Sammy Sosa on Sharing Chicago with Michael Jordan & Ryan Howard Relives The Phillies Glory Days

All The Smoke

The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts

Basketball, Society & Culture, Sports

4.8 • 7.4K Ratings

🗓️ 23 October 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is an IHeart podcast.
0:04.4	Welcome back.
0:05.6	Pump Gala, 2025.
0:06.9	It's been a great day, Jack.
0:08.3	We got a dugout edition.
0:10.0	Yes.
0:10.5	Back to baseball.
0:11.7	Super excited.
0:12.4	Seven-time All-Star NL-NVP.
0:14.8	Six-time Silver Slugger, two-time home run champ, RBI champ.
0:20.1	Slamming Sala,osa man welcome to the show
0:23.2	man appreciate it thank you thank you guys let's ask you that that was me that was you
0:29.9	yeah that's how long it sounds so pretty that's you know it's i think as athletes we never really
0:36.5	because we're in the moment so much,
0:38.5	that we never really, when you just kind of sit back and think about like, damn, I was a bad motherfucker. You think that now that you're done? Yes. Now I do because, I mean, like you say, when we're in the field, we're just focusing. Yeah. Do some damage. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Get it done. Yeah. Recently, you reunited with the Cubs, breaking over a 20-year drought.
0:57.3	Do you mind it? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Get it done. Yeah. Recently, you reunited with the Cubs, breaking over a 20-year drought.
0:57.0	Do you mind sharing what the riff was and how is it, you know, being back on good terms
1:02.7	with them?
1:03.7	Well, time.
1:04.7	For me, I believe in the lower.
1:08.5	Once again, time it was perfect for me. Those 20 years that I was out from Chicago I was
1:14.3	travel around the world and you know when you up there sometimes you do things that
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.