Sammy Sosa Makes Triumphant Return to Wrigley Field

Sammy Sosa stepped onto the hallowed grounds of Wrigley Field Friday, marking his first visit in over 20 years as the Chicago Cubs prepared to face the Seattle Mariners.

Arriving in a sleek black SUV, Sosa was warmly welcomed by Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, who greeted him with an embrace as he exited the vehicle. This visit comes as Sosa is set to be inducted into the Cubs' Hall of Fame later this year.

Having spent 13 seasons with the Cubs after being traded from the White Sox in March 1992, Sosa became synonymous with the franchise. A seven-time All-Star, he belted 545 home runs during his tenure, including a record-setting 66 in 1998, earning him the National League MVP award.

His last game at Wrigley was on October 2, 2004, where he hit a home run and recorded two hits in an 8-6 defeat against Atlanta. Over the years, Sosa's physical transformation raised eyebrows, placing him at the center of discussions surrounding performance-enhancing drugs.

In February 2005, he was traded to Baltimore in exchange for three players and cash. In a statement released in December, Sosa appeared to reflect on his past, expressing regret for unspecified mistakes. "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," he stated. "I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize."

On Friday morning, Sosa took time to pose for photos with rising star Pete Crow-Armstrong outside the clubhouse. A video captured a heartfelt moment as he embraced manager Craig Counsell before the game. "He saw the wind blowing out today and planned this trip around a good day to be here," Counsell quipped. "He asked to be in the lineup because the wind's blowing out."

The Cubs honored Sosa with a tribute on the video board after the second inning. From a suite, he waved and bowed to the cheering fans during the presentation.

In a recent game against Milwaukee, Crow-Armstrong set a new team record by reaching 20 home runs and over 20 stolen bases in just 73 games, breaking Sosa's previous record of 96 games set in 1994.

Counsell, who faced Sosa during his playing days, praised him for his power at the plate and his ability to entertain. "Probably the best thing, Sammy was a true entertainer," Counsell remarked. "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."