Sammy Sosa on Sharing Chicago with Michael Jordan & Ryan Howard Relives The Phillies Glory Days
Welcome back. Pump Gala 2025. It’s been a great day, Jack. We got a dugout edition. Yes. Back to baseball. Super excited. Seven time all-star NL MVP, six time silver slugger, twotime home run champ, RBI champs, man. Welcome to the show, man. Thank you guys for having me. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Josh. I’m actually going to That was me. That was you? Yeah, that’s how it sounds so pretty. That’s, you know, It’s I think as athletes we never really cuz we’re in the moment so much that we never really when you kind of sit back and think about like damn I was a bad [ __ ] You think that now that you’re done? Yes. Now now I do because I mean like you say when we in the field we just focus and do some damage. Mhm. Mhm. Get it done. Yeah. Recently you reunited with the Cubs breaking over a 20 year drought. Do you mind sharing what the the riff was and and how is it, you know, being back on on good terms with them? Well, time for me, I believe in the Lord. Uh, once again, timing it was perfect for me. Those 20 year that I was out from Chicago, I was travel around the world. Mhm. And uh, you know, when you up there, sometime you do things that you’re not expecting to be the way you want it to be. People sometime got confused. But, uh, and also the ego that we care oursel sometime go over the hump. and probably make you be intouchable. Mhm. That was my problem. But in that period of the time, I connected with the Lord. And through that, the Lord made sure or he already did to put my feet in the ground. Thing that I see in the past like negative, I was fighting for what was, you know, returning whatever it is, not anymore. I just let it go because I have peace in my heart. So, 21 21 I as 20 21 year out of Chicago pretty much was a long time especially you know all the thing that I did in the country I mean the city I’m sorry and combat was incredible unbelievable right couldn’t imagine time healed the wound exactly yeah beautiful thing born in San Pedro say that for me de democra democra yes don’t San Pedro Democrat Dominican Republic. I got it. Infamous infamously known as the cradle of shorts stops. How was it coming from coming up and growing up there? Um I mean in my country, my town s you got two things. Sugar cane and baseball players. Yeah. Sugar can. Yeah. Yeah. One. Exactly. So uh the thing for us as you know I got to be baseball players to bring my family to a different life. Yeah. For real. We were just talking to my dad with Daryl uh with Daryl Strawberry. how uh baseball there is way more serious because it’s exactly what you said is either stay here or play baseball and get your family out. Is it still like that today? And was that your mentality growing up? It’s still like that today. I remember, you know, and you know, my dad died when I was 7 years old and also I see my mom, you know, struggle and the only thing that I have, you know, baseball. I never I never liked baseball to tell you the truth. I was boxing for two years. Boxing. Yeah. And then my brother tell my mom that yes I was um I was backing and I had to quit. And then my brother took me to his friend have a little league and put me in left field and I sw I I swing couple time and I miss when I have my first contact his friend said we had a chance. We had a chance. We got a chance. We got a chance again. How how old were you at this point? I was 14. 14. Same as funny. Daryl Strawberry started at 14 too. Yeah. Interesting. Give us some other uh names of uh baseball players that come from your area all the time. Uh walking and hard, Pedro Guerrero, George Bell, Raffling Ramirez, one Lee, uh Cano, I mean ton to play, you know, Rico. Okay. You know what I mean? Harfell Griffin. I mean, if I continue, I’m not going to finish tonight. Said too many. Talk about your training. You took training serious. They train with bottle caps that we see on social media now. Is it something crazy you did to get your batting the way it was? Well, bottom caps is one thing, but also uh uh what we did was a spectacular in the little corn that you eat. We, you know, we just let them dry and also we just the mantle it and then you pick each one of them and pitch. Yeah, the comb. Oh yeah, the comb. Yeah. Oh, the little things off the comb. You know the little cones that fall off the tree? Oh, the pine cones. The pine cones. Yeah. They say they pick them things off and pitch them to each other. That’s crazy. That’s crazy. Yeah, that’s crazy. And that’s I mean we tried everything because of the the situation that we was in the country especially my family. You know what I mean? You didn’t have balls and I don’t have anything. I mean my glow was a a male cartoon. So I don’t have original glow. I play in the street with my friends but you know other than that you know it’s nothing that I can say you know that was there for us like now. When did you feel like at what age did you feel like I I have a chance to play baseball at the next level? Well when I was 14. When I was 14, I started play cuz my brother, you know, helped me out cuz he was the one that play in the in in the house. And two years later, I got signed by Philadelphia. Damn. Two years later. Two years later. That’s crazy. That’s insane. Yeah. What was that like? Obviously coming, you just said, you know, didn’t have much, watched your mom struggle, lost your dad at an early age. You pick up a sport and two years later you’re signed to a professional baseball team. Like what was that experience like? Was was good. But you know the thing is that when I sign I sign through Philadelphia Philly to one of the scout name is Akika Seedo. He own the winner board over there. But the problem is that I signed with it. And also he got a problem with you know with Philadelphia and and in Philadelphia reject all of us. They didn’t want you want us. And then you know here we go again. We go back to the free market or to the free agency. And then uh the same year I signed with Texas Ranger Omar Minaya. Okay. Yeah. Texas Rangers. Who were some of your idols that you looked up to growing up since I mean you started late, but was there anyone once you started playing that you looked up to? Well, you know, because we have our idol was already established. Was it George Bell? You know what I mean? He was the thing Andrew 20. He was, you know, the big thing. And also we see those those I mean those player like that, but also uh they show off that whatever they made, they came back to the town, helped the family and help the family and all of them do the same thing. So pretty much it’s like a routine for us. Yeah. It’s it’s a lot of players too. Like y’all have leagues growing up and there some guys that probably should have made the major leagues in your home country that never didn’t. Can you talk about like somebody famous like that? Like you always have some stars that never made it. Well, I mean we have a lot of people left out. I mean no question about it because I mean not everybody going to make it. Especially today, you know, they they give you signing bon for 5 million and some of those kid they never made it but already, you know, they already have 5 million. So they good. Oh, you can’t no more. That’s right. Right. So, from the Dominican Republic to Texas, was that your first time coming to America? What was that like? Well, it’s it’s funny thing. I came out in 1986. That was my first year. I came I signed 86. I came in and um I remember came here to plan city in Florida and I went there uh to spin training. We got everything spin. Everything was okay. But also, you know, never speak English, never did anything that. So everybody talk about Madan and stuff like that. So us like seeing McDonald’s was a big thing for us. So when I went to the heard about McDonald Exactly. So I went to McDonald’s. I don’t know how to speak English and the lady say can I help you? I say chicken. [Laughter] Hey that’s funny cuz when I went when I told y when I went to Dominican Republic I couldn’t speak I couldn’t speak Spanish. I’m pointing at stuff on the menu too the same way. What’s that chicken? Did you have any uh rookie duties when you got up and and finally made it to the top? Well, um through minor league a couple time. I mean I did great minor league but you know my first team was uh you know make it to the major league 1989. I got called by Texas Rangers and then after that um you know my first home home run was against Roger Clemen home run. Yes. And the Roger Clement and I say you know when I hit a home run in Boston I run the basic running because he start looking at me. I Jesus Christ. So when I touch home and then you know you know I mean I went to the dog I say to everybody hey if you hit it home run to this big star be careful the rest of them be good for you. I got the big fish. Yeah, he got the big fish. You debuted with the