Chicago Cubs finally end Sammy Sosa exile after legend's apology letter

The 20 years of estrangement between the Chicago Cubs and Sammy Sosa was wrong.

It was petty, malicious and really made no sense.

Under chairman Tom Ricketts, the Cubs refused to permit Sosa, the greatest home run hitter in franchise history, back into the club's good graces unless he apologized for steroid use.

The Cubs were the only organization in Major League Baseball who took such a stance.

Players linked to PED use have long been punished by the BaseballHall of Fame voters. There has never been a player who publicly tested positive or admitted to steroid use who has been elected into the Hall of Fame.

While they may have been shunned by the Hall of Fame, those players still have been widely celebrated and honored by their former teams.

EXCLUSIVE: Mark McGwire still gets emotional reliving 1998 Home Run Chase

The San Francisco Giants have opened their arms to Barry Bonds, baseball’s all-time home run king, where he remains a hero despite the involvement with BALCO and his personal trainer going to prison for refusing to testify against him. He’s in the Giants’ Hall of Fame.

The St. Louis Cardinals worship Mark McGwire, who was in the famous 1998 home run chase with Sosa. He admitted to PED use after retirement and is in the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame.

Roger Clemens, who was accused of steroid use by his former trainer, remains welcome and widely accepted in the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros organizations.

Andy Pettitte, who acknowledged using human growth hormone after his name appeared in the Mitchell Report, is revered by the New York Yankees.

There are hundreds of players who used steroids over the years and still have fabulous relationships with their former teams.

But until Thursday, the Cubs refused to even extend an offer to Sosa to throw out a ceremonial first pitch or be a guest singer for the seventh-inning stretch, let alone retire his number or permit him in club Hall of Fame.

Now, after Sosa issued a formal apology in a letter to Cubs’ fans on Thursday, Ricketts responded by inviting him to their annual Cubs’ convention for the first time since he left the organization after 2004.

Sosa, who testified in front of Congress in 2005 that he never used performance-enhancing drugs, made sure not to commit perjury in his apology, but strongly alluded to past transgressions at a time when PED use was rampant throughout baseball.

“There were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games," Sosa said in his letter. “I never broke any laws, bit in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize."

Sosa, who hit 60 or more homers three times with the Cubs, and hit 545 of his career 609 homers in his 13 years with the Cubs, was a seven-time Al-Star, 1998 MVP and Roberto Clemente award winner. He hit .310 and averaged 61 homers, 149 RBI with a 1.058 OPS from 1998-2001. Yet, he never received more than 18.5% of the votes in his 10 years of eligibility on the Hall of Fame ballot.

"I understand why some players in my era don't always get the recognition that our stats deserve," Sosa said in his statement."

Now, 20 years later, Sosa at least is being recognized by the Cubs for his greatness, helping fill Wrigley Field and generating millions of dollars to the Cubs during their lovable losing years, helping end an eight-year postseason drought in 1998, and coming within one game of reaching the 2003 World Series.

"We can't change the past, but the future is bright," Sosa said. “In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."

Sosa, who accepted an invitation in September and attended the Club 400 event – a non-profit charity designed for Cubs fans in need – said at the time that he badly wanted to be reunited with the Cubs. Club 400 founder Stewart McVicar vowed to help facilitate a reconciliation.

“That was our main goal," McVicar said, “for Sammy to be invited back to the 2025 convention, We were offering a free vessel for him to use to get the word out. The Cubs fans still love him.

“I couldn’t be happier."

Yes, indeed, Christmas came early.

Now, Sosa has the opportunity to be celebrated and worshipped once again in front of thousands of Cubs fans at their Jan. 17-19 convention.

“We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out," Ricketts said in a statement. “No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody’s perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite.

“We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, while it is short notice, we hope that he can attend. We are all ready to move forward together."

Sosa, according to one of his close friends, is making plans to be there and hopes to savor every moment.

Forget the Cubs’ active player roster, Sosa will be the star attraction, and a reminder to Ricketts and everyone else in the organization of his immense popularity.

He’s back.

And this time, for good.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sammy Sosa's Cubs exile ends with steroid apology letter