Sammy Sosa still rooting for Cubs in World Series despite no contact with team
Sammy Sosa has not returned to Wrigley Field in recent years but will still be rooting for the Chicago Cubs in the World Series from Paris, he tells Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal.
Sosa says the Cubs have not invited him back for a first pitch or to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" since he last played in 2007. He played for the Cubs from 1992 to 2004 and hit 545 of his 609 career home runs in a Chicago uniform. The Cubs have not retired his No. 21 jersey and he says he has not had any contact with anyone in the organization in the past three years.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” Sosa said. “I played almost 13 years in Chicago and the only thing I did was play good, play hard and give everything I had for the fans. If they don’t respect that, if that’s not good enough, hey, so be it.”
Sosa's career is not without controversy. He was reportedly on a list of players who tested positive for PEDs during the 2003 season. The list has remained confidential and Sosa denies the allegations and testified in front of congress that he never used performance enhancing drugs. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred recently noted that at least 10 of the results are scientifically questionable positives, when he was asked about David Ortiz and his ties to the report.
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Several former players including teammates Kerry Wood declined to comment about Sosa to the Wall Street Journal.
“I’ll be happy to come back but if they don’t invite me, I have to continue to live my life,” Sosa told the WSJ.
Sosa has been on the Hall of Fame ballot for four years and has never received more than 12.5% of votes. Players need 75% to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
Sosa is in Paris exploring real estate options.
