CHICAGO -- Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs made up Thursday afternoon, ending their 17-year estrangement after the former slugger apologized for making "mistakes" during his playing career.
Sosa, who has been linked to performance-enhancing drugs for decades, stopped short of directly admitting to PED use in a statement released Thursday.
But the former National League MVP said he "did whatever I could to recover from injuries" at times throughout his playing career and added: "I never broke any laws but in hindsight, I made mistakes, and I apologize."
Sosa, 56, hit 609 home runs -- the ninth-most in Major League Baseball history -- during an 18-year career highlighted by his 13-year stint with the Cubs. He hit at least 60 homers in three seasons over a four-year stretch from 1998-2001, all of which came during the heart of baseball's steroid era.
"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," Sosa said in his statement. "I never broke any laws but in hindsight, I made mistakes, and I apologize."
Minutes after the apology was released, the Cubs invited Sosa to their winter fan convention for the first time since he retired in 2007.
Sosa one of a group players, including Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire, who haven't made the Hall of Fame in part due to their ties to the steroid era which ran from about 1994-2004 when more stringent testing began. Sosa testified in front of Congress in 2005 where he denied using PEDS, though a New York Times report later claimed he tested positive back in 2003.
Cubs ownership hinted at needing an apology from Sosa before welcoming him back to the organization or even inviting him to an offseason team function.
"We appreciate Sammy releasing his statement and for reaching out," Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Thursday. "No one played harder or wanted to win more. Nobody's perfect but we never doubted his passion for the game and the Cubs. It is an understatement to say that Sammy is a fan favorite.
"We plan on inviting him to the 2025 Cubs Convention and, while it is short notice, we hope that he can attend. We are all ready to move forward together."
Sosa is likely to attend for the first time since he retired in 2007. His 545 home runs in a Cubs uniform are the most in franchise history.
"We can't change the past but the future is bright," Sosa said in his statement. "In my heart, I've always been a Cub and I can't wait to see Cubs fans again."