A month after Sammy Sosa issued an apology letter addressing the “mistakes” he made during his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, the Chicago Cubs have revealed that the power hitter will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this summer. He will be joined by former first baseman Derrek Lee.
Speaking at the Cubs’ fan convention on Friday, Sosa, now 56 years old, expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’ve been out for 21 years. I believe the time was right. I’m looking forward to continuing with the great fans.” The announcement of his Hall of Fame induction was met with a warm reception, signifying a potential reconciliation with the organization.
During the convention, Sosa acknowledged the need to mend fences, sharing, “People, they say you grow up. That’s what happened to me. I believe that me making the first step to get that statement out, I think it was the right time for me. And the response right away was incredible. Pretty much, that’s all I needed. And now the door is open.”
Sosa’s apology addressed his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) during his career. While he was not named in the Mitchell Report, suspicions of PED usage lingered from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. The book “Game of Shadows” in 2007 shed further light on Sosa’s purported PED involvement, including connections to the BALCO scandal.
Despite Sosa’s impressive feat of hitting at least 60 home runs in three separate seasons, he faced challenges in gaining recognition. After spending a decade on the Hall of Fame ballot, Sosa was removed in 2023. He had also been distanced from the Cubs following his departure from the team in 2004.
The catalyst for Sosa’s reconnection with the Cubs was his long-awaited apology. Team owner Tom Ricketts had previously made it clear that Sosa would not be welcomed back without a public acknowledgment of his alleged PED use. This stance mirrored similar situations with other players linked to PEDs, like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Andy Pettitte, who were eventually embraced by their former teams following apologies.
Now reunited with the Cubs, Sosa is optimistic about the future. “I’m here and I’m back,” he affirmed. “And I’m looking forward to the good things that happen ahead.”
In a touching moment at the convention, another Cubs legend, Ryne Sandberg, was present despite facing health challenges. Sandberg, a member of the Hall of Fame, recently disclosed that his cancer had spread to other organs and that he would undergo further treatment.
