Sammy Sosa has officially returned to the Chicago Cubs. After more than 20 years of absence, the 609-home-run legend has taken his place in the team’s Hall of Fame, receiving a “warm embrace” from team owner Tom Ricketts that officially closes one of the most painful chapters in franchise history.
CHICAGO — The long winter is over. Sammy Sosa is, officially, a Chicago Cub once again.
In a powerful and emotional ceremony at Wrigley Field, the man whose 609 home runs defined an era of baseball was formally inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame. The moment that brought the crowd to tears was not just the plaque, but the “warm embrace” at the podium between Sosa and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, a gesture that has been more than 20 years in the making.
The induction is the final, triumphant step in a year-long reconciliation that began last winter. After a bitter two-decade “absence,” the 56-year-old Sosa returned to the Cubs Convention in January 2025, served as a guest instructor at Spring Training, and returned to Wrigley Field for the first time on June 20 to a thunderous, emotional ovation.
But the Hall of Fame induction held two more surprises, one from the past and one for the future, cementing the return of “El Grande.”
A Surprise from the Past: A Message from McGwire
As Sosa finished his heartfelt speech, a “surprise from the past” appeared on the video board: a special congratulatory message from his legendary 1998 rival, Mark McGwire.
McGwire, who famously dueled with Sosa in the “Great Home Run Race,” spoke about their shared history and the “magic” they brought back to baseball. The gesture reunited the two titans who defined a generation and served as a powerful reminder of Sosa’s global impact on the sport.
A Surprise for the Future: “El Grande” Has a New Role
The story doesn’t stop at the Hall of Fame. The “surprise from the future” was an official announcement from the organization: Sammy Sosa has agreed to a permanent role with the team.
Beginning in 2026, Sosa will serve as a Club Ambassador and Special Hitting Consultant. The role will formalize his work from this past spring, allowing him to mentor young players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and serve as an official representative of the team he once carried.
For Ricketts, who had long maintained that a reconciliation required “honesty” from Sosa about his era, the embrace was the final act of forgiveness. For fans who grew up with Sosa’s signature home run hop and kisses to the sky, the 20-year wait is over.
Sammy is home.
