{"id":27086,"date":"2025-01-17T20:33:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T20:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=27086"},"modified":"2025-01-17T20:33:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T20:33:07","slug":"dusty-baker-breaks-silence-on-sammy-sosa-being-welcomed-back-by-cubs-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=27086","title":{"rendered":"Dusty Baker breaks silence on Sammy Sosa being ‘welcomed back’ by Cubs fans"},"content":{"rendered":"
After two decades of estrangement, Sammy Sosa is finally being welcomed back into the Chicago Cubs’ fold. This move has sparked reactions from fans, former teammates, and baseball figures alike. Dusty Baker, Sosa’s former manager, expressed relief and surprise that the Cubs took so long to extend an olive branch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m shocked it\u2019s taken this long for the Cubs to welcome him back,\u201d Baker said, via Bob Nightengale. \u201cWhat took so long? Come on, was it really the last game when he left? That\u2019s not enough for all the enjoyment he brought everybody. He brought enjoyment. He and Big Mac brought enjoyment to the world. They saved baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sosa\u2019s return comes after years of tension following his departure from the Cubs in 2004, a season marred by steroid allegations and clubhouse friction. His abrupt exit during the final game of the season, paired with accusations of selfishness from teammates, left a bitter taste in the organization. However, Baker believes it\u2019s time to let go of the past.<\/p>\n

The Cubs welcome back Sammy Sosa with open arms<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Dusty
\u00a9 Eileen Blass \/ USA TODAY NETWORK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cSure, Sammy and I had a couple of run-ins, but it wasn\u2019t always like that,\u201d Baker admitted. \u201cAny misunderstandings we\u2019ve had in the past are in the past. Most superstars are like thoroughbred horses. They don\u2019t want to be ridden unless they have to be ridden.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Related Chicago Cubs NewsArticle continues below<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Sosa\u2019s return to the Cubs Convention on Friday marks a significant shift in the franchise\u2019s stance, fueled by fan demand and Sosa\u2019s recent public apology for his role in the controversies surrounding his career. \u201cWe can\u2019t change the past, but the future is bright,\u201d Sosa said in his statement last month, addressing past mistakes while emphasizing his dedication to the game.<\/p>\n

Baker, who has managed some of baseball\u2019s biggest stars, likened Sosa\u2019s struggles with acceptance to those of Barry Bonds, another polarizing figure he coached. \u201cFor guys like Sammy and Barry, it\u2019s hard to be a superstar. You don\u2019t know who\u2019s really pulling for you and who isn\u2019t,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n

The Cubs’ decision to reintegrate Sosa comes with mixed reactions. While many fans are thrilled to see the franchise\u2019s all-time home run leader acknowledged, others remain skeptical due to the controversies that tainted his legacy. Still, Baker hopes that Sosa\u2019s return will remind people of the joy he brought to the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody should fall from the graces high in the sky, from the pedestal he was on, to just disappearing,\u201d Baker said. \u201cI\u2019m just happy he\u2019s back.\u201d As Sosa prepares to face the crowd, the question remains: will the cheers outweigh the boos? Baker, for one, believes the moment is long overdue.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After years of banishment from Cubs fans, the fan base officially welcomes back Sammy Sosa, and Dusty Baker wants to know what took so long.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":27087,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[801],"class_list":["post-27086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb","tag-dusty-baker"],"yoast_head":"\nDusty Baker breaks silence on Sammy Sosa being 'welcomed back' by Cubs fans - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=27086\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dusty Baker breaks silence on Sammy Sosa being 'welcomed back' by Cubs fans - 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