Sammy Sosa remains hopeful.
Even as the evidence and voting trends paint a picture of a stern “no” to those linked to and found guilty of using steroids, the former Cubs slugger believes some day the tune will change.
“I believe in time,” Sosa told USA Today from Cubs spring training in Arizona. “Nobody’s perfect. Time will heal all wounds. I really believe that one day the door will be open for us.”
Sammy Sosa at Cubs spring training on March 1. Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Sosa, 56, is one of the faces of MLB’s steroid era, a controversial time in the sport’s history.
He and Mark McGwire became a national storyline in 1998 and carried baseball when they chased Roger Maris’ home run record of 61, but their run for the record books has been looked back upon with a much more critical eye due to their links to illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
McGwire hit 70 that year, while Sosa tallied 66. Both marks would be topped by Barry Bonds, who now holds the record with 73 homers.
Sosa has not admitted to using steroids, though he did admit he “made mistakes” in a December letter that opened the door to his return to the Cubs after he had been banished by the franchise.
McGwire has coped to using illegal substances.
“I understand why some players in my era don’t always get the recognition that stats deserves,” Sosa wrote in the Dec. 19 letter.
Sosa admitted to “mistakes” before his return to the Cubs. Getty Images
“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. I never broke any laws, but in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize.”
Those who tend to be more lenient toward the steroid users point to individuals in the sport knowing what was going on but turning a blind eye to it due to the attention it brought to the sport.
McGwire told USA Today in 2023 “there was nothing illegal about it” due to a lack of testing, and added that steroid use was “widespread.”
There’s also the debate about how players from other eras have admitted to using supplements that would be considered performance-enhancing drugs now, but were not classified as such back then.
“I read Mark’s interview,” Sosa told USA Today, “and I agree with what he said. There was no testing. There were no rules. We didn’t break any laws.”
He added: “But come on, nobody was blind.”
Sosa (l) and Mark McGwire (r) carried baseball during their home run record chase. REUTERS
Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens and Manny Ramirez are among those who have been shunned from the Hall of Fame due to confirmed or alleged steroid use, despite their gaudy statistics.
Sosa garnered 18.5 percent of votes in his last year on the ballot in 2022, well below the 75 percent threshold needed to be elected.
He will have to hope the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, which will meet this December, has a more favorable view of his candidacy than voters.
Sosa ranks ninth all-time in career homers with 609, having posted three 60-plus-homer seasons and tallying at least 49 in five straight seasons from 1998-2002.
He’s the only player to hit at least 60 homers in three seasons.
“I’m still proud of what I did,” Sosa told the paper. “I had great years, I never tested positive. And anyways, there were no rules. No rules back then. None. I played hard and I made a lot of people happy.”
For now, though, Sosa will have to make peace with being welcomed back to the Cubs following his letter after previously being shunned.
Sammy Sosa against the Mets in 2002. New York Post
“Baseball has been my life, and will always be my life,” Sosa said. “I grew up in baseball. I spent my career in baseball. This means everything to me.
“This is the team that gave me the opportunity to put up my numbers. This is my house.”
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