Cubs Legend Sammy Sosa Returns to Wrigley Field for 1st Time in 20+ Years in New Video

Sammy Sosa returned to Wrigley Field on Friday for the first time since his final game as a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2004.

The Cubs posted videos and pictures of Sosa walking inside the stadium and meeting current members of the organization, including Pete Crow-Armstrong and manager Craig Counsell, prior to their game against the Seattle Mariners. Chicago also shared video of Sosa's reception by the fans during Friday's game.

Sosa was later given a huge ovation from the fans during Friday's game:

Cubs owner Tom Ricketts made it known for many years that Sosa wasn't going to be welcomed to any games or team-related events until he publicly acknowledged his history with performance-enhancing drugs.

During the annual Cubs Convention in January 2018, Ricketts said Sosa needs to "put everything on the table" regarding his alleged PED use before adding that he would like more transparency from many players about that era of baseball:

"I really believe all the players from that era who were in that kind of steroid era … I think we owe them a lot of understanding. We have to put ourselves in their shoes and be very, very sympathetic to everything, all the decisions they had to make, and certainly as it turned out after testing had begun in 2002, a large number of players test positive."

Sosa was never suspended for a failed PED test, but his name was reportedly included on the list of 104 players who tested positive as part of the anonymous testing survey in 2003 when MLB's policy had had no penalties for first-time offenders.

While Sosa has never specifically admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs, he did release a statement in December acknowledging instances when he "did whatever I could to recover from injuries" as part of his attempt to play through a full season:

"I left it all on the field for the Cubs and Cubs fans because I wanted to win and make the fans happy. I loved to see the fans at Wrigley in the right field bleachers every home game. I understand why some players in my era don't always get the recognition that our stats deserve.

"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. We accomplished great things as a team, and I worked extremely hard in the batting cage to become a great hitter. 

"Cubs fans are the best in the world, and I hope that fans, the Cubs and I can all come together again and move forward. We can't change the past, but the future is bright. In my heart, I have always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."

That proved to be enough for Ricketts to lift his ban on Sosa attending team-related events, as he issued a statement announcing the seven-time All-Star received an invite to the Cubs Convention.

The Cubs also announced in January that Sosa would be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame during the 2025 season. They have yet to announce a date for the ceremony.

Counsell praised Sosa's contributions to the sport as part of his pregame press conference before Friday's game.

"Probably the best thing, Sammy was a true entertainer," Counsell told reporters. "I think when you're in this long enough, you realize that's part of this. We're also here to entertain and I think Sammy was great at that."

Sosa spent 13 seasons with the Cubs from 1992 to 2004. His friendly battle with Mark McGwire amid their home run race in 1998 made him arguably the biggest star in all of MLB for several years.

Things started to veer off-track for Sosa in 2003 when he was suspended for seven games for using a corked bat during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles after the 2004 season and finished his career with the Texas Rangers in 2007.

Sosa's 609 career home runs ranks ninth all-time. He is also the Cubs' all-time leader in homers with 545 in 1,811 games with the club.