Sosa, Sammy (Samuel Kevin Sosa Peralta), 1968-, Dominican baseball player. An outfielder and designated hitter, he broke into the major leagues with the Texas Rangers and then the Chicago White Sox (both American League; AL) in 1989, moving to the Chicago Cubs (National League; NL) in 1992 and the Baltimore Orioles (AL), for one season, in 2005. In 2007 he returned to the majors for a season with the Texas Rangers. Long regarded as a powerful hitter and prolific base stealer, but prone to striking out, Sosa engaged in 1998 in a highly publicized race with Mark McGwire to break the single-season home-run record (61) held by Roger Maris. McGwire finished with 70 home runs, Sosa with 66, and their good-natured competition was widely hailed; Sosa won the NL's Most Valuable Player award. In 1999, Sosa became the first player ever to reach the 60-homer plateau in two seasons but was overtaken by McGwire, finishing with 63 home runs to the Cardinal slugger's 65. Sosa led the NL in homers in 2000, with 50, and hit 64 in 2001, finishing second to Barry Bonds record-breaking performance (73) and becoming the first player to hit 60 home runs in three seasons. Sosa's image was hurt in 2003 when he was caught using an illegal, corked bat; suspicion that he used anabolic steroids has also tarnished his reputation. He hit more than 600 career home runs.

Baugh, Sammy (Samuel Adrian Baugh), 1914-2008, American football player, b. near Temple, Tex. The first great passer in the game, "Slingin' Sam" played for Texas Christian Univ. (1934-36) and the Washington Redskins (1937-52), helping the latter win two National Football League championships. An excellent punter and defensive back as well, he led the NFL in passing, punting, and interceptions in 1943, and was a six-time All-Pro. When Baugh retired, he held most of the NFL's passing records. He subsequently coached college and professional football teams.

Cahn, Sammy, 1913-93, American lyricist, b. New York City as Samuel Cohen. With his first collaborator, Saul Chaplin, he wrote material for vaudeville, and scored his first success (1935) with "Rhythm Is Our Business." He was even more successful with a 1938 version of the Yiddish "Bei Mir Bist du Shoen," which became a number-one hit for the Andrews Sisters. Cahn soon moved to Hollywood, where he collaborated with composer Jule Styne (1942-51) to write songs for 19 movies. He also wrote lyrics for several Broadway musicals, beginning with High Button Shoes (1947). Later collaborating with Jimmy Van Heusen, Cahn often worked with Frank Sinatra. The singer recorded 89 Cahn songs, including "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954), "All the Way" 1957), "High Hopes" (1959), and "Call Me Irresponsible" (1963), each of which won Cahn an Academy Award. Toward the end of his active career (1974) he starred in a one-man Broadway show featuring his songs.

orig. Samuel Sosa Peralta

(born Nov. 12, 1968, San Pedro de Macoris, Dom.Rep.) Dominican-born U.S. baseball player. Sosa came to the U.S. as a child and began playing organized baseball at age 14. In 1985 he signed with the Texas Rangers, with whom he made his professional debut in 1989; he was soon traded to the Chicago White Sox and then in 1992 to the Chicago Cubs. In 1993 the right fielder became the Cubs' first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in one season, a feat he repeated in 1994. In 1998 he dramatically battled Mark McGwire for the season home-run record (later broken by Barry Bonds); Sosa finished the year with 66 home runs, earning him the National League's Most Valuable Player award. In 1999 he became the first player to hit more than 60 home runs in each of two seasons. Before the start of the 2005 season, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. After a lacklustre year with the Orioles, Sosa sat out the 2006 season, but he returned to professional play in 2007 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Later that year he hit the 600th home run of his career.

Learn more about Sosa, Sammy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Samuel Sosa Peralta

(born Nov. 12, 1968, San Pedro de Macoris, Dom.Rep.) Dominican-born U.S. baseball player. Sosa came to the U.S. as a child and began playing organized baseball at age 14. In 1985 he signed with the Texas Rangers, with whom he made his professional debut in 1989; he was soon traded to the Chicago White Sox and then in 1992 to the Chicago Cubs. In 1993 the right fielder became the Cubs' first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in one season, a feat he repeated in 1994. In 1998 he dramatically battled Mark McGwire for the season home-run record (later broken by Barry Bonds); Sosa finished the year with 66 home runs, earning him the National League's Most Valuable Player award. In 1999 he became the first player to hit more than 60 home runs in each of two seasons. Before the start of the 2005 season, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles. After a lacklustre year with the Orioles, Sosa sat out the 2006 season, but he returned to professional play in 2007 as a member of the Texas Rangers. Later that year he hit the 600th home run of his career.

