It’s Time for the Cubs to Welcome Back Sammy Sosa

Sammy Sosa wowed Chicago Cubs fans with his play on the field for 12 seasons. However, it was a stormy exit from the team in 2004 that ultimately estranged Sosa and the team from each other. It’s been almost 20 years since Sosa last put on a Cubs uniform, both he and the franchise have had plenty of time to lick their wounds. Nobody currently associated with the team had anything to do with Sammy Sosa’s rise and ultimate fall in Chicago. I believe it’s time for the team and Sosa to make amends with each other and welcome him back to Wrigley Field.

Tom Ricketts Had Nothing to Do with Sammy Sosa’s Exit

Current Cubs owner Tom Ricketts was simply just another fan when Sosa’s tumultuous end happened. He was five years away from becoming the owner of the team. The fact he’s inserting himself into a situation he had nothing to do with is just petty. He even went as far as not to invite Sammy Sosa back to Wrigley Field during the 100^th anniversary celebration. For Sammy Sosa to return to the Cubs’ good graces, Ricketts is requiring him to apologize for his alleged steroid use.

Despite having a sister who is a lawyer, Tom Ricketts has apparently forgotten about people being innocent until proven guilty. It has never actually been proven that Sammy Sosa used steroids. Sosa has continued to deny he ever took PED’s to this day. Why Ricketts wants Sosa to apologize for something he’s been simply accused of doing is beyond me.

Every Player from the 2004 Team Is Gone

Nobody currently affiliated with the Cubs was with the team when Sosa’s tenure came to an end. Most of the players on the big-league roster were probably still playing little league. I doubt they’d be too focused on Sosa as they have their jobs to do. No player or coach from Sammy Sosa’s final season in Chicago is still affiliated with the team. The organization’s concern about offending players from that team is ludicrous. Besides the 2004 Cubs team isn’t looked at very fondly by the fans especially since it underperformed badly that season.

Nobody Has Proven Sosa Did Use Steroids

The 1998 home run race between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire ultimately saved baseball. During that time, baseball was just four years removed from the strike of 1994 that wiped out the World Series. If Tom Ricketts wants to crusade against steroids, then he really should be going after former commissioner Bud Selig. Selig was content as their performance helped MLB generate huge revenue before finding religion in 2004 and cracking down on steroids.

Sammy Sosa Accomplished Too Much to Be Shunned Away

During his 12-year career with the Cubs, nobody was more popular in Chicago except Michael Jordan. Many Cubs still have fond memories of Sammy Sosa’s long career on the north side. People certainly remember Sosa’s many towering home runs. Tom Ricketts was not a part of the organization and shouldn’t be prolonging a problem that wasn’t his. It’s been almost 20 years since Sosa has put on a Cubs uniform, plenty of time has gone by for both the team and Sosa to move on. While it was an ugly end to his tenure in Chicago, Sosa accomplished too much with the Cubs to be a forgotten part of their franchise history.

For more on baseball, check out Belly Up Sports and follow Eric on Twitter.