While the temperature outdoors in Chicago this weekend was cold, the 38th Annual Cubs Convention evoked memories of summer days at Wrigley Field in fans’ minds.
For one primary reason, the yearly January meet-up of fans, players, and franchise cornerstones had increased buzz this season.
After 20 years away from the team, Sammy Sosa, the Cubs’ all-time home run leader, seven-time All-Star, and 1998 National League MVP, returned to the Cubs Convention.
CBS Chicago’s Matt Zahn shared the video of Sosa’s return. When he is announced and comes out on stage, the crowd cheers him on.
A huge ovation for Sammy Sosa as he’s introduced here at Cubs Convention.
Sosa and Derrek Lee announced as the newest members of the Cubs Hall of Fame. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/FdoxgFdSZN— Matt Zahn (@mattzahnsports) January 18, 2025
Sosa’s return was confirmed in December when the team and player issued a joint statement acknowledging past mistakes and clearing the air. This weekend marked his first official appearance with the team since 2004. The Cubs also announced that he would be one of the inductees into this season’s Cubs Hall of Fame class.
After brief stops with the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs before the 1992 season and became one of Major League Baseball’s superstars of the 1990s and early 2000s.
While the Cubs regularly finished in the lower half of the playoff race annually, Sosa was a constant highlight for fans. He hit 545 of his 609 career home runs with the team, and from 1995-2004, Sosa hit at least 35 home runs each season.
He is perhaps most remembered for his 1998 season when he competed with St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire to see who would break the single-season home run record of 61. While McGwire finished with 70 to Sosa’s 66, the Cubs star still walked away with the league’s MVP.
There was plenty of love and praise for Sosa on social media.
Andre Dawson
Sammy Sosa pic.twitter.com/mJCIABazTj
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) January 18, 2025
INCREDIBLE. A young Cubs fan asks Sammy Sosa if he could teach him “The Hop” and Sammy stopped everything to show him. Sammy was awesome at our signing today. Thanks Sammy. Thanks Cubs. #SammySosa #SosaHop pic.twitter.com/H7JoYWO8ta
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) January 18, 2025
Sammy Sosa returning makes me think of my childhood days of pre-HD square ratio analog TV broadcasts and Wrigley Field being held together by tape and chicken wire.
pic.twitter.com/ULA55vgEQa— Alex Patt (@chifanpatt2) January 18, 2025
Cubs players with Sammy Sosa
pic.twitter.com/Jgxjri77Fr
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) January 17, 2025