Learn more about Sosa, Sammy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Samuel Cohen

(born June 18, 1913, New York, N.Y., U.S.—died Jan. 15, 1993, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. song lyricist. He became a professional songwriter while still a teenager and later formed a songwriting team with Saul Chaplin; their first hit was “Rhythm Is Our Business” (1935). With Jule Styne he collaborated on songs for many films and musicals, including “Three Coins in the Fountain” (1954, Academy Award). In 1955 Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen formed a partnership and went on to write dozens of songs for Frank Sinatra, whose recordings won them Academy Awards for “All the Way,” “High Hopes,” and “Call Me Irresponsible.”

Learn more about Cahn, Sammy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

in full Samuel Adrian Baugh

(born March 17, 1914, Temple, Texas, U.S.—died Dec. 17, 2008, Rotan, Texas) First outstanding quarterback of U.S. professional gridiron football. He led the NFL in forward passing in 6 of 16 seasons (1937–52) with the Washington Redskins. He also excelled as a punter and as a defensive halfback.

Learn more about Baugh, Sammy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

orig. Samuel Cohen

(born June 18, 1913, New York, N.Y., U.S.—died Jan. 15, 1993, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. song lyricist. He became a professional songwriter while still a teenager and later formed a songwriting team with Saul Chaplin; their first hit was “Rhythm Is Our Business” (1935). With Jule Styne he collaborated on songs for many films and musicals, including “Three Coins in the Fountain” (1954, Academy Award). In 1955 Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen formed a partnership and went on to write dozens of songs for Frank Sinatra, whose recordings won them Academy Awards for “All the Way,” “High Hopes,” and “Call Me Irresponsible.”

Learn more about Cahn, Sammy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

in full Samuel Adrian Baugh

(born March 17, 1914, Temple, Texas, U.S.—died Dec. 17, 2008, Rotan, Texas) First outstanding quarterback of U.S. professional gridiron football. He led the NFL in forward passing in 6 of 16 seasons (1937–52) with the Washington Redskins. He also excelled as a punter and as a defensive halfback.

Learn more about Baugh, Sammy with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Sydney Charles Houghton "Sammy" Davis (1887, London - c. 1980) was a British motor racing journalist and driver.

While best known as Sports Editor of The Autocar, writing under the pen-name Casque (French for helmet), Sammy Davis also himself competed many forms of motor racing in the 1920s. Davis was a member of the famous Bentley Boys of the late 1920s. Aside from many awards earned in the popular trials competitions of the day, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in . He was one of the founders of the Vintage Car Club of Great Britain in 1930, and the first Vice-President of the Aston Martin Owners Club in 1935 and designed the Aston Martin "wings" badge.

After the war, he did much to promote the revival of motorsport in Britain, both as Vice President of the Vintage Sports Car Club and as President of the new 500 Club (later the Half Litre Car Club).

Sammy lived his later years in Guildford, never losing his boyish enthusiasm for life. He was a great storyteller and made a modest living writing articles and painting oils. He was an excellent driver and even as his years advanced he trained police drivers at Hendon. He owned a white Bug-eyed Sprite, and a 1904 Leon Bolle, called "Beelzebub" that he took on the annual London to Brighton run. He died in a fire in his home, likely caused by his ever-present smouldering pipe.

Books (incomplete list)

• Davis, S.C.H. (1949). Racing Motorist. His Adventures at Wheel in War & Peace. London: Iliffe and Sons Ltd.
• Davis, S.C.H. (1951). Rallies and Trials. London: Iliffe and Sons Ltd.
• Davis, S.C.H. (1952). Car Driving as an Art: A Guide for Learners and Advanced Drivers. London: Iliffe and Sons Ltd.
• Davis, S.C.H. (1953). The John Cobb Story. London: G. T. Foulis & Co. Ltd.

References

• Boddy, W. 1999. The Trials of Sammy Davis. Motor Sport. LXXV/8 (August 1999), 50-55
• S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis. The 500 Owners Association. Retrieved on 2007-08-06..

External links

• The Brooklands Society