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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
CHICAGO — Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs made up Thursday afternoon, ending their 17-year estrangement after the previous slugger apologized for making “errors” throughout his taking part in profession.
Sosa, who has been linked to performance-enhancing medication for many years, stopped in need of instantly admitting to PED use in a press release launched Thursday.
But the previous National League MVP stated he “did no matter I might to get well from accidents” at instances all through his taking part in profession and added: “I by no means broke any legal guidelines however in hindsight, I made errors, and I apologize.”
Sosa, 56, hit 609 residence runs — the ninth-most in Major League Baseball historical past — throughout an 18-year profession highlighted by his 13-year stint with the Cubs. He hit no less than 60 homers in three seasons over a four-year stretch from 1998-2001, all of which got here throughout the coronary heart of baseball’s steroid period.
“There have been instances I did no matter I might to get well from accidents in an effort to maintain my power as much as carry out over 162 video games,” Sosa stated in his assertion. “I by no means broke any legal guidelines however in hindsight, I made errors, and I apologize.”
Minutes after the apology was launched, the Cubs invited Sosa to their winter fan conference for the primary time since he retired in 2007.
Sosa considered one of a bunch gamers, together with Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, who have not made the Hall of Fame partially because of their ties to the steroid period which ran from about 1994-2004 when extra stringent testing started. Sosa testified in entrance of Congress in 2005 the place he denied utilizing PEDS, although a New York Times report later claimed he examined optimistic again in 2003.
Cubs possession hinted at needing an apology from Sosa earlier than welcoming him again to the group and even inviting him to an offseason staff operate.
“We recognize Sammy releasing his assertion and for reaching out,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts stated Thursday. “No one performed tougher or wished to win extra. Nobody’s excellent however we by no means doubted his ardour for the sport and the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favourite.
“We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, whereas it’s brief discover, we hope that he can attend. We are all prepared to maneuver ahead collectively.”
Sosa is prone to attend for the primary time since he retired in 2007. His 545 residence runs in a Cubs uniform are essentially the most in franchise historical past.
“We cannot change the previous however the future is brilliant,” Sosa stated in his assertion. “In my coronary heart, I’ve all the time been a Cub and I am unable to wait to see Cubs followers once more.”