Rangers, but then traded to the White Socks in the same year. Uh spent three years there before getting traded to the Cubs. Like when did you understand that this was a business and how was that movement for you? Well, for me at the beginning, um I don’t understand pretty much about how work, but also one thing that I said to myself, I can play. I have ability to do damage. And I played two two like that. I mean two years with the Chicago White Socks and all of a suddenly I had to say that I have one guy I call him my my guardian angel which is Larry Hines he’s always he trained me from the Texas Ranger to Chicago I saw Chicago I saw to the Chicago cup so pretty much he’s seeing me something that the rest of haven’t seen so also he was right turned out being right the 90s was wild time in baseball history tell us about what the locker room environments was like during that time in baseball oh my goodness I mean I make it to the major I mean the locker room was about about that size, you know, not you know, not that big. But uh you know, now this day it’s like a this is world, man. Beer and cigarettes in the locker room, all that. Well, a cigarette, I don’t know about that, but also everything else. I mean, today, like for example, when we going to have an interview with the major league back then, all the reporter was in the clubhouse. Not anymore. You have a separate area. Yeah. You know, if you don’t want to talk to the reporter, you say, “No, no, I don’t want to talk to them.” So, they just around your locker. Can’t get away from can’t get away. No. Exactly. But today is different. Big big big difference. Mhm. So, let’s go into your mind of you at the plate. What you thinking? Like soon as you get in the plate, what what do you think? Soon as you get in that box, what you thinking? Well, I mean, my preparation was different. I was there for one reason and one reason only. Uh, I was there. I don’t want to be a me player. I worked double. I work hard. Want to be the best. Exactly. And and normally I was hungry because this I mean today and age when a superstar sign a contract first couple of year when he write the contract he he also he do everything right to get that contract as soon he had that contract and then he’s you know labor not me I don’t want people to call me say hey you know you got paid in doing you don’t do your job I had those let’s say I had that uh in inside of me you know what I mean and everything that I did was hard I mean I was the first one to get to the I mean to the cage I was the first one to go out there do my things. I really not and never give up any bat. Today, you know, I see players strike out, they don’t care. No, no. Me, if you strike me out, I coming back next time with more. We going to fix this. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. We talk about this in in all different sports about having veterans and and we call them OGs when we come into the game to give us game and to help us filter through and learn how to be a professional. You have any OGs that when you came in? I have a lot of them. I mean, especially, you know, Andrew Dawson was there, the Hawk. The Hawk. Oh, man. Great guy. Sean D, including Rice Sam, but they passed away. Rest in peace. Uh, you know, I got Mark Gray. I have, you know, the whole thing going there, you know, help me out sometime when I, you know, when I’m doing the, you know, also Billy Willer was there. Uh, Fergenski. So, a lot of a lot of veteran and I’m always looking for, you know, for advice from them because they they they play many year. you gotta, you know, get, you know, pick him our brain, make sure that you do the right thing. So, pretty much it worked for me. My sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school was your incredible late 90 runs against Mark Maguire for the home run titles, particularly 1998. Uh, you hit 20 home runs in the month of June, which is still an MLB record. Uh, you finished the season with 66 and he finished with 70. What was that battle like in competitive? By the way, I hit 27 F. You know, seven seven f more could have had 27 would have been 72. You would have beat it. But what were those battle? I mean, I remember you guys to me it it was to me one of the most exciting times in baseball. It was mustwatch TV. Every time you guys played, you guys battled against each other and kind of messed around when you guys were both hitting home runs. What was that time like for you? Well, for me it was like uh you know you know everybody always you know dreaming big but I mean for me coming from Dominican Republic uh to this country and they see Mark he was the man. Mhm. And normally myself competing against them. It was incredible. I had a awesome time. I I was I was happy. I enjoy every minute. I make a lot of people happy. We shock the world by the way. you know me that year and also a lot of people appreciate it because the situation that we had with the strike and baseball that you know I mean not that many people normally gone to the ballpark and we bring all those people and uh and man that was that was great. One thing that I like is not like we never hate each other like people make it. Yeah, we’re not just competitive. Just competitive. Exactly. What was like life like off the field during that time for you? Oh man. He said oh man. Oh man, I feel like Elby Presley, you know, go outside 25 people around everywhere that I go. I mean, I can’t even go to to the, you know, to the to the hotel. I got pound of people waiting for me. I got to go on the back. I mean, all all those service I’m I’m but I enjoy it, you know. I’m I mean, I’m always available taking care of those people and autographing of it, you know. You were in Chicago the same time as MJ. Did you guys get a chance to know each other? Did you go to any games? Did he come watch any of your games? Yes. I mean um I remember that you know uh me going out going you know make the world crazy. I mean I bring a lot of people to the I mean to the city. He went there also. Uh AJ was I mean incredible. We share you know city you know he was the man that was there. That’s a hell of a person to share a city. Exactly. Yeah. But uh was great man. I mean Jay was you know the time that we spent together was awesome. M thought on when he tried to cross over and play baseball. Well, I give him a couple of advice. I mean, normally the transition that you have to make, you know, it’s hard. I mean, and I applaud to him because I mean, he went up there and try for year two and he pretty much not not bad. You know what I mean? Coming, you know, coming to be the superstar to play baseball again, it’s like a woof kind of hard. Yeah. Another slugger, home run hitter during your era was uh Barry Bonds. battling against him. Uh you know, another five tool guy. What were those battles like? And did you guys have any uh personal relationship? Yeah, you know, we talked in and out every time we saw each other. We see each other many times. It’s been training because, you know, we have a spin training in in Arizona. But also Barry Bon was something else. I mean the guy something else. Yes. I mean I mean I I consider myself a pretty good heater but he was in top. I mean I chased so many bad pitchers but he never chased any bad pitches. Yeah, he wait for his own pitch and then when he has his pitch, he never missed. What was your one pitch you knew you couldn’t lay off on, but you still swung at that [ __ ] all the time? Oh, the sliding breaking piece outside. I remember I remember I remember uh parking say one day that I can never hear breaking piece not even with a guitar. Not even with a guitar. And exactly. And I and I make my adjustment and then when I start, you know, when breaking I hit it to right, he came to me say I made a mistake. You can hear now. You can hit now. That’s right. That’s that that’s a real thing going opposite field. Uh you Bonds Maguire, players we grew up watching that were so instrumental in bringing baseball back to life aren’t necessarily recognized and respected how you guys should be. How does that make you feel when you look back on everything you’ve accomplished? Oh, it’s a bless. I mean, not not even the we made it to the top, but we never forget where you’re coming from, right? And that’s and that is, you know, that’s what make me more uh grateful. Thanks to the Lord that gave me the the opportunity, the ability to do them, especially Mark, Barry, myself. I mean, we we, you know, we did something, like I said, we suck the water in the high level. Consistency. It was mustwatch TV consistently. Um, your signature home run hop when you get out of the box and hop up the first baseline. Where’d that come from? Swag. Yeah. That’s right. That’s right. Baseball swag. That’s right. You know, listen. Um, I I I was doing so many things for my mom. You know, first when I hit her, I touch my, you know, my helmet for my money and I I had to find something that she