Sammy Sosa gets hero’s welcome at Wrigley Field
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Sinhue Mendoza, Contributor
- June 20, 2025
Sammy Sosa returns to Wrigley for first time in 21 years
CHICAGO – The setting was perfect for the big return of Sammy Sosa. On a Friday afternoon in June on the summer solstice at beautiful Wrigley Field, the most lovable Cub of them all returned to the Friendly Confines.
And the fans loved it. Sammy Sosa loved it. Everybody loved it. For the first time in 21 years, Slammin’ Sammy was back at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.
Friday afternoon games at Wrigley Field are unique. While the most Major League Baseball teams are arriving for work at the ballpark, Wrigley Field hosts the only ball game in the Majors. On this Friday Sammy Sosa was back on Clark and Addison for the first time since he became persona non grata at the Friendly Confines, where he once became an international icon.
“Are you kidding me? This is my house,” Sosa said when asked if he worried about hearing any boos.
I woke up in my 40th year to birthday greetings. One text message stood out that wasn’t about my birthday. I was texted a tweet that Sammy Sosa was going to make his return to Wrigley Field for the first time since he left the club in 2004. He really hadn’t been invited back officially for two decades in any way until the Cubs Convention last February.
Genuine excitement
You can see the genuine excitement as Sosa visited with the Cubs’ newest star, Pete Crow-Armstrong, in the home clubhouse. Sosa’s famous smile was from ear to ear reminiscent of the summer of 1998 when his home runs and lovable personality made him the guy you wanted to see win the home run race.
Before the third inning, the Cubs showed a video montage for the Cubs Legends of the Game series. That’s when the fans got their first glimpse of Sosa at Wrigley Field. As the video began, the sellout crowd of 40,787 started to cheer loudly.
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The roar grew into a crescendo, practically deafening, when Sosa was shown on the scoreboard from his suite. The Dominican Republic star began to blow kisses to the video board like it was a 1990s WGN broadcast after he hit a ball to Waveland Avenue.
The Cubs put together a press conference for Sosa in the press box. The media horde crammed together shoulder to shoulder as the standing-room-only crowd took in Sammy like old times.
His smile was contagious. Sosa walked in hugging and saying hello to some of the media who covered him back in the ’90s and early 2000s. He held court at home, just the way he loves it.
Happy place for Sammy Sosa
When asked if he was nervous about how he’d be received at Wrigley Field, he seemed surprised by the question. He practically rolled his eyes and replied, “Nervous? This is my home!”
Throughout the press conference he could not have thanked the Cubs more. He expressed how grateful he was to be home at Wrigley Field with the fans again and their heartfelt welcome. It was a happy Friday in the happiest ballpark in America and for Sammy Sosa.
He’s more than happy to be home. Sosa can’t wait to get his blue Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame coat in September when he will be immortalized as one of the most iconic tenants of these hallowed grounds.
Sinhue Mendoza
Contributor
Sports business columnist Sinhue Mendoza is a publicist based in Chicago. He has more than 16 years in sports business, working media relations, social media, marketing and broadcasting. Mendoza, a proud son of Mexican immigrants, has worked professionally with some of the biggest brands in American sports, including the Chicago Cubs, U.S. Soccer, Notre Dame Football, and Major League Baseball.
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