CHICAGO -- Sammy Sosa headed up the steps and onto the stage, clutching a small American flag in his right hand. The former Cubs icon beamed as he jogged across the platform, reaching down to high-five some fans as he soaked in the cheers and familiar chants of his name.
Sosa stopped and cupped an ear with his hand, listening to the long-awaited reception in Cubs Convention’s main ballroom at the Sheraton Grand Chicago on Friday night. As part of the opening festivities, Sosa’s reunion with the franchise was punctuated by the news that he will enter the team’s Hall of Fame in the summer.
“It was like I was running to right field,” Sosa said. “Fantastic. The fans deserved it. I put on a show today. Everyone was happy. I saw a lot of smiles. I think that today was a perfect day.”
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts announced that both Sosa and former first baseman Derrek Lee will be the 2025 inductees for the team’s Hall. Their careers overlapped in 2004, when Sosa was nearing the end of a historic run with the ballclub that included a club-record 545 homers and Lee was helping usher in a new era on the North Side.
As was the case on Friday, Sosa always knew how to be a showman during his famous run with the Cubs. He had a big swing to go with a big personality, but the era in which he put on his prodigious displays of power led to plenty of questions about how he went about it. Last month, Sosa released a statement -- apologizing for “mistakes” made in the past -- and the Cubs finally welcomed him back.
“He was always good to me,” said Lee, who was a two-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner in his seven years with the Cubs. “He taught me a lot about hitting. One of the hardest workers you’ll ever see. He came to play every day. He admitted mistakes, he apologized for them, he moved on. I’m sure we’ve all made mistakes and we all want forgiveness. It’s time to move on.”
Sosa did not delve into the specifics of his apology, but said he felt it was time to put ego aside and try to mend fences with the Cubs.
“People, they say you grow up. That’s what happened to me,” Sosa said. “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 at-bats were must-see events at the peak of his career.
Sosa was already a power threat, but he found himself in the national spotlight in the summer of ‘98. A 20-homer outburst that June thrust Sosa into a race with Mark McGwire to chase down Rogers Maris’ single-season home run record of 61 (set in the ‘61 season with the Yankees). It became a friendly competition that captivated the baseball world.
During that ‘98 season, Sosa’s heart taps and post-swing leaps out of the batter’s box were imitated by kids around the country. Sosa finished second to McGwire (70) in the home run race, but authored a 66-homer campaign that set a club record for one year and helped him claim the National League’s MVP Award.
“Everybody kind of around that era and watching guys in that era would mimic the Sammy hop,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “It was pretty remarkable what he was able to do. … I’m just glad that he’s back. I’m glad to have the opportunity to be able to talk hitting with him.”
Sosa not only holds the team’s career home run record, but also was a seven-time All-Star and won six Silver Sluggers. He collected 296 doubles, 1,414 RBIs, 1,245 runs, 1,985 hits, 181 steals, 798 walks and 3,980 total bases in 1,811 games for the Cubs, and was part of two playoff teams.
Sosa would exceed 60 homers in a season three times -- still the only player to achieve that feat in baseball history -- and set numerous Cubs records in his 13 years with the team.
Sosa’s 2001 season, in particular, was overwhelming offensively. He ended with 64 homers, 160 RBIs and 146 runs scored, and famously ran out to right field at Wrigley Field holding an American flag when baseball returned after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“Incredible player,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “I remember watching him run out on the field and it was a unique experience. I haven’t seen anything like that before or since, in terms of excitement about one player coming out on the field.”
Sosa experienced that again on Friday night with Cubs fans.
“I’m here and I’m back,” he said. “And I’m looking forward to the good things that happen ahead.”