51�Թ�

TEMPE, Ariz. — Troy Percival, then a rookie setup man with 26 big-league appearances under his belt, watched from the visiting dugout in the Oakland Coliseum as Lee Smith, then the Angels’ 37-year-old closer, gave up a walk-off grand slam to Mark McGwire in an 8-5 loss to the Athletics on June 30, 1995.

Even though Bonds and McGwire were inducted into the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals Halls of Fame, respectively, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts repeatedly said Sosa was not welcome at Wrigley Field until the day he apologized for steroid use.

Unlike McGwire and A-Rod, Sosa never admitted it publicly, however.

Sosa hit 545 home runs in 13 seasons with the Cubs, and in 1998 was named the National League Most Valuable Player after he belted 66 homers, four fewer than McGwire but five more than the previous record-holder, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees.

The following year, McGwire hit 65 and Sosa 63.