Sammy Sosa’s Former Beach House Slams Onto Florida Market For $20 Million

Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa has made some curious life choices—whether it’s his alleged steroid use, conveniently forgetting his English fluency (under oath) during a Congressional steroid hearing or his bizarre new green-eyed, bleached complexion. The dude is an absolute enigma.

But choosing this beachfront Golden Beach, Florida home is less curious. It’s easy to see why baseball’s former home run hero once lived at this grand slam retreat, now listed for nearly $20 million. The Atlas Team’s Jared Ringel, Chris Franciosa and Lisa Valko of Compass Florida have the listing.

Sosa’s former supersized, two-story estate spans nearly 25,000 square feet directly on 75 feet of beach frontage. Built in 1998 on a private half acre plot in Miami-Dade county, the fully-renovated residence at 667 Ocean Boulevard includes seven bedrooms, eight-and-a-half bathrooms, a chef’s kitchen, and a large pool in the affluent Golden Beach enclave.

The wide open home offers 7,159 square feet of oceanfront living space, anchored by a sun-lit great room with soaring double-height windows, designer furniture, bright white art-gallery walls, and marble floors.

An adjacent wood-beam-covered designer kitchen features a huge eight-person eat-in island, sleek built-in white cabinets, marble backsplash and ocean view breakfast nook.

Picture-window doors frame a waterfall vestibule, a fire pit courtyard, gardens, four-car garage, and an exterior exhibition carport. A modern steel-glass staircase spirals to a second-level balcony overlook basking in waterfront beach vistas. The projection theater boasts a celestial ceiling and movie recliner seating. There’s also a home office.

The ocean-view master bedroom suite includes a sitting area, outdoor terrace, gigantic fashion closet, and a spa-like bathroom with double vanities, glass shower, and Zen soaking tub (again with a view).

The estate’s large backyard deck is a private paradise unto itself—with a sparkling blue pool, loungers and shading palm trees—mere steps from the Atlantic Ocean. 

Since his controversial exit from baseball, Sosa has kept a low profile (one could say he’s in disguise). In 1998, he and Mark McGwire helped revive baseball from a fan and television ratings slump following a 1994 labor dispute and World Series cancellation.

Sosa, McGwire and Barry Bond’s record-shattering home run seasons exhilarated baseball fans, even under a cloud of steroid suspicion.

Their records and Hall of Fame-worthy career stats were later scrutinized. They’ve been branded with an unofficial asterisk as alleged cheaters—without a whisper from the Hall of Fame, including Sosa who slammed 609 career home runs.

Sosa’s controversial career led to huge success, big contracts, and a cozy lifestyle in retirement. The Hall of Fame won’t likely call. But life’s still good. Sosa’s sitting pretty in luxurious estates like this. Sitting pretty with green eyes. What’s up with that?

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.