feel great. And also, for some reason, one day I was watching under Galaraga. He did it perfectly. So I Yeah, I took it before and I’m telling you, every time I I do that job, everybody know that. There you go. I love that. 2003 Steve Bartman game. Walk us through what happened on that left field line. Man, we should I mean, we we have we have boot pen. We had everything done. We had everything. I mean, I mean, for some reason, uh, we call him Deéjàu. I don’t believe in that, but Dejàu, I guess, you know, in 2003, I think, um, Mo Sal, but I mean, he put the hand in, I mean, the poor guy, you know, he’s out of the country. I know, maybe he’s in Kuwait right now. I don’t know what his life never been the same. His life never been the same. But also, you know, we could have come back, but I mean, in baseball, you cannot give a chance. Yeah. To the opponent or any sport. one quick error. Yeah, you finished. Uh what are your thoughts on the current state of Major League Baseball? A lot of uh major changes like speeding up the game for the fans uh analytics. As someone who came in the kind of an old school era, what are your thoughts on what the new improvements they’ve tried to make to the game? Well, it’s different era when we play. We don’t have, you know, that you know social media today. Today is about it’s about timing. And I think the adjustment that they make was at the right time because they pay enough money for them to do that. I mean one second, two second probably not going to affect those player but also they had to do some changes because I mean uh that’s what they you know reclaim. But I don’t I don’t worry about the time when I’m there. I don’t I don’t care about if you change the time. No, I’m looking at focus. Exactly. Yeah. uh some other legendary outfielders uh during your era that we wanted to touch on. Uh first of all, Ken Griffy Jr. Oh, the kid. Yeah, he he’s it’s also the sweet swing. The sweet. Oh my goodness. Sweet. I mean, great guy. Mhm. I love it. I love it. Great guy. I mean, the way also he came out that also he was he was incredible. Catch the feel, hitting, man. I I I asked him. I mean, how do you do it? You know what I mean? He’s like right there. Swing, sweet, swing, left field, right field. I mean, he was, he was amazing. Tony Gwyn. Oh my goodness. The emperor. The emperor. Guaranteed to get a hit. My god. My god. He just like, wow. I mean, it’s crazy. I have an opportunity also to pick his brain. You know, he was one of the guy the hard I mean, I mean, they work hard every day. Even he go three for four the night before, the next day he’s in the cage. Make sure that he continue consistency, his consistency. Manny Ramirez. M man Ramir the captain he’s good he’s good I mean he’s uh you know what uh I like about man you know he’s quiet he’s always when he go to the he set him up pitcher he set him up pictures so I mean every time he throw this picture he never miss but he was one of the great right-handed hit that I you that I see many what do you think about these young upand cominging or not necessarily young but just younger Japanese players having such an impact on Major League Baseball these days you know remember uh there are Japanese So they can play. Yes. And that’s and that’s the tool that you know let’s say the scout or the you know the majorly looking for especially I mean you say Otani. I mean this guy is come from another world. You know what I mean? And also if you have talent doesn’t matter if you’re Japanese or or Dominican or whatever they find you. But if you a baseball fan you know that they are always in the running for the goal in baseball every year. Bro, their team is good every year. So that’s why they have so many players coming over now cuz they can actually play the game. Yep. Locked in. Brothers who went over there and played in Japan. Yeah. Yeah. You saw Mr. Baseball. Was that Tom Celich? Borman teammates of yours. Uh tell us a little bit about him. Carlos Zambrano. Oh man. Zbrano. He was I mean he was uh incredible cuz Samrano uh I mean he can pitch but he can hit. And I like every time he walks in the mouth because I mean uh he always asked me, “You want me to knock somebody down?” Because he was too. Yeah. Yeah. He’s he’s incredible. Nola Ryan. Oh, Nola Ryan. O I mean that was another guy that was a he was old school and I remember he hit a home run against Hen and I think it was training. The next piece it was brush. Yeah. Right. I was afraid. I was afraid. fought hard too. Fought hard, man. Uh, Greg Maddox, Maddox, the guy that changed a guy. I mean, he was he was he was awesome. Great teammate also, you know, he was, you know, he was one of those guy that also made me chase some pitches. But when I learned my stri and and stay back with the ball, I remember he throw me a change over there in Atlanta and I hit a home run right here. He like, “What’s going on?” How to do that? I heard he was a prankster too off the off the field in the clubhouse. I heard he used to pull a bunch of Oh man. Did he pull any [ __ ] on you? No, I wasn’t playing that [ __ ] We not going here. I was the favorite because you know I was, you know, I was the man that that make him win some games. Yeah, we leave you alone. No [ __ ] over here. Frank Thomas, the big hurt. Big hurt. Incredible. I mean, this guy, I mean, we played together. I played together a few year over there. He he just not the first day that he came out, he just did not throw the power in this 67. I mean, 200 something pound. Yeah. Pretty good hitter. Carrie Wood and Mark Prior. Wow. Tough one, too. Yeah, tough one, too. They both was great, but I think uh um Kerry Wood was a little bit more on it. He was more gamer. Uh nothing with Margaret. I mean, Prior was awesome, too. But, you know, you can see the difference. So, Carrie Wood, you know, I take Carrie Wood. Sean Dunston. Oh, my boy. My boy Sean, he’s he’s a he’s unbelievable. Pretty good. What is some of the biggest unwritten rules in baseball? Uh, in your opinion, something that people may not know. What’s an unwritten rule in baseball that people may not know? Well, uh, I had to say, well, you got me in that one. I mean, um, I don’t know. It’s something that we do in in the club. How to keep it secret, I guess. Okay. You got it under wraps. Don’t um strike out. Um, no. Don’t hit a ground ball into a double play with two outs. We got a man on third, one out. We got one out, but you got a man on scoring position. Yeah, that’s right. Don’t do that. Don’t do that. Exactly. [ __ ] plays the MLB of the show and he’s over here talking like I’m right though. I’m right though. I know you do. I mean, you don’t want to do that. I mean, I mean, men on third, I mean, that’s your money right there. You don’t want You don’t mind. Oh, no. No. You got to bring that guy in. When you sit back and look all you’ve accomplished, like what do you what do you think? You made it out of the Dominican Republic. Great baseball player. When you kind of sit back and reflect like what are you most proud of? I’m more proud that every time I walk in the street, people came to me and say, “You was a good player. You are you are a great man.” Because I mean I don’t want to be a great player and then people hate me. Not a bad person. Yeah. I don’t want to do that. And normally uh I’m a likable guy, you know, I make people laugh and this is my gift that God gave it to me and I will continue to spread it to the world. Mhm. The best gift athlete can I mean the best compliment athlete can get is like you were a great player but you’re a better human being. Exactly. That’s one of the best compliments we can get. What was your favorite season in your career? Well 98. 98. 