Sammy Sosa Returning to Chicago for First Public Signing

This could be big.

Sosa's signing session will take place at the Chicago Sports Spectacular on March 16 and 17. The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, will host the event. There will also be a special VIP dinner with Sosa on Friday, March 15. Tickets haven't been released yet, but more details can be found here.

Bring Sammy Sosa Home

Ever since Sosa retired at the end of the 2007 season, Cubs fans have been waiting for Slammin’ Sammy to return to Wrigley as an inductee to the Cubs Hall of Fame. And although the powers that be — Tom Ricketts and the rest of Cubs’ ownership — haven’t invited the former MVP back to Wrigley Field, his upcoming appearance in Chicagoland could be a small first step for Cubs fans to witness it sooner than later.

In 1,811 games across 13 seasons with the Cubs, Sosa was more than spectacular. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native smacked a whopping 545 home runs with 1,414 RBI, a .928 OPS, and 58.8 WAR.

When it comes to Sosa, most fans can’t go without talking about his historic 1998 campaign. Playing in all but three games that season, the righty hit 66 home runs, surpassing New York Yankees legend Roger Maris’ single-season record of 62, with 158 RBIs. He slashed an impressive .308/.377/.647 with a 1.024 OPS, good for a 6.5 WAR. Sosa's performance easily earned him the NL MVP award, his second Silver Slugger Award, and an obvious All-Star selection as he powered the Cubs to an NL Central crown.

Although Sosa’s performance in 1998 was historic, one could argue his best season didn’t come until 2001. In 160 games, he slashed .328/.437/.737 with 64 home runs, 160 RBIs, 34 doubles, 116 walks, 146 runs, a 1.174 OPS, and a 203 OPS+. Sosa's 64 dingers marked the third time in his career he hit at least 60 home runs, and he's still the only player in MLB history to achieve such a feat.

Sosa finished his career with 609 home runs, good for ninth on MLB's all-time homer list. He finished with one MVP Award (six top-10 finishes), seven All-Star appearances, six Silver Sluggers, and a Home Run Derby title in 2000.

His massive power, famous skip after every home run, the kisses he blew to his family at home after every trip around the bases, and the time he made Wrigley Field North look like a little league park during the Home Run Derby all made him a fan favorite among the Cubs faithful. His return to Chicago — even if not in an official team capacity — is a welcome one.

Maybe, just maybe, Sosa’s return to Chicago in March is just a small step in the right direction toward getting the deserved Cubs Hall of Famer back inside Wrigley Field.