Sammy Sosa Returns to Wrigley Field After More Than Two Decades
The Cubs legend, Sammy Sosa, made his long-awaited return to Wrigley Field this Friday, marking the first time in over twenty years that the iconic slugger stepped onto the field. Sosa, who will be inducted into the Cubs’ Hall of Fame this year, arrived at the stadium in a black SUV. He was greeted by owner Tom Ricketts, who gave him a hug as he exited the vehicle. Sosa became the face of the Cubs, where he played for 13 seasons after being acquired in a trade from the White Sox in March 1992. A seven-time All-Star, Sosa hit 545 home runs in 1,811 games with the Cubs and set a franchise record of 66 in 1998, the year he was named NL MVP. Sosa’s last game with the Cubs at Wrigley was on October 2, 2004, where he hit a home run and had two hits in an 8-6 loss to Atlanta. During his years with the Cubs, Sosa appeared to dramatically increase his muscle mass and was a prominent figure in a generation of big names in baseball linked to the use of performance-enhancing substances. The Cubs traded him to Baltimore with cash in February 2005 in exchange for three players. Sosa appeared to acknowledge the use of performance-enhancing substances in December, when he issued a statement saying he regretted his mistakes, without specifying them.On Friday morning, Sosa posed for photos with Cubs rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong outside the team’s clubhouse. A video showed Sosa embracing manager Craig Counsell in his office before the game. The Cubs did not disclose details about any ceremony or special event before or during Friday’s game. In Thursday’s 8-7 loss to Milwaukee, Crow-Armstrong hit a home run, setting a new team record by reaching 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the shortest time possible, achieving it in 73 games. Sosa held the previous record of 96 games, set in 1994.There were times when I did everything I could to recover from injuries in an effort to maintain my strength to perform during 162 games. I never broke any law. But, in retrospect, I made mistakes and I apologize.
Sammy Sosa
