CHICAGO — They slept overnight on couches, folding chairs and on the lobby floor at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
They got up at 5 in the morning, sat in front of the ballroom, just to get front-row seats.
It was officially called the Chicago Cubs Convention, but really, it was Sosapalooza.
It has been nearly 21 years since Sammy Sosa was with the Cubs. He was a beloved hero during his power-hitting days, only to unceremoniously depart and be treated as a pariah.
But Friday evening, in front of a jam-packed ballroom, it was as if time had magically healed all wounds. Fans wildly cheered and celebrated every step he took.
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It was almost as if Sosa was still hitting 60 home runs a year, running to right field, bowing in front of the fans, blowing kisses to the TV cameras, and becoming one of the most popular athletes in Chicago’s proud history.
“When Sammy was here,’’ former Cubs outfielder Brian McRae said, “it was Michael Jordan, Frank Thomas and Sammy in this town. He was a hero.
“Now, it’s like everyone came to show how much they loved him.’’
Sosa, who was only invited back after he vaguely apologized for performance-enhancing drug use, was celebrated like almost no other current or former Cubs great, his ovation eclipsed only by Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who’s battling cancer.
When Sosa was introduced on stage as the newest member of the Cubs’ Hall of Fame, the fans rose from their seats, screaming his name. He ran across the stage, and danced to the song, “Let Me Clear My Throat,’’ waving a small American flag, throwing his arms up in the air, and cupping his ears.
It was vintage Sosa with the fans chanting his name over and over: ‘Sam-my! Sam-my! Sam-my!’’
“I thought I was running to right field, the right-field bleachers,’’ Sosa said. “That’s something I did not want to dismiss. I mean, they deserved it. They’ve been supporting me for years.’’
When he was introduced one last time at the end of the evening, the applause was deafening, and fans became emotional when Sandberg, who criticized Sosa during his 2005 Hall of Fame speech, greeted Sosa with a huge hug.
All has been forgiven.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,’’ said Cubs fan Scott Williams, 40, who grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and donned a Sosa jersey. “I grew up a Cubs fan because of WGN. Then, Sammy was my guy. He was my hero. And I really started loving the game just because of what he did in 1998.
“I’m just so happy that he’s back in the organization.’’
Sosa, who captivated the nation in 1998 with Mark McGwire during the great home run race, shattering Roger Maris’ record, is the only player to hit at least 60 homers in three different years. While Sosa denied he ever used performance-enhancing drugs, he was later identified by The New York Times as a player who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during the anonymous 2003 tests.
Sosa still has not directly said he ever used PEDs, but acknowledged in his apology letter to the Cubs and the fanbase that mistakes were made — without offering specifics.
He was in no mood to rehash the past when speaking to reporters after the ceremony, saying only that this was a beautiful night, one that he’ll never forget, being embraced once again by the fans who adored him.
“I think today was the perfect day, everybody was happy,’’ Sosa said, “we put on a show. I’ve seen a lot of smiling faces. I’ve been out for 21 years. The fans supported me 90%. I’m happy to be back.’’
Did he think this day would ever come?
“Well, look, it’s 21 years,’’ Sosa said. “People grow up. That’s what happened to me. To give that statement out, it was the right time for me. The response right away was incredible. Now the door is open, and I’m looking forward to continuing with the great fans.”
It was Stewart McVicar, founder of the charitable Club 400 in the Chicago area, who helped broker the reconciliation. He, along with McRae, had behind-the-scenes talks with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, saying that the banishment had gone on for far too long. It was time for both sides to come together and determine a resolution.
It came in the way of an apology by Sosa in December, and less than a month later, he found himself inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame alongside former first baseman Derrek Lee.
“Look, I’m a man of God,’’ Sosa said. “I had the fans that loved me very much. I had to apologize to them. … I made my statement at the right time, you know, and now it’s working perfectly. I just want to continue to move forward.’’
McRae, who played with Sosa, now believes that any harsh feelings will fade in time. Sosa received the highest honor in the organization, plans to be around more often, and may even be a guest instructor during spring training if invited.
“For a while it seemed like the Cubs tried to distance themselves with the new ownership,’’ McRae said. “They were going their own direction and had the Red Sox people come in. Then they went on their run (winning the 2016 World Series) and really didn’t need him around.
“The whole thing, if you break it down, made no sense. It was frustrating because you had two sides that couldn’t come together because a lot of people you see here are Cubs fans, or even bigger Cubs fans, because of what Sammy did.
“However you feel about the steroid issue or whatnot, you can’t deny what he did for the city of Chicago, and what he did for a lot of people’s pockets. He made a lot of people in Chicago a whole lot of money. Now, he’s doing it again. There’s so much buzz here because of Sammy.’’
If there was any resentment by former teammates or Cubs greats towards Sosa, certainly no one showed it. No one uttered a negative word, and there were no boos by the fans.
All is finally forgiven.
“You know, he admitted mistakes, apologized for them, and moved on,’’ Lee said. “We all made mistakes, and we all want forgiveness. So, it’s time to move on.
“It’s been a long time.’’
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