98. Yeah. That was you know that was the year that was the year they got me to the to the White House. I mean with I mean Mr. Bill Clinton. That was the year they got me to the hero of the canoe over there in New York. That was the year that uh Sammy SA really really you know recognized all over the world. Yeah. I remember I was in high school we’ll cut cut school go take bong rifts and watch you go to work back loaded so crazy in New York like in New York people was watching the taxi the people taxiing in New York they put the number in the car in the back to follow. Yeah. That’s awesome. Yep. Yep. Uh is making the Hall of Fame something that’s important to you? Uh it’s important for every player. Okay. Uh I think that you know looking forward maybe one day you know thing change like it been changing recently and you know myself Barry Bond Maguire Clement can make it a day. Y’all deserve it for sure. Smartest pitcher you ever faced? Smartest pitcher. Smartest/ toughest. Smart. Great minded. Okay. Who else said that? David Justin. Who said that? or uh Gary Sheffield. Who else said it? Or someone else said it too. Was it Justice? Oh, Gary. Best uh worst ballpark you ever played in in in the major leagues? Worst ballpark? Oh, the old San Francisco candlestick. Candlestick. Yes. Right in the water. Yes. Yeah. Uh craziest clubhouse story that you could share with us. Now you seen a lot of [ __ ] Sammy. Give me something. It’s coming now. Give me something, Sammy. Come on now. Oh, you can seen a lot of [ __ ] Yeah. Well, I remember uh in Texas um me and uh Julio Franco, forget to mention Julio Franco. They they got did this bed and I try and wrestle with them and they got me like that and they came up with all the [ __ ] all that stuff and throw it to me. I remember my Jerry cur Jerry curl. [ __ ] Jerry curl up. Question. Was your Jerry curl wet or dry? Did that [ __ ] drip or just look? Oh, I had longer, buddy. Yeah, it was long. I was saying you were He used to shake that [ __ ] That’s right. That’s right. Y’all didn’t notice. He used to jump out the barrel box and flip his [ __ ] when he hit a home. [Laughter] Oh [ __ ] Used to flip his [ __ ] out of the home. That’s right. Jump out the box and flip it on him. If you was in the game and and the [ __ ] is cleared, name three players that you would want to fight with you. Who’s on your side with you? Who’s in my side? Uh I have Sbrano. Srano. Yeah, Carlos Sbrano. Uh was there uh three play I have? Uh let me see. Eddie Yelen was a crazy guy. Yeah, Yelen. Where did you play with him at? Uh in in Chicago. And uh well, what else? What else? What do I have? Maybe Frank Thma. Oh, Frank Thomas. Yeah, Frank. Frank has hurt. I’m looking at the to my wall. He going to hurt some. Hell yeah. I’m I’m going to be behind you, Frank. I’m right behind you. That’s right. Who is the greatest player of all time in baseball history? Wow. In your opinion from my era or from the period. Period. Period. Well, I have some few. I have to say that uh Beiru and I have to say um um Hary Hen Gary and also Roberto Clemente. Roberto Clemente is tough of course. Yeah. Yeah. What are you up to postretirement? Any business ventures? Anything that you want to tell people so we can get that you can get their support? Yes. Um I I have some few business some few a um you know real estate business doing it right now and also states or back at home? Uh, no, that one is in Panama. Okay. But also we’re looking out something here in the state also. So, yeah. Um, and also couple of financial, you know, moment. Okay. I would love to come and hang out with you in DR one day. Let me know. They love me there. I might have some kids there. You going to go look for your kids? I might have a couple. Yeah. You going to help me look for Sammy and Stack down the street? Stack kids. Child. Child support coming. Yeah. Straight up. It’s coming. Well, well, I was there a long time ago. They they about 23, 24. Yeah. Statues limitation. Good now. See, they come back. Maybe hug your son for the first time. Was it my fault? Was it my fault? In the current major MLB, best player in the league you feel like right now? Wow. Um, I have some few. Or maybe I’ll maybe give you two or three. Yeah. Well, you know, I have to say um Juan Sto is one. Uh Ron Auna, Fernando Tati. Yeah. She Otani these people they are they’re going to make the league to another level. I mean with the respect with the rest of the players, but this for dude they are. Yeah. Kun especially. Yeah. And and and I mentioned Juan Sto because nobody will give you 765 million because you’re a nice guy, right? A lot of baseball. Good baseball. You deserve it. So, god 750 million. [ __ ] I mean, what do you think about just like those massive contracts and our players set up to handle themselves? Well, I want them to give a billion, two billion, you know, I mean, because I remember when I was coming up now was that much money, but the the vet open the door for us. So, now, you know, the baseball is different. new era people making money especially when I play let’s say a platoon player making $700,000 now they’re five or 7 million 10 million just sitting on the bench so everything change it’s money for everybody now y if you could see one Major League Baseball guest on our show who would it be but you have to help us get your answer on the show so who are some of your friends you think should be on our show well uh I think um Pedro Sea Pedro, you know, Pedro Martinez. Yeah, Pedro. Pedro Pedro is pretty good. I mean, also Ar Puh Puh would be dope, too. We played in a game with him. He’s super cool dude. And you know, maybe Adrian Betray also. Bel. Yeah. I mean, a lot of them, you know, they can come to your show and, you know, are you are you in Big Poppy? Cool. Oh, yeah. Big Poppy. Yeah, that’s my boy. I know that’s your boy. I know that’s your boy. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, Big Poppy. Got to see you, Big Poppy. Well, Sammy, we appreciate your time, man. You you you filled my childhood with amazing times and uh just an honor to be able to sit down with you, man. And uh thank you for coming on our show today. Thank you, man. Appreciate Sammy. So, baby, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That’s a wrap. Sammy Sosa. You can catch us on All the Smoke Productions YouTube and the DraftKings Network. See y’all next week. Peace. Basketball season is finally here and I’m hyped. While I’m watching, I’m going to be enjoying the action on the DraftKings app playing Pig Six. I partner with them and they have a great offer right now. New DraftKings customers, play just $5 on your first pick set and get $50 in bonus picks. Download the DraftKings apps today. Use promo code smoke. DraftKings, the crown is yours. [Music] Boost Mobile has an unlimited talk, text, and data plan that’s only $25 a month forever. That means you only have to pay $25 a month for the rest of your life. Who wouldn’t want unlimited wireless when it only costs $25 a month forever. If you don’t, you must be one of those people who enjoy overpaying for their phone plan. But it’s not too late to change your ways. $25 a month forever is truly as good as it gets. So go online and switch now at boostmobile.com. After 30 GB, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on Boost Unlimited plan. Welcome to another edition of All the Smoke Dugout Edition. We’re here in Atlanta for the MLB All-Star game 2025. My man sitting to my left put in a lot of work. 2005 Rook of the Year, 2006 MVP, three-time All-Star, Home Run Derby champ, World Series champ with the Phillies in 2008. Actually, recently in the media space now, too, man. Welcome to the show, Ryan Howard. Yes, sir. Appreciate you. Appreciate you, man. I’m going to jump a little bit because it’s it something that happened to you is heavy in the NBA sport right now. You tore your Achilles. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. On the last play of the season in 2011, AODS and obviously pretty much ended your guys’ run uh to say the least. But talk to me about that injury and what the recovery process was like physically, but I also want to hear the mental side because the mental side I know is more draining than the physical. Man, first and foremost, it was uh yeah, as you mentioned, the last play in the postseason against my hometown team I grew up watching, man, the Cardinals, man. And it was just one of those situations where when I hit the ball and I went down, I just thought I got hit in the back of the leg. Mhm. Right. And I was like, “Oh man, what you doing? The ball’s in right field. You got to get up and go.” Got up, boom, foot went flat, went down, felt the tingle go up my leg, and I was like, “Okay, something something ain’t right.” But, uh, it was one of those things to where, you know, it just when it happened, the comeback, I was like, “All right, I’m still young somewhat, and I’ll be able to come back, do all that.” It took a lot longer than I had ever expected. um going into 12 13 um it was one of those things for me where you know as a player you want to get back faster cuz you know you thinking about hey me at 60% is better than a lot of dudes at 100%. Facts. So I’m like let me just get good enough to be able to get out on the field as opposed to really getting like 110%. And that’s what I tell cats now. You know kind of watch it what happened in the po in the playoffs in the NBA. The first thing I tell guys when they have any kind of injury, bro, make sure you’re 110%. Not 100%. 