The 20-year estrangement between the Chicago Cubs and Sammy Sosa was unjust.

This situation was unnecessary, hurtful, and simply didn’t make sense.

Under chairman Tom Ricketts, the Cubs would only welcome Sosa—the franchise’s top home run hitter—back if he issued an apology regarding his steroid use.

The Cubs were unique among MLB teams in maintaining such a position.

Players associated with performance-enhancing drug (PED) use often face penalties from Hall of Fame voters. No player who has tested positive or confessed to using steroids has ever been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Despite being shunned by the Hall of Fame, many players have been celebrated by their previous teams.

The San Francisco Giants have welcomed Barry Bonds, the leading home run hitter in baseball history, who retains his status as a hero despite his PED connections and a personal trainer’s imprisonment for refusing to testify. Bonds is honored in the Giants’ Hall of Fame.

The St. Louis Cardinals honor Mark McGwire, who shared the famed 1998 home run chase with Sosa. Despite admitting to using PEDs after his career, he is celebrated in the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame.

Roger Clemens, alleged to have used anabolic steroids, is still embraced by the Yankees, Red Sox, and Astros.

Similarly, Andy Pettitte, who confirmed using human growth hormone after being mentioned in the Mitchell Report, is revered among the New York Yankees.

Many players have admitted to using steroids over the years and still maintain strong connections with their former teams.

However, until Thursday, the Cubs had denied Sosa an invitation to do anything with the team, including throwing a ceremonial first pitch or singing during the seventh-inning stretch, let alone retiring his number or including him in the club’s Hall of Fame.

But after Sosa sent out a heartfelt apology letter to Cubs fans on Thursday, Ricketts invited him to their upcoming Cubs convention, marking the first time since he departed the organization in 2004 that he would be included.

Sosa, who testified before Congress in 2005 claiming he never used performance-enhancing drugs, was careful in his apology not to admit to perjury, but he did reflect on what he referred to as past mistakes during a time when PED use was prevalent in baseball.

“During certain times, I did what I could to recover from injuries and maintain my strength to compete over the long season,” Sosa stated in his letter. “I never violated any laws, but looking back, I realize I made missteps, and for that, I apologize.”

Sosa hit over 60 home runs three times for the Cubs, accounting for 545 of his total 609 home runs throughout his 13 seasons with the team. He was a seven-time All-Star, the 1998 MVP, and a recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. From 1998 to 2001, he had an impressive batting average of .310 and averaged 61 home runs and 149 RBIs with a 1.058 OPS. Nonetheless, he never garnered more than 18.5% of votes during his decade of eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

“I understand why some players from my era might not receive the acknowledgment our statistics merit,” Sosa mentioned in his statement.

Now, two decades later, the Cubs are finally recognizing Sosa’s contributions, which brought in significant crowds and revenue during difficult seasons and contributed to breaking an eight-year postseason absence in 1998, reaching just one game away from the 2003 World Series.

“We can’t alter what happened before, but the future looks promising,” Sosa expressed. “Deep down, I have always been a Cub, and I’m eager to reunite with the fans.”

Having accepted an invitation in September, Sosa attended a Club 400 event—a charity for Cubs fans in need—and expressed a strong desire to reconnect with the Cubs. Club 400 founder Stewart McVicar committed to helping establish this reconciliation.

“Our main focus was to ensure Sammy was invited back to the 2025 convention. We provided a platform for him to communicate with the fans. The love for him among Cubs enthusiasts remains strong,” McVicar remarked.

“I couldn’t be more delighted.”

Indeed, it feels like an early holiday gift.

Now, Sosa will have the chance to be honored alongside thousands of Cubs fans at their convention from January 17-19.

“Sammy’s statement and outreach mean a lot to us,” Ricketts said in a press release. “No one played harder or yearned for victory more than he did. While no one is without faults, we always recognized his passion for the game and the Cubs. To say he is a fan favorite is an understatement.

“We intend to invite him to the 2025 Cubs Convention, and although it is short notice, we hope he can join us. We’re all set to move forward together.”

According to a close friend of Sosa, he is making arrangements to attend and is excited to embrace every moment.

Forget the current roster; Sosa will undoubtedly steal the spotlight and remind Ricketts and the entire organization of his immense popularity.

He’s returned.

And this time, it’s for real.