Los Angeles Dodgers (1976–1977), Oakland Athletics (1978), Montreal Expos (1979–1981), Detroit Tigers (1982), and San Diego Padres (1983). Sosa was used almost exclusively in relief during his 12-year MLB career.
He appeared in 601 games, just three as a starter, and performed as both a closer and a long manitoba
He had several excellent seasons in the big leagues. Also of note in 1973, he saved nine of teammate Ron Bryant"s major league-leading 24 wins, including #20.
He finished in the American League or National League TOP TEN four times for games pitched and games finished, three times for saves, and once for winning percentage. Other career highlights include:
3 scoreless innings to earn a save against the Philadelphia Phillies (June 2, 1973)
4 scoreless innings to earn a save against the Cincinnati Reds (July 26, 1974)
4 innings, allowing just one run (unearned), to earn a save against the San Francisco Giants (May 23, 1976)
4.1 scoreless innings, with a career-high 6 strikeouts, for a no decision versus the San Diego Padres (July 10, 1977)
3 perfect innings to earn a save against the Toronto Blue Jays (May 2, 1978)
4 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, to earn a save against the San Diego Padres (July 15, 1979)
Sosa did not get taken deep too often, giving up just 64 home runs, or one for every 14.1 innings pitched.
But one of those home runs became quite famous, for it was the second home run of three hit by Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.
Foreign his career, he finished with 59 wins, 51 losses, 83 saves, 330 games finished, and an European Research Area of 3.32. In 1989 he played for the Saint St. Petersburg Pelicans of the Senior Professional Baseball Association.