110%. Because that extra 10% is that mental physically you’ll feel good, but mental is like, yeah, trusting it and just being able to say, “Oh, the minute you feel something, just like a little ache or a tweak, you’re like, oh [ __ ] there we go again.” So, how long do you feel like physically it took you to get back? And how long did it take you mentally to get back? I mean, for me, I felt like it took a couple years. Um, because that that next year I a toe injury, right? Yeah. Well, well, that next year I had to get my left knee scope. So, it was my left Achilles and then my left my left knee. Okay. So, really being a left-handed hitter, this is my pushoff side. This my drive side. So, it was tough kind of getting those back in sync. So, it took a little bit. Like even still to this day, like this leg is still a little bit weaker. So I can still feel it, but um you know, it’s just continuing to try to put that work in, man. Get that thing right. You’ve been in the media space for a little bit, 611 podcast with your brother Jimmy Rollins. Uh what made you jump into the to the pod space? You know what, Jimmy and I just have this rapport and um you know, we were like, man, let’s let’s go on out here and go give the people what they want. And uh and getting out here doing the 611 podcast, at first it’s it’s a funny play because when we came up with the name, we didn’t realize what what the extra was to it. So my number was six, Jimmy’s number was 11. And then obviously playing in Philadelphia, well 611 is like the exit for Broad Street. which is like the main street in Philly. So, we were like, you know, I didn’t we didn’t realize it. It worked out perfectly. It was meant to be like, “All right, yeah, it’s meant to be.” Yeah. So, how how has that been? I mean, there’s not a lot of ton There’s not a ton. Like, I feel like the basketball space has been saturated with them. There’s still not a lot of former players in your profession doing what you guys are doing. So, you guys are, you know, somewhat pioneering this space. But, how how how has it been? How how have you enjoyed it? Man, it’s been great. It’s been fun. Um, thoroughly enjoying it. you know, trying to come through and give like a baseball perspective on different things. But, you know, just just as what you guys are doing over here, man, just touching on the outsides of of different things because I think when people look at baseball in in general, they’re thinking one thing. And so, we’re trying to kind of change that narrative. Yeah. And change the stigma on retired life. And I’ve been at it for eight years now. You’ve been at it to pretty much the same or pretty close. What What is retired life for you like these days, man? Retired life is good, bro. Good. I mean, first and foremost, always being able to just kind of hang out with the family. I got uh my son who’s a little bit older, but three girls, you know, 10, eight, and five, so chasing them around. What’s it like being a girl dad? Cuz I got all boys, man. It’s You know what? It’s different. It’s cool. Cuz you got an older son. I got older. You got three baby girls. Three girls. Yeah. So, it’s different. So, dance. So, we got we got a lot of dance taking place. So, that’s Yeah. They ever they ever get daddy dressing up or going to tea parties with them or anything like that. I’ve I’ve I’ve done that. Done that. Gotten the nails painted, gotten the makeup did, all that stuff. And it is daddy duty, bro. It is. It is. I’m outnumbered. I’m outnumbered. A lot of female energy in the house. That’s it. That’s it. You got to pick my battles. There you go. Born and raised in St. Louis. K from uh Southwest U Missouri State becomes how did he become one of the greatest power hitters of all time out there. Um man, you know what? Uh my story there was was interesting. You know, like you say, born and raised St. Louis, Missouri. Um, out of high school, I was actually recruited by like larger schools and was looking at going to Arizona State to go play, but I I didn’t pass my ACT in time. And so, what was your what was your senior year high school? I mean, cut you off. 98. Okay. So, we’re the senior. Yep. Graduated 98. So, back then that was where you could still not have a scholarship by your senior year and still have an opportunity to get a scholarship where here you got to commit by seventh grade, you know, verbally or whatever. They’re paying you to stop your recruiting process. Exactly. So, it was uh it was one of those things where um the way I wound up at at SMS, which is now Missouri State University, uh it was funny. So, I was kind of, you know, in limbo because I wasn’t able to get a scholarship to go to ASU and was looking at a few different schools late and I got to go down to to SMS at the time and meet Coach Keith Gutton. And what I loved about it, I love the campus. I love G cuz he was straight up. And he just told me, he looked me dead in the eye. He said, “Look, we’d love to have you. You’d be what we would say is like a recruited walk-on.” And he’s like, “But I can’t guarantee you any any play time because you’d be going up against two junior college transfers.” And me at the time, I looked him dead in the eyes. It’s like, “Where do I sign?” Mhm. So, cuz I wanted I wanted I wanted the thrill of that competition cuz wherever it was that I wound up, I wanted to go to be able to play as a true freshman to see how good I was. How did that work out? Uh them two dudes were sitting on the bench. Okay. So, it worked out. How long did it take for you to crack the lineup? Um I mean, I made it from from fall camp. Oh, day one. So, yeah. So, from fall camp um going into the spring, they’re like, “All right, you that’s your position. You got it. We we led the country in home runs. I was fourth on the team in home runs that season with 19 as a freshman. Damn. Uh who were some of your heroes growing up in the in the sport? Oh man. Um so growing up obviously being a Cardinals fan um we had Willie McGee, Aussie Smith, Vince Coleman, T Pendleton, all those guys. My idols Tony Gwyn, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffy Jr. Um, man, I’d say Jim to beast. Big thump. Beast. Big thump. And the left. My man. Big I gotta throw a righty in there. My man Big Hurt. Okay. My man Big Hurt. Frank Thomas. You got them testosterone pills if you need them. What are they called? Big. My boys used My boys used to call me Hurt in high school. Yeah. So that that’s that’s dope. Minor league grinds. Um I know the baseball grind is unlike any other. What was your minor league journey like? minor leagues was fun, bro. We We used to say it all the time, man. It’s like when you get drafted, you go in them bushes. Go in the jungle. Everybody, don’t matter if you’re first rounder, 50th rounder, whatever. Everybody go in the bushes. And so, I just remember my my journey was a little bit different because my first full season in the minor leagues was 2002. I was drafted in 01. Okay. The Phillies had just signed Jim Tom in 2002 to like a six-year deal. So I was sitting there like, “Damn, man. They just signed Jim Tommy.” Like the fan in me was like, “Yo, that was dope.” But then the player in the organization was like, “Damn, they just signed Jim Tom.” So that’s when I made up my mind where I was like, man, I just got to do what I got to do and try to take it out of their hands and and try to play my way up to the big leagues, whether it was in the Phillies organization or whether it was somewhere else. Right. How how many years did you play in the minors? I was in the minors for three years. Three and some change. Mhm. And then you come up and what happens with So I came up had my call up in 04 September ’04 started back in AAA in ’05 and then so in AAA Tommy gets hurt I go up for like two weeks and then he comes back off the uh the injured reserve DL and then I go back down to Triple A and then he gets hurt for the rest of the season in ‘ 05 and I just kind of just go did my thing and I remember I remember being asked by media when they said Tommy was gonna be out for the rest of the season. One of the people was like, “Hey, so what’s it like to, you know, have to fill Jim Tom shoes, I said, I’m not Jim Toé.” And I said, you know, if I go out and I go do me and I know what I’m capable of, I think we’ll be all right. Philly fans are a little different. They are. How did What was What was kind of like your welcome to the team? When did you know that they were really rocking with you, man? Like when I got called up in in September of ’04. Okay, my first big league at bat. I had a really good year in double A and Triple A that year going up and they would always kind of play like the down on the farm type stuff where they would show, you know, what guys are doing. And so everybody was hearing about this kid and now everybody was ready to see. So I remember we were actually playing the Braves in Philly and I was standing on deck circle and I was like nervous as hell, man. It’s And then they announced my name and the crowd like went crazy and I was like, “What’s that feeling like?” Like walk us back cuz I mean I know you get chills just what was that experience like that first time they called your name and the whole stadium went man it was it was surreal. It was surreal cuz I was like okay I’m here. I’m here. I’m here. Like let’s like let’s go. That’s super dope. Uh fifth round pick. Obviously one of the rare guys that spent his entire career with one organization. Is it true at one point you were mistaken for Jimmy Rollins bodyguard? This is affirmative. I can affirm that. I can confirm that. Let me hear that