Page "Sammy Sosa" Paragraph 13

In, the Cubs won the National League Central Division title.

The year was not all good news for Sosa, however.

In May, he spent his first period on the disabled list since after having an injured toenail removed.

On June 3, 2003, Sosa was ejected from a Chicago Cubs-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game in the first inning when umpires discovered he had been using a corked bat.

Major League Baseball confiscated and tested 76 of Sosa's other bats after his ejection ; all were found to be clean, with no cork.

Five bats he had sent to the Hall of Fame in past years were also tested, and were all clean as well.

Sosa stated that he had accidentally used the corked bat, which he claimed he only used during batting practice.

But they soon interviewed the Cubs ' manager, who said that any use of corked bats on his team is strictly prohibited.

On June 6, Sosa was suspended for eight games.

However, the suspension was reduced to seven games after appeal on June 11.

Sosa finished the season with 40 home runs, and he hit two more in the 2003 NLCS against the Florida Marlins, but overall, the Cubs lost the series in seven games.

According to the New York Times of June 16, 2009, Sosa had also tested positive for steroids at some point during the season.