Legendary Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is being welcomed back by his former team after a long period of estrangement.
Sosa, who hit 545 home runs for the Cubs (still the club record), posted an apology letter on Thursday regarding his alleged past use of performance-enhancing drugs.
“I left everything on the field for the Cubs and the Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy.
I loved seeing the Wrigley fans at Right Field Bleachers at every home game.
I understand why some players from my era don’t always get the recognition our stats deserve.
There were times when I did everything I could to recover from injuries in an effort to maintain my strength to play more than 162 games. I never broke any laws, but in retrospect I made mistakes and I apologize.
We accomplished great things as a team and I worked very hard in the batting cage to become a great hitter.
The Cubs fans are the best in the world and I hope the fans, the Cubs and I can get together again and move forward.
We can’t change the past, but the future is bright. “In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can’t wait to see Cubs fans again.”
In response to that letter of apology, Team owner Tom Ricketts issued a statement. thanking Sosa for his apology and inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention, which will take place in January, for the first time.
“We thank Sammy for releasing his statement and for reaching out. No one played harder or wanted to win more. No one is perfect, but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs.
It’s an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite. We plan to invite you to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, although it is short notice, we hope you can attend. “We are all ready to move forward together.”
Sosa was suspected of being a PED user during his heyday (from the early 1990s to the early 2000s), although his name was not among the numerous MLB PED users listed in the (in)famous Mitchell Report. But in 2007, the book “Game of Shadows” detailed Sosa’s alleged use of banned substances and his involvement in the Balco scandal.
Despite being the only player in Major League history to hit at least 60 home runs in three different seasons, he spent 10 years on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot before leaving in 2023, and has distanced himself from the Puppies since he left. the team in 2004.
Sosa’s apology letter finally prompted the Cubs to open the door to their former superstar. Ricketts had insisted in the past that Sosa would not be invited to any team events unless he publicly apologized for his alleged PED use. Other players linked to banned substances, including Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Andy Pettitte, have been warmly welcomed by their former teams following similar apologies.
Now the Cubs are ready to welcome Sosa back into the fold and recognize his accomplishments that brought so much joy to fans.