story. Confirm that. I need to hear it. So, I’m a rookie and there was this bar that was attached to the ballpark to the to the stadium there and it was McFadens and so like we used to go over there and go kick it like every once in a while like after the games or whatever. So, I go over with Jimmy and Jimmy’s like sitting at the bar and I was just kind of standing next to him and this girl comes up and she’s like, “Oh my god, Jimmy Br.” She’s like and then stopped and like looked up and looked at me and she’s like, “Oh, I’m sorry. are are you his security? And I was just standing there like we both looked at each other just started laughing cuz I I I had just kind of burst on the scene a little bit. So that’s funny. Any runins with any other uh Philly sports legends? Iverson McNab, man. All of them. Really? All of them, man. What’s it like meeting AI for the first time, man? Dope. Little dope. Dope. But you know, he he he pack a punch. Come on, man. He pack a punch, man. He was he was so cool. He was First time I met him, right? So I’m I’m me still kind of making my way up coming in into the leagues and stuff like that. AI is AI and he’s like man I was like AI man what’s up man. He’s like yeah you that you that you that big [ __ ] hitting all them home runs. I was like I was like I was like what? I was like I know who I am. Oh my god this is dope. Yeah. So it’s like it was cool man. That was that was a really cool moment for me. I mean, again, Philly sports are they’re finicky, but they love their players, and if if you’re a good player, they love you to death. What was just the fandom like in Philly? Again, again, being a guy that got a chance to spend his whole career in one spot. It’s dope, man. I I put it to people like this who’ve never played in Philly. Um, I mean, obviously, as a as an opposing player, they know they know how tough it can be, but being a home player, it could be tough at times, too. So, I say Santa Claus. Hey, they did. They did. But I but I always tell them I say you know Philly is known as the city of brotherly love. Like you love your brother. You you fight with your brother but like you know you get along but at the end of the day it’s like they love you. So I mean they’re just they’re just very very passionate fans and and it’s keeping you honest because it’s a bluecollar town and all they want is a blueco collar effort. So when you go out there and you bust your butt every day and hustle, control the things you can control, like they can respect that. They can respect that. Big wins on the horizon with Corona DraftKings this hoop season. Head over to draftkings.com/corona to play free. Take your shot at a sh $35,000 in seven freetoplay pools during the return of basketball. Contest starts October 21st and ends December 25th. So enter now to get in on the action. Eligibility restrictions apply. Must be 21 plus to enter. Void in Virginia and wear prohibited. See draftkings.com/corona for details. Relax responsibly. Corona extra beer. Imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, Illinois. Today’s episode is brought to you by DraftKings. DraftKings. The crown is yours. Fastest player to ever hit 100 home runs. Uh 325 games. Also the fastest to reach 200 home runs, 658. You hit 45 home runs four years in a row from 06 to09. Talk about that run right there, man. It was uh it was unreal. Um it was like putting up video game numbers and um you know, it was one of those things to me where was like I just knew what I was capable of and I just wanted to go out every single night and try to do what I could to help my team win, man. just put them on my back and uh whenever just pick up Chase, pick up Jimmy, pick up Shane, pick up all those cats, man, and just go out there and then like looking at it now. How the hell did you do that? Do you That’s what I wanted. That was my next question is obviously in the moment we’re just in the moment where each, you know, each day, each bat, each game, we’re living in that moment. But when you get a chance to kind of sit back like, yo, 45 plus for four straight, I can’t tell you. So, like 2006 was my MVP year and looking back at it now and it’s like 58 home runs, like 149 RBI’s. That’s insane, bro. And I’m just thinking to myself like how the hell did you how did you do that? And I remember having a conversation with Jimmy one time where it was like I hadn’t hit a homer in like a week or two weeks and I was like, damn, man. I’m struggling, bro. I ain’t hit a home run in like a week. And Jimmy just looked at me like like what you talking about a week, [ __ ] What you mean? I think I went out and hit like two home runs that night. That’s dope. Yeah. Where was your where was your where did you like and where was your power zone? Where was your range? You know what? I was a guy who I like the ball middle away. Okay. And I stood off the plate like away from the plate. So you can extend. I had a long bat. I had a longer bat. My bat was 35 in 34 ounces. And so by me standing off the plate because of how long my arms were with my bat being the extension, it made this whole thing look real good the pitcher. So anything they threw away was like, “All right, I got play coverage there.” But anything they threw middle, middle, in and they missed on the inner half for me, I wanted everything to feel like it was away so I could work the middle of the field. And if I pulled it, I pulled it. But like I was basically in a sense kind of setting them up because I wanted everything away so I can get my arms extended and kind of stay up the middle of the field. I don’t know if you remember this because I just remembered it just right now. Um Jir Nelson’s front is from Philly and we came out. He used to have this little summer camp in Philly and we came to one of your guys uh before your game and we took batting practice on the field and you gave me your batting gloves. Yep. And I had them [ __ ] for like three years cuz I played traveling softball in the offseason. I love softball, but I remember you gave me your your your batting gloves and I was me and one other person were the only ones that hit the home run uh during uh batting practice, but I remember particularly you gave me your batting go like, damn, that’s Ryan Howard right there. That’s dope. What’s up? It’s a little fan moment. Forgive me. Let me get back to Let me get back to business. PD era, big numbers. Um, did you ever get accused or lumped in with people that were Yeah. How was how was what was that like? Because again, this is kind of pre social media, you know what I mean? So kind of stigmas and myths and lies could get stuck on people that aren’t necessarily. Yeah. I mean, it was tough, man, because it was, you know, I obviously growing up in St. Louis, I was there my senior year of high school, you know, watching the whole Mark Magguire, Sammy Sosa back and forth. So, it was tough because it was like anybody who put up big numbers kind of outside the ordinary where especially for me, you know, this is my first full season in the big leagues in 2006. So, they’re like, “This kid bursts on the scene his first year and he hits 58 home runs. Like, oh, he’s got to be on something.” And I remember like media was asking me that. And I just remember my response was I played at like 250, 255 and I said to the media, dude, I was like, “Bro, I’ll lift my shirt up right now. You ain’t gonna see no abs, right? It’s just that.” So, it’s like that country boy strength. Yeah. It’s just like I got a keg right here, bro. That’s it. So, but you looks like you are you someone that like slims down if you don’t consistently because you Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What you at now? 230. I’m at Yeah. Like 230, 235. Do you feel players that use I mean how do current or excuse me how do former players look at guys because you know we you guys kind of like we knew what was going on in our league. You knew what was going on in your league. How do players that didn’t use it look at guys that did? I mean there’s always going to be that that little bit of disdain because guys just tried to do it and did it the right way where guys either did it and and they got paid because a lot of time dudes were doing it. it was contract year, so it’s like, let me go ahead and do this so I can go ahead and get paid. And then where the guy who didn’t do it, tried to do it the right way, he got screwed. So there’s always going to be that bit of disdain. But I mean, I knew for me it’s like I didn’t do it and I’m like, “All right, if you going to do it, that’s your prerogative.” But my goal is always beat your ass anyway. Period. So it’s like even if you on peeds, I’m going to do it the right way and still try to go out here to beat you. Take me through some of your your your your teammates. Uh Chase Utley who was a Bruin. Talk to me about Chase. Yes sir. Chase is sneaky man. Like people don’t get it. Like they see the hard nose like on the field