CHICAGO – Former Chicago Cub and fan favorite Sammy Sosa will attend the 2025 Cubs Convention, the team announced Tuesday.
Sosa, one of the best sluggers in the history of Major League Baseball, was officially invited to the 2025 Cubs Convention in December. After much speculation and anticipation, Sosa will officially be attending the convention that runs from Friday, Jan. 17 through Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago.
Sosa’s career has been marred by controversy for quite some time. He has been connected to performance-enhancing drugs for several years after he and Mark McGwire revitalized MLB during the 1998 season that saw Sosa hit 66 home runs and McGwire hit 70 home runs.
In 2009, the New York Times reported that Sosa allegedly tested positive for steroids during the 2003 season.
Four years earlier, Sosa was apart of the infamous Congressional session where Rafael Palmeiro tapped his fingers down as he categorically denied usage by saying “I have never used steroids. Period.”
During the hearing, Sosa’s lawyer said in a statement said that his client has “never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs.”
During a 2003 game against the Rays, Sosa claimed he accidently used a batting practice bat that was corked during the contest. The bat exploded and Sosa was handed an eight-game suspension by MLB.
In a December letter obtained by MLB insider and New York Post Baseball Columnist Jon Heyman, Sosa acknowledged that he “made mistakes and I apologize.” The letter reads as follows:
“I left it all on the field for the Cubs and Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy.
I loved to see the fans at Wrigley and in the Right Field Bleachers every home game.
I understand why some players in my era don’t always get the recognition that our stats deserve.
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. I never broke any laws, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize.
We accomplished great things as a team, I worked extremely hard in the batting cage to become a great hitter.
Cubs’ fans are the best in the world, and I hope that fans, the Cubs and I can all come together again and move forward.
We can’t change the past, but the future is bright. In my heart, I have always been a Cubs and I can’t wait to see Cubs fans again.
Sincerely,
Sammy Sosa“
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, who has alluded to the club’s distance to Sosa for his alleged steroid use and lack of acceptance, released the following statement, saying Sosa was the one who reached out to the Cubs.
“We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out. 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.”
The first day of the 2025 Cubs Convention will be their first opportunity to do just that.
Sosa is the Cubs’ all-time home run leader with 545 round-trippers. Like several players in the steroid era (i.e. McGwire, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez), he has been kept out of the Hall of Fame so far.
Sosa, 56, was dealt to the Cubs ahead of the 1992 season by the Chicago White Sox for outfielder George Bell. He was named an all-star for the first time in 1995 and reporters noticed he gained several pounds of muscle going into 1998’s spring training in Mesa.
That year, he hit .308 with 66 home runs and 158 RBIs. Due to Sosa and McGwire’s home run hitting that year, both are credited with bring back MLB fans who were annoyed by the 1994 strike and lockout.
Former WGN sports anchor Dan Roan was on the call for his 66th homer and final home run of 1998.
The Cubs open the 2025 season on March 18 against the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo.