As a rookie reliever for the Giants in 1973, Sosa went 10-4 with 18 saves (tied for
fifth in the NL) in 71 appearances (third in the NL). He dropped to 9-6, seven saves
in 1974, when Randy Moffitt took over as the Giants' stopper, and Sosa was traded
after the season. He pitched poorly for three teams in the next two years before
rebounding with the NL champion Dodgers in 1977, going 2-2 with a 1.97 ERA. He lost
the LCS opener and was also hit hard in the World Series. Waived to the Pirates in
January 1978, he was then traded to the A's on April 4 and went 8-2 with 14 saves.
The
Expos picked up Sosa for 1979, and he rewarded them with an 8-7, 1.95, 18-save season.
He went 9-6, 3.06 with nine saves in 1980, and declined thereafter.
(WOR)
»October 4, 1977: The Phillies score twice in the 9th inning on singles by Bake McBride, Larry Bowa, and Mike Schmidt off Elias Sosa, to beat the Dodgers 7–5 in the opening game of the National League Championship Series. Ron Cey blasts a grand slam for Los Angeles in the 7th, and Greg Luzinski homers for the Phils.