like when we played like Chase didn’t talk to people. Okay. And he didn’t really talk to to to guys on other team and stuff. That that was just kind of the mantra of how it was when we were playing. And like always played the game hard, played the game the right way. But like off the field that dude is like sneaky bro. Is he sneaky man? He He can be a little prankster and like put you in some situ He tried to put me in some situations. He tried to put you in the trick bag. Yeah. He tried to put me in some situations. Yeah. Jimmy Rollins. Young James, man. That that was the uh Young James was was more than the vocal piece. He was he was that verbal leader. We had guys that were all leaders in different facets. Jimmy was that vocal guy. Um I mean where he was I mean he was he was the swag. He was the swag of our team and everything. And my man came out 2007. We hadn’t won [ __ ] He came out in 2007. The Mets had won. The Braves had won. You know, the division, we hadn’t won a division. And he came out in 2007 said, “Hey, no, we feel like we’re the team to beat.” So, we gathered. We rallied behind him. And um you know, then we started that that little run we went on. Roy Holidayiday. Oh man, that dude workhorse. Um, Roy, man, like he was he’s one of those guys that on the days he was pitching, like I walked in the clubhouse, I was just like, “Hey, what’s up, Doc?” and then kept moving. Like he’d be he’d be so locked in, but then on the days he wasn’t pitching, he was like a big kid. Cool. Yeah, he was a big kid. I remember one day our uh traveling secretary on payday would give everybody their checks. And so he would always try to find some kind of funny way to give me my check. And so he had Roy was always into like toy airplanes and stuff. And so he had Roy fly one of his model airplanes and and fly my check and deliver it over to my locker and bring you that big ass heavy check. Was it the flying Hawaiian? Is that what they called him? Yeah, my man Sugar Shane. The flying Hawaiian man. Shane Victorino. Never seen him eat a a normal plate of food, but Oh, man. He eat candy. Oh, really? Sweets, ice cream. That’s why he bouncing off the walls all the time. That’s why he’s flying all over. Yeah. Just flying all over the place, man. Love him. He was actually my roommate and we were roommates in Triple A. Okay. In Scranton um in like 0405 and man, one of one of the greatest guys. I mean, like just just one of those dudes where he just knew how to go about playing the game, doing all that good stuff, man. But like all these guys, man, just great human beings. Pedro. Pedro. Pedro Martinez. Oh my god, dude. PDP, bro. Oh, loved him. Loved him. He uh he was one of those guys when he comes in, man, his whole aura just changes the entire room. Like just one of the most genuine people you’ll ever meet. Great teammate. Come out there, go throw, go play. And uh it’s funny because my brothers and I used to have a uh we used to have like this little inside joke and I was tell I told Pedro like, “Man, Pedro gonna be good, bro. He got that you got that curl working today.” M. Oh, the curl is curly. That extra he got that extra juicy girl working a day. Got that activated. Was he someone that you guys could joke with to have fun or was he all the time? Did he talk [ __ ] a little bit? Like days days that he was pitching like cuz everybody every starting pitcher has their own routine and so like days you know usually as a position player you don’t mess with the pitcher that’s starting that day. We did have guys that you could talk to like you would have never known they were starting that day. But like Pedro every other day he’s like out there. He’s a prankster, bro. Is he prankster? That’s dope. I love that. Uh, yeah. I mean, you guys went to five straight playoffs, won a World Series in 08, went back in 09, unfortunately lost. What are some of your fondest memories about that run with that that that core of guys? I think the biggest thing was was that we all had one thing in common and that we all wanted to win. Um, we all expected to win because it was like when we showed up to the field, everybody wants that everybody wants to win. Everybody hopes to win. We expected to win. Mhm. So, there’s a big difference there. And and being able to have those runs, we just knew we were better than everybody else. Like even in 09 when we lost to the Yankees, we we we still felt like we were better than they were. We had gone to New York earlier that season and took two out of three in New York against the Yankees. So, I mean, I felt kind of like we just we just ran out of games, you know? They just they just got us. What do you think the scattering report on you was? Obviously, someone made a lot of home runs. what I think I know what it was. I mean, the scouting report, they were just every everything they would try to do was just get me going soft away and um and try to get me to roll over and hit it into the shift at the time, which now no longer. So, it was just everything kind of soft away, you know, little bit hard in, but like mostly just try to get everything away so they can get me to try to roll over if they were if they did come in. Like I say, it was going to be a ball if they threw like something off speed, hard in off the plate, jam me, whatnot. They just tried, they wanted me to try to pull everything and just get me out that way. And then on the flip side, when you’re stepping in the batters box, what is your thought process? My thought process is I wanted to stay up the middle. So, I learned in college, my my college coach taught me how to hit the ball to opposite field. So, out of high school, I was a dead dead pool hitter. And so he opened up the entire field to me. So he changed my mindset where my foul poles were basically right center and left center to stay up the middle of the field. And so that just kind of slowed everything down for me. So you you could take the fast ball and you can take that and go from 100 and have it be like 94 95 and then the change ups and all the others pitches like you could see really really well and then be able to stay back and they stay back up the middle. That’s interesting because we asked Gary the same thing and when he locked in he said it seemed like everything took maybe 5 miles hour off that pitch. So that’s how that’s it’s a trip when you tell people like there’s a way to figure out how to slow the ball down and people are like 100 miles an hour. It’s just you just got to be looking in in the right spot. Smartest pitcher you ever faced? Oo. Smartest pitcher I ever faced. I mean I’d probably say the toughest pitcher I’d ever faced was Sherzer. Max Sherzer. Max Sherzer. I mean, he was one of those guys that like he didn’t care. He was going to throw anything in any count. Was it with the Nationals at the time? He was at the Nationals with the time and it it didn’t matter what he threw. He would throw anything in any count and even if you slapped one of his pitches before, he’ll come back with the same pitch. Like he didn’t back down. So, that was that was one of those things where smart pitcher, they knew what they wanted to do. He was just able to go out and go execute and do it. There’s a difference between wanting to do it and doing it. Yeah. Uh best stuff. Who had the best stuff? Best stuff. I would say again, Sherzer and Strawber in there. Strawber was was filthy. When he was healthy, he was nasty. Nasty. He was a monster. How did you get out of slumps? What was your routine to try to get out of a slump? For slumps, it just depends on what I was going through. So, I’d really just kind of take my time and say, you know what, these next two or three abs, I’m going to jam myself and try to let the ball get as deep as it possibly can and just track it all the way into the bat. Track it all the way because it’s easier to work from here this way towards the mound as opposed to working there back back. Okay. So that’s why I was like, if I jam myself and not worry about what happened, what the result is, then all of a sudden I’m going start getting my timing to be like, okay, let me get a little little sooner, a little sooner. Boom. I’m back here. Now I’m now I’m able to do my thing. That’s dope. Uh superstitions. Superstitions. I didn’t really have uh super Actually, you know what? I just realized this the other day. If I was chewing gum uh and the other team was hitting, I would chew my gum on the left side or actually if it was a out or whatnot, whatever the inning was that started where my gum was and we got an out, I had to keep chewing it on that side until the inning was over. Any wild superstitions you some of your teammates may have had that you can share? Wild superstitions. You have any Joe Boos? Nah, we a we a have we didn’t we didn’t have any Joe Boos. Uh I mean I think everybody just kind of had their own little quirky things. Okay. But uh yeah, nothing nothing too crazy. Why do you think there’s