Sammy Sosa arrives at the Latin Recording Academy Person of The Year event in honor of Juan Gabriel on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, in Las Vegas. Sosa says a cosmetic cream he uses to soften his skin is the reason for his lighter skin tone. Sosa says he has been using the cream for a long time, and combined with bright TV lights, it made his face look whiter than it really is.

Eric Jamison/AP Photo

Sammy Sosa faces questions about changed complexion

No, some scheming pitcher didn't powder Sammy Sosa's face with a rosin bag, payback for all those home runs the slugger walloped during his career. Nor is Sosa paying tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

WORLD SERIES

Experience pays off for Yankees in postseason run

Veteran players were the catalysts for New York's 27th World Series victory in six games.
CUBA

Miami sports agent who aided in defections freed from jail

Juan Ignacio Hernández Nodar, a Miami sports agent who served 13 years for trying to help Cuban baseball stars defect, will fly home Friday.
IN MY OPINION

A-Rod finally gets validation

Alex Rodriguez began the year in shame.
He stammered, red-eyed and red-faced, as he gave his forced confession to using steroids in 2001-2003. His teammates listened with arms crossed, looking none too sympathetic.
New York Yankees win World Series; Hideki Matsui takes MVP honors

With the New York Yankees, it is all about history and the legends who wore the pinstripes, a monolithic franchise that towers over all others, both in terms of titles and Hall of Famers.
WORLD SERIES NOTEBOOK

Reggie Jackson calls Phillies', Yankees' parks home run havens

HOME RUN HEAVEN
NEW YORK -- Former Yankees great Reggie Jackson had no qualms with Chase Utley tying his World Series home run record. What surprised Jackson is that it took so long for someone to match or break his 1977 mark of five home runs.
Philadelphia Phillies' Pedro Martinez is prepared for pressure

Fans in Philadelphia won't be the only ones pulling for Pedro Martinez when he takes the mound at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday. Martinez is keen enough to know that a certain other species of fan will be behind him for Game 6 of the World Series.
We're way overdue for a treat: Let there be a Series Game 7

Major League Baseball likes to call its World Series the ``Fall Classic,'' one of those apple-pie appellations evocative of autumn leaves in a Norman Rockwell painting -- except that the phrase has mostly become a misnomer.
New York Yankees' pitching rotation plan at risk

NEW YORK -- By sticking to his guns, Joe Girardi could wind up shooting himself in the foot if his decision to go with a three-man rotation backfires and the Yankees end up losing the Series.
WORLD SERIES GAME 5

Yankees' A.J. Burnett struggles in Game 5 outing

A.J. Burnett didn't fare as well pitching on three days rest as teammate CC Sabathia did on Sunday, with the former Marlins righty pulled in the third inning of Philadelphia's 8-6 win Monday night.
WORLD SERIES GAME 5 | PHILLIES 8, YANKEES 6

Chase Utley powers Phillies to Game 5 World Series victory

Chase Utley tied a World Series home run record as the Phillies withstood a late rally by the Yankees to force Game 6.
PHILLIES | CHASE UTLEY

Power-hitting Chase Utley joins baseball royalty

Phillies second baseman Chase Utley hit two home runs in Monday's victory. With five for the World Series, he tied Yankees legend Reggie Jackson for most in one Fall Classic.
Phillies finally get their big hit

PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies were scoring style points with seven home runs in the first four games of the Series. But it wasn't until Chase Utley popped a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 5 on Monday that they had more than one run to show for any of them.
WORLD SERIES GAME 4 | YANKEES 7, PHILLIES 4

Yankees rally in 9th, take 3-1 Series lead over Phillies

Alex Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, and the Yankees are one win from their 27th World Series title.
EPIC ROAD TRIP

Miami Herald's George Richards a four-tunate spectator

It was a sports fan's dream: Dolphins vs. Jets, an NBA game, an NHL game and Game 4 of the World Series. Four games, four sports, four states in one day - all attended in person.
Florida Marlins nearly had Phillies' ace Cliff Lee

PHILADELPHIA -- The Marlins were high on pitcher Cliff Lee long before he won a Cy Young Award with the Cleveland Indians and became an instant World Series sensation with his Game 1 masterpiece for the Phillies.
WORLD SERIES GAME 3 | YANKEES 8, PHILLIES 5

A-Rod homers as Yankees take 2-1 World Series lead

Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run that was allowed after a replay review, helping the Yankees take a 2-1 lead in the Series.
Managers not complaining about excellent pitching

PHILADELPHIA -- You are not going to hear manager's complain about good pitching in the postseason.
Sabathia will pitch for Yankees in Game 4 of World Series

CC Sabathia will pitch Sunday night in Game 4 for the Yankees on three days' rest because he figures there is time to rest after the World Series.
WORLD SERIES GAME 3 | 7:57 P.M., FOX | SERIES TIED 1-1

A-Rod's October troubles return

The attention is back on Alex Rodriguez -- not for his tremendous hitting in the division series and ALCS but for his highly disappointing start to the World Series.