The rift between the Chicago Cubs and Sammy Sosa has become an embarrassment to both sides. It’s time to bury the hatchet.
It has been a long time since Sammy Sosa was a beloved member of the Chicago Cubs. He helped captivate a nation when, along with Mark McGwire, he passed Roger Maris‘ single season home run mark. He was credited with helping to save baseball back then, his constant smile and effervescent personality making him a beloved fan favorite.
A lot has changed in the past 20 years. The cloud of PED usage hangs over Sosa now, despite his continued protestations that he never failed a drug test. His departure from the franchise, when he left the locker room early on the last day of the season, led to a lot of acrimony amongst between the Cubs and Sosa. His boombox was destroyed by his former teammates, and Sosa was sent away to the Orioles.
Those hard feelings have not dissipated. Sosa remains as a persona non grata in the Cubs clubhouse, as his desired return to Wrigley Field is seemingly never going to happen. Yes, the Cubs and Sosa were close to a reunion once, but he is refusing to apologize to the fanbase. His pride has gotten in the way.
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At this point, Sosa needs the Cubs. And, to be fair, the Cubs really do not need him. They have been one of the more successful teams over the past few seasons, winning the 2016 World Series and keeping their fanbase energized. The legends of yesteryear have been able to return, being able to be a part of the new Cubs. However, there has been one very large exception.
Regardless of what Sosa did or did not do, he was the face of the franchise for nearly a decade. Along with Kerry Wood, Sosa was one of the few reasons to watch some mediocre teams. He made the team relevant, someone who drew attention to a moribund franchise in need of a spark.
Maybe he will not sprint onto the field holding an American flag as he did in the days following 9-11. And maybe his reception in a hypothetical return will involve a smattering of boos. But regardless of how it happened, Sosa was a major part of the Cubs history. It is time to let the Prodigal Sosa come back home.
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The Chicago Cubs have a chance to be the better people when it comes to Sammy Sosa. Let him return, and bury the hatchet, even if both sides will not agree with where it is buried.