such a drastic drop in black American major league players? You know, I think one it it’s I mean you just I think you got to market more. Okay. you got to market to it more because I remember growing up, man, like I said, the Cardinals, Willie McGee, Vince Coleman, Terry Pendleton, all those guys, but you saw those, but they were on TV and they were being marketed. I think one, you have to market to the black community and and black kids and show them there’s another opportunity there. Two, the other thing about it is to me is like baseball’s a very expensive sport. It’s tough. It’s tough. I mean, showcases, as you know, like coaching coaching kids in basketball, right? It’s all these different showcases in these tournaments. That stuff costs money. Yeah. Along with the gear, along with the travel. Like, I mean, it’s it’s tough to be able to try to get out there and do it. But a lot of families are priced out. Yeah. All the all the families are priced out. My man Jed Lowry said it, you know, best and he was like, you know, what you don’t want is you don’t want baseball to become a country club sport to where you’re not getting the best talent. You’re only getting the best of the best who can afford it. You made some cameos. Uh, Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Entourage. Yes, sir. How’ those come about? Entourage, by the way, one of the greatest shows ever. Oh, man. That was so much fun. That was so much fun. Um, yeah, just through my agency, man. They they they hit me up and I was like, man, this would be something outside of my my norm. And so I would love to do it. You got to hang with Vinnie Chase. What’s that? You got to hang with Vinnie Chase. No, man. So when I shot that scene, that was actually in my backyard at my house that I had in in Philly. Yeah. So at that time when Turtle It was uh the episode when Turtle was trying to get investors for Avon, the Was it the alcohol? Yeah, the alcohol. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, so he came to you. Yeah. So, he came to me. All right, man. Quick hitters. First scene to come to mind. Let us let us know. You just mentioned that. Uh, worst ballpark you played in. Worst ballpark I played in? Probably RFK. The Old Masters. Nasty. Yeah, it was. Yeah, it was tough. Best best ballpark I played in, man. I always loved I always loved playing in Atlanta. Okay. I always love playing Atlanta. Turnerfield pitcher that was really good but you loved to face him. Oh, a pitcher. Oh, Johan Santam. Oh, you had his number. Yeah. Johan. I just remember when they signed him and they were talking about it and they were like, “Oh, the Mets.” Cuz they were already good like, “Oh, they just signed Johan Santana.” And I was I was like, “Shit.” All right. Yeah. We going to see. Craziest Clubhouse story or or or or just team story you can share? Probably craziest Clubhouse story was the the time that my old teammate Kyle Kendrick. They played like a massive prank on him that he got traded to Japan for uh to to to co for Kobayashi, the hot dog eating guy. So, I mean it they had everybody in GM. They had my man’s agent in on it. Like everybody was in on it. Everybody. So, tell me about it. Hold on. Tell me about that a little bit. They called him up. So, he had just gotten called up not too long ago, and Brett Meyers was the one that that put everybody up to it. And uh they called him in the office, had the GM, the manager, and everybody, and they were like, “Kyle, man, hey, we appreciate everything you’ve done for us, but uh you’re just we just uh decided that, you know, for the organization, what was going to be best for us is that we’re going to trade you trade you to uh Japan for Kobayashi.” And uh he’s sitting in there and like if and if you knew Kyle like he’s he was very gullible as a young kid there and it was just like just whole world just ripped up from underneath him. They brought him back. He walks back into the clubhouse. Media is in on it. They come over to his locker and start interviewing him. I mean they were going all in. He goes he calls his agent. His agent’s like can he’s like can they even do this? He’s like yeah unfortunately they can. So I guess you know we we got to get you on a plane out to Japan and the whole I was like oh my god bro like this is crazy. So who finally let him know it was Brett. Okay. Brett came up. Yeah. He was like bro you got traded for a hot dog eating guy bro. Like think about it. About to piss his pants. He had no idea. He was done. That’s crazy. You’re going to get the bench clearing brawl. You plus three former teammates. Any three. Who you bringing? I’m gonna take Ugasbina. He just had that look in his eye. Yeah. Like he’s nuts. uh my man Marlon Bird. And I’ll probably take Shane. Even though he may lack in size, he can get on somebody’s back and hold him off for just a second. Yeah, he he going to put some kind of grappling hold on. Yeah, he going he Yeah, he he’ll lock somebody up just long enough. Who’s the goat? Oh, the goat. It’s got to be Barry. It’s got to be Barry. Best player in the league right now. I mean, it’s Otani. It’s based on what he could do both hitting wise, speedwise. I mean, he’s the only player in the in the history of the game go 50/50 and he didn’t even pitch, right? Crazy. So, one player you’d like to see on this show? One player I would like to see on this show. Chaz. Chaz. Jism would be good. Who? Jism. Chaz. Yeah. Didn’t Sheffield say that too good. Who’s the goat skipper? What’s that? The goat skipper. The goat skipper. Man, I’d probably have to say Bosshi. Oh, Bosshi, man. Bruce, he’s still in. He’s in Texas. Yeah, Ryan, man, we appreciate your time. Congratulations on the long successful career. Good luck on continuing the girl dad and with your older son and uh man, best of luck with everything. Appreciate you. Appreciate you. That’s a wrap. Ryan Howard, you can catch us on all the Smoke Productions YouTube and the DraftKings Network. See y’all next week. [Music] Hey, hey, hey.
Our two guests today impacted the game of baseball with their hitting prowess in different ways. Sammy Sosa brought baseball back to life with his charisma and home run magic, while Ryan Howard embodied the modern power hitter, leading a new generation of sluggers who could change the game with one swing.
Sosa opens up about his journey from the Dominican Republic to becoming one of the faces of baseball in the 90s, competing with Mark McGwire, what it was like sharing Chicago with Michael Jordan, and the truth behind his iconic home run hop. He also reflects on his legacy, the toughest pitchers he faced, and his thoughts on today’s MLB.
Howard joins the show to talk about his rise from the minors to becoming an MVP and World Series champion, the brotherhood with Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, the heartbreak of his 2011 Achilles injury, and how he’s carrying the game forward through media and mentorship.
Two of the most feared hitters of their eras. Two stories that shaped modern baseball. This is Sammy Sosa and Ryan Howard on ALL THE SMOKE.
#allthesmokeproductions #mlb #AllTheSmoke #sammysosa #ryanhoward
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00:00:00 – Sammy Sosa Intro
00:00:48 – Reuniting with the Cubs
00:02:20 – Growing up in Dominican Republic
00:04:18 – Hitting secrets & start in baseball
00:06:11 – Baseball idols & coming to America
00:08:10 – Rookie duties & early career movement
00:09:41 – 90’s MLB clubhouse environments
00:10:24 – Secrets to success & mentors
00:12:25 – Competing against Mark McGwire
00:14:20 – Sharing Chicago with Michael Jordan in the 90’s
00:15:16 – Barry Bonds
00:15:54 – Toughest pitch to hit
00:16:22 – Impact on the game
00:17:00 – Signature home run hop
00:17:33 – The Steve Bartman game
00:18:15 – Current state of MLB
00:19:10 – Ken Griffey Jr., Tony Gwynn, Manny Ramirez
00:20:20 – Japanese players in MLB
00:21:10 – Former teammates: Carlos Zambrano, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Shawn Dunston
00:23:15 – Unwritten rules of baseball
00:24:07 – Reflection on career
00:24:48 – Favorite season of career
00:25:32 – Baseball Hall of Fame
00:25:53 – Quick Hitters
00:32:00 – Ad Break: DraftKings Pick 6 & Boost Mobile
00:33:00 – Ryan Howard ending 2011 playoffs with an achilles tear
00:36:20 – Starting 611 podcast with Jimmy Rollins
00:37:45 – Retirement life
00:38:38 – Upbringing in St. Louis
00:40:50 – Baseball heroes
00:41:34 – Minor league experience & making the Phillies
00:44:23 – Mistaken for Jimmy Rollins’ bodyguard
00:45:15 – Meeting Allen Iverson & playing in Philadelphia
00:46:58 – Ad Break: Corona & DraftKings
00:47:34 – Reflecting on crazy career stats
00:50:32 – Steroid era in baseball
00:52:40 – Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Roy Halladay,
00:56:39 – 2008 Phillies Championship
00:57:28 – Scouting report on Ryan Howard
00:59:19 – Quick Hitters
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