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Sammy Sosa was in his element at Cubs Convention: ‘I’m the main show’

3 weeks agoTony Andracki

Sammy Sosa certainly knows how to put on a show.

The slugger was back at Cubs Convention for the first time in 21 years and was sure to make the most of it.

When he was announced as one of the newest members of the Cubs Hall of Fame, Sosa ran out on the stage during Opening Ceremonies of the Cubs Convention waving around an American flag.

As he made his rounds high-fiving and celebrating with screaming Cubs fans, it was easy to be transported back to the 13 seasons when Sosa would run out to right field at Wrigley Field:

“I’m the main show, so I had to give my people what they deserve,” Sosa said in an interview with Cole Wright and Jon “Boog” Sciambi on Marquee Sports Network. “They’ve been clapping for me for 20-something years so I had to do something different.”

Sosa last played for the Cubs in 2004 and has not been back at a Cubs Convention or at Wrigley Field since.

In December, he released a statement with an apology and was welcomed back by Tom Ricketts and the Cubs organization.

[Why Sammy Sosa felt now was the time to apologize]

Sosa had no trouble taking in the moment at Cubs Convention, back with a fanbase that adores him and has been clamoring to see their hero.

Jerseys with “Sosa” and the number 21 stitched on the back littered the Sheraton Grand Chicago and one fan carried around a sign that said “Sosa Palooza” – which was an apt way to describe the weekend.

When Sosa’s highlight reel played as Ricketts announced the latest Cubs Hall of Famer, the ballroom erupted with cheers that rivaled the celebrations at the 2017 Cubs Convention (following the 2016 championship). Two fans even jumped up and hugged each other like the Cubs won the World Series again.

Sosa, of course, was in his element.

He is a showman, after all.

That has always been true – from his patented “Sammy hop” after connecting on a home run or blowing a kiss to the camera or his sprint out to right field at Wrigley at the beginning of each game.

What was Friday like for him as he made his return?

“Good players don’t get nervous,” Sosa said. “It’s all in your mind. You have to be ready. One of the thing I prided myself on – when you’re strong mentally, you can deal with everything.”

Sosa knows he is deserving of a spot in the Cubs Hall of Fame. On paper, there may be no more deserving candidate as he holds the franchise lead in home runs and ranks among the top of the list in every other major offensive category.

In 1998, he electrified not only an entire fanbase but the whole sport of baseball with his record-setting home run race against Mark McGwire.

“My numbers are nasty,” Sosa said. “I played hard. I never was thinking about the numbers – I was thinking about one day at a time. That’s why I produced so much. I never left any at-bat, I never gave away any at-bat. … It’s step-by-step and play with hunger. That’s what I did all my life and the numbers don’t lie. I was glad to do what I did.”

And as amazing as Sosa’s numbers are, he thinks he would flourish in today’s game – even with 100 mph fastballs and wipeout sliders the norm.

“It’s easier to hit now because they have computers,” Sosa said. “They didn’t have computers when we played. It’s all digital. So pretty much for us, it was hard. We had to be on the field watching the pitcher pitch that inning to see if some people picked up [something]. I never did that because I had a quick bat. But some people have that advantage now.”

Sosa struck out his fair share of times – he led the league in whiffs 3 straight years from 1997-99 – but he also hit for a high average with a .284 mark during his 13 years with the Cubs.

So when Wright asked Sosa if he would rather go 3-for-4 with 3 hits or 1-for-4 with a home run, the former slugger had a perfect quip in response:

“I’ll take 3-for-4 and then the next day, 2 home runs,” Sosa said.

Check out the complete exclusive interview with Sosa on the Marquee Sports Network app.

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