The Chicago Cubs welcome Sammy Sosa back to the organization after the slugger publicly apologized for past “mistakes.”

Sosa released a statement Thursday paving the way for the former National League MVP, who has been estranged from the organization since leaving the Cubs after the 2004 season. Sosa has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), but has long denied his involvement.

“I understand why some players of my era do not always receive the recognition our statistics deserve,” Sosa, 56, said in the statement. “There were times when I did my best to recover from my injuries and maintain my strength for 162 games. I have never broken any laws, but in hindsight I have made mistakes and I apologize for them.

“We cannot change the past, but the future is bright. I have always been a Cub at heart and I can’t wait to see the Cubs fans again.”

After the apology, chairman Tom Ricketts announced that the team had invited Sosa to next month’s Cubs convention.

“We thank Sammy for releasing his statement and for coming forward,” Ricketts said in a statement. “No one played harder or wanted to win more. No one is perfect, but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs.

“To say Sammy is a fan favorite is an understatement. … We are all ready to move forward together.”

Sosa gained national attention in the summer of 1998 when he and Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals chased Roger Maris’ single-season home run record. The feat was memorably broken when McGwire hit No. 62 against the Cubs in St. Louis, setting the new mark (70). Sosa hit 66 home runs and earned NL MVP honors, the tenth Cub to win the award at the time.

But as much as Sosa is remembered for his incredible performance in a Cubs uniform and his involvement with the memorable teams of 1998 and 2003, his career was not without controversy.

In June 2003, Sosa was caught using a corked bat when it cracked while hitting. Although he claimed it was a batting practice bat that he accidentally grabbed, he was suspended for seven games. He ended his Cubs career by leaving Wrigley Field during the game on the final day of the 2004 season. His boombox was left at his locker and then smashed by a teammate.

Sosa was among the major league players and executives who testified during a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee in 2005 when Congress tried to pressure MLB to toughen its steroid and PED policies. During testimony, Sosa denied ever taking illegal PEDs.

According to Thursday’s statements, that is now a thing of the past for both sides.

“Cubs fans are the best in the world,” Sosa said in Thursday’s statement, “and I hope that fans, the Cubs and I can all come together again and move on.”

Originally published: December 19, 2024 at 2:06 pm CST