Sammy Sosa Says ‘The Time Was Right’ for Cubs Hall of Fame Induction

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Sammy Sosa commented Friday on his induction into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame, more than 20 years after last playing for the team.

According to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, Sosa addressed fans at the Cubs’ annual fan convention, saying: “I’ve been out for 21 years. I believe the time was right. I’m looking forward to continuing with the great fans.”

Sosa played 13 seasons for the Cubs from 1992 to 2004, establishing himself as one of the best and most productive players in franchise history.

For years, Sosa was scrutinized for his suspected use of performance-enhancing drugs. Sosa’s attorney testified on his behalf before Congress in 2005, saying he never took PEDs, but the New York Times published a list in 2009 of MLB players who tested positive in 2003, and Sosa was part of it.

That was enough to keep him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame and on the outs with the Cubs until recently.

Per Rogers, the Cubs long hinted that Sosa would have to apologize before being welcomed back into the fold, and he did so last month, saying: “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.”

On Friday, Sosa explained why he finally decided to take the steps needed to fix his relationship with the Cubs, noting: “People grow up. That’s what happened to me. To give that statement out, it was the right time for me. The response right away was incredible. Now, the door is open, I have to continue to contribute [to the organization].”

Sosa, 56, is one of the most prolific sluggers in MLB history, as his 609 career home runs are ninth on the all-time list.

He is the only player in MLB history with multiple 60-homer seasons, accomplishing the feat three times in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

In 1998, Sosa and then-St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire both had a season for the ages, as they battled it out to set the single-season home run record. Both broke Roger Maris’ record of 61 homers, but McGwire ultimately won out with 70 home runs compared to Sosa’s 66.

Sosa won the National League MVP Award that season, though, and over the course of his time with the Cubs, he was a seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

He is the Cubs’ all-time leader in home runs with 545 and third on the team’s all-time RBI list with 1,414.

All told, Sosa slashed .273/.344/.534 with 609 home runs, 1,667 RBI, 2,408 hits, 1,475 runs scored and 234 stolen bases in 18 MLB seasons with the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Cubs and Baltimore Orioles.

As part of his return to the organization and induction into the Cubs Hall of Fame, Sosa and longtime first baseman Derrek Lee will be recognized at a game at Wrigley Field this coming summer.

It will mark the first time Sosa has been at Wrigley Field since he last played for the Cubs in 2004.