A long feud between a historical franchise and one of its most iconic players is finally over.
Sammy Sosa contributed to Chicago Cubs in the 1990s and early 2000s, with its three 60-home riders who forced fans to Wrigley Field.
In the midst of his apparent use of steroids, as he all, but eventually admitted in December, SOSA and the organization had a gap.
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Sammy Sosa recognizes fans as he is introduced during the opening ceremony for the Cubs Convention on January 17, 2025 in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
SOSA was not welcome to anything Cubs-related for well over a decade and had not been back in Chicago from 2007 before the beginning of last year for a Memorabilia signing look.
But two months ago, SOSA finally issued an apology in which he admitted to having committed “error” – an apology, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said was the only way for the two sides to make changes.
After the apology, SOSA showed up at a Cubs fan party, and on Tuesday he was back in a Cub’s uniform in Dugout for a spring training game. It was his first time in Cubs Dugout at 21 years.
“It brings back memories. I’m just glad to see everyone,” Sosa said. “I’m back to my environment.”
Sosa wrote his letter of apology, saying he “had always been a cub.”
Sammy Sosa hit 66 home runs in 1998. (IMagn)
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“I left it all in the field for the fans and the Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy. I loved watching the fans at Wrigley in the right field bleachers every home game,” SOSA wrote. “I understand why some players in my era do not always get the recognition that our statistics deserve. There were times I did what I could to recover from injuries in an attempt to keep my strength up to appear over 162 games. I never broke any laws, but in back asks I made mistakes and I apologize.
“We achieved big things like a team and I worked extremely hard in the batting cage to become a big hitter. Cubs’ fans are the best in the world and I hope fans, the kids and I can all get back together and get on. We can’t change the past but the future is light. In my heart I have always been a cub and I can’t wait to see Cub’s fans again.”
The organization chose SOSA in their team’s Hall of Fame last month.
Sammy Sosa ended his career after the 2007 season with 609 home runs, good for ninth on the list of time. (IMagn)
SOSA is the only player in the MLB story that hit at least 60 homes in three separate seasons. He retired with 609 in his career, which ranks him ninth all the time, but Ped speculations have kept him out of Cooperstown.
