BALTIMORE -- Sammy Sosa buttoned his new Orioles jersey, with his customary 21 on the back, glanced at his family and pulled down his fitted cap. The first words he uttered into the microphone, with many fans in baseball-crazed Baltimore listening attentively, was "How do I look?"

It's safe to say their response would be "like a superstar."

Sporting his trademark smile and determined to put his troubles in Chicago behind him, Sosa was introduced as the Orioles' new right fielder after the trade for Jerry Hairston and two minor leaguers became official on Wednesday afternoon.

Orioles coverage • Sosa is officially an Oriole • For Mazzilli, Sosa is a 'nice gift' • Sosa's arrival excites Tejada • Fans believe Sosa will contribute • Orioles excited about Sosa • Press release Cubs coverage • Burnitz, Hairston arrive • Burnitz is the Cubs' new Mr. Right • Fans say farewell to Sosa • Blockbusters in Cubs history • Prospects have potential, questions • Baker wishes Sosa well • Sammy Sosa career timeline • Press release Analysis • Fantasy analysis • Singer: Fresh start for Sosa • Muskat: All Sammy, all the time • Molony: No guarantees for Cardinals • Bauman: Sosa trade not epic • Singer: Sosa can make O's thunderous Shop • Get a Sosa O's jersey • Sosa autographed baseball Sights and Sounds Download Sosa's 2004 highlights See Sosa hit historic homers 61, 62 • O's presser:  Audio | 350K Orioles press conference Cubs press conference Tejada reacts to Sosa deal  Jerry Hairston Jr.

The sixth floor of the B&O Warehouse was packed with reporters from Baltimore and Chicago, several Orioles employees and kids from the Baltimore RBI program on hand to welcome Sosa, who smiled practically the entire time, expressing excitement about coming to Baltimore and continuing his chase for 600 home runs.

"I am happy," he said. "The best of Sammy Sosa is coming now. I have to say that I am hoping to end my career here. I am ready to help the Baltimore Orioles."

The trade, one of the most significant transactions in club history, boosts the spirits of an organization after a difficult offseason. Sosa's presence gives the Orioles one of the most imposing lineups in baseball as he joins All-Star Miguel Tejada, fellow 500-home-run man Rafael Palmeiro and standout catcher Javy Lopez.

"I mean this is a future Hall of Famer and it's a win-win situation for us," Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli said. "I am still stunned. It's just a great situation for our team and gives us a big lift going into the season."

After a troublesome season in Chicago, the Cubs put him on the trading block and Sosa said Baltimore was his first choice. The Orioles and Cubs began talking seriously about a deal last Thursday and the trade was agreed upon on Friday.

"I want to do whatever I can to help the team," he said. "I am an employee of the Orioles. Whatever Lee Mazzilli says, I am going to do. I have a new house I have to take care of."

Looking trim and donned in a dark blue suit, Sosa passed his physical late Wednesday afternoon and then had a 30-minute meeting with team owner Peter Angelos, pushing the press conference back about 45 minutes. He made a grand entrance, as the kids from the RBI program applauded him as he stepped off the elevator into the conference room. He shook hands, hugged Mazzilli and saluted the horde of Chicago-area reporters.

At the nationally televised press conference, Sosa made sure to thank the city of Chicago before addressing the Orioles.

"I spent 13 years there," he said. "My legacy is there but I haven't finished yet. I am always going to love Chicago and it's always in my heart. But this is my new house and I love it. Sometimes you have to move on. It was best for me to move on."

Sosa had an acrimonious relationship with Cubs manager Dusty Baker and angered many Cubs fans by leaving the team's final game of the 2004 season after 15 minutes. Sosa refused to say anything negative about his experience in Chicago, despite being peppered with questions about his final years as a Cub.

The Orioles had little hesitation in making the deal. They will pay Sosa just $8.85 million of the $25 million owed to him in 2005 and he is expected to make a major impact on their club. The two sides have not discussed a contract after the 2005 season.

Before his difficult ending, Sosa was a fan favorite in Chicago, thrilling fans by running full speed to right field before the first pitch of every home game and patting of the heart and lips after smashing a home run.

"Will I do that here?" he said. "If the fans in right field want me to. It's a beautiful ballpark. We have a great lineup. It's going to be a beautiful year because I am happy and I am hungry."

Sosa will play right field with Jay Gibbons moving to first base and Palmeiro becoming the primary designated hitter.

Sosa emerged on baseball's landscape in 1996, when he became the first Cub in six years to hit 40 home runs. It was the 1998 season, however, that permanently placed him in baseball lore.

In a home-run race that rivaled Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris from 37 years previous, Sosa and Mark McGwire furiously pursued Maris' record of 61 home runs in a season. McGwire was the first to get there and eventually finished with 70.

Sosa walloped 66 and was awarded the National League MVP award after leading the Cubs to the Wild Card. The race enthralled many fans, still bitter about the 1994 strike that canceled the World Series, and captivated a sports nation.

After that season, Sosa catapulted into superstardom, becoming one of the elite power hitters of his generation. And he backed that up with 63 home runs in 1999 and 64 in 2001 with a 50-homer season sandwiched in between.

Sosa was untouchable, a Chicago icon, a celebrity who came from poverty in the Dominican Republic and did commercials encouraging tourism to his native land.

However, Sosa's fortunes and his image would change quickly. After hitting 49 homers in 2002, Sosa was helping the Cubs' division title run in June 2003 when he sliced his bat hitting a ground ball against Tampa Bay. Umpires found cork in the bat and Sosa was suspended for 10 games.

Sosa heard his share of critics after a subpar 2004, but did produce 35 home runs in 126 games. He missed a month with a strained back ligament sustained while sneezing.

Sosa is 26 homers away from becoming the fifth Major Leaguer to hit 600 and should reach that milestone this season. He scoffed at critics who said his production is in decline after an injury plagued 2004 season.

"I was out about 40 games and hit 35 home runs, I mean c'mon," he said to a roar of laughter. "I feel great and I don't worry about 600 (home runs) but that's going to come. I worry about helping the team because the numbers are going to be there. I gotta lot of home runs left."

The press conference was rather brief because Sosa and his contingent had a Wednesday evening flight. But he appeared to leave a lasting impression. He smiled all the way back to the elevator, promising to return to Baltimore in vintage form.

"Baltimore has good young talent and I can be helpful with all of these kids," he said. "It's a new franchise and my presence here is going to be unbelievable. It's perfect for me and I am very happy here."