Sammy Sosa Reflects on the ‘No Rules’ Steroid Era and His Legacy with the Cubs
His wide grin faded. He shuffled his feet, lowered his head, and briefly looked away.
“Man, I don’t really want to go that route,” Sammy Sosa said softly, speaking to Flash news. “Not now.”
Yet, after a pause, he continued.
“That’s a very delicate route,” he added. “But come on, nobody was blind.”
Now, with the Contemporary Baseball Era committee set to vote this December, Sosa, Bonds, and Clemens have another shot at induction in 2026. But is Sammy Sosa optimistic?
“I believe in time,” he said. “Nobody’s perfect. Time will heal all wounds. I really believe that one day the door will be open for us.”
Despite the controversy, Sammy Sosa’s impact on Major League Baseball (MLB) is undeniable. Alongside Mark McGwire, he was at the center of the legendary 1998 home run race that revived baseball’s popularity. That year, both players shattered Roger Maris’ long-standing record, with McGwire blasting 70 homers and Sosa finishing with 66.
McGwire admitted to steroid use in 2010, expressing regret about playing in an era with no regulations.
“There was nothing illegal about it,” McGwire said. “There was no testing at that time. It was a widespread thing in the game. It wasn’t like you were feeling guilty. The mentality was to keep yourself healthy on the field.”
Sosa, however, has never directly admitted to PED use.
“I read Mark’s interview,” Sosa said. “And I agree with what he said. There was no testing. There were no rules. We didn’t break any laws.”
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, PEDs were widespread in baseball. Many front-office executives and managers ignored or even encouraged their use. Some former executives admitted that they signed players who were known users, only to regret it when they stopped using and their performance declined.
Despite never failing a drug test or serving a suspension, Sammy Sosa remains on the outside looking in when it comes to the Hall of Fame. If Sosa, Bonds, and Clemens ever hope to be inducted, it may take a bold move from an already enshrined Hall of Famer.
“If just one person who’s already in the Hall admits to using PEDs, it could change everything,” a former MLB executive suggested. “The Hall of Fame can’t strip them of their honor. The writers can’t re-vote. That would force people to acknowledge PEDs were just part of that era.”
While some purists argue that PED users should never be recognized, others point out that players of that era faced pitchers who were also likely using banned substances. It was, as many say, the “Wild West” of baseball.
“I’m still proud of what I did,” Sammy Sosa said. “I had great years, I never tested positive. And anyway, there were no rules. No rules back then. None.”
Sosa’s numbers speak for themselves. With 609 career home runs, he remains the only player in MLB history to record three seasons with at least 60 homers. He led the league in games played three times and appeared in at least 159 games in six different seasons.
“I used to fight with the manager because they wanted to give me a day off,” he recalled with a laugh. “I kept saying, ‘I don’t need a day off.’ It’s a day I could hit three home runs.”
During his time with the Cubs, Sosa was the biggest draw at Wrigley Field. The Cubs reached the postseason only twice during his tenure, but from 1998 to 2004, the team consistently drew over 2.6 million fans each season.
“I know we were losing games,” Sosa said. “But at least they were there to see me and hope I’d do something special. I gave the Cubs everything I had. The fans loved that.
“And, on top of that, I did great.”
Now, 21 years later, Sammy Sosa is back in a Cubs uniform, this time as a guest instructor at spring training. His presence has reignited excitement among fans and players alike. Young hitters eagerly listen to his advice in the batting cage, hoping to learn from one of the game’s most prolific power hitters.
“Baseball has been my life and will always be my life,” Sosa said. “I grew up in baseball. I spent my career in baseball. This means everything to me.
“This is the team that gave me the opportunity to put up my numbers.
Since Sosa’s departure, no Cubs player has hit 50 home runs in a season. Derrek Lee, who was inducted into the Cubs’ Hall of Fame alongside Sosa, is the only one to even reach 40. The only player in all of MLB to hit at least 60 home runs since Sosa’s retirement is Aaron Judge, who launched 62 for the Yankees in 2022.
When asked if anyone could ever break Barry Bonds’ single-season record of 73 home runs, Sosa shook his head.
“No, I don’t think so, not the way the game is now,” he said. “I think 73 is crazy. Barry was the best in the world. When they made a mistake, he didn’t miss it.”
And will anyone ever match Sammy Sosa’s record of three seasons with at least 60 homers?
“In this day and age, I don’t know if that can happen,” he admitted. “If it happens, great. But it’s not that easy. Fortunately, I’m the lucky one to do it.
“Hopefully, that will stay forever, too.”
While Sammy Sosa isn’t sure if he’ll ever take on a full-time coaching role, he’s enjoying his time back with the Cubs, interacting with players and reliving his glory days.
“It’s been great,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years, but his name is never far away. He’s been great with the players.”
For Sosa, just being back on the field brings a sense of fulfillment.
“I feel like a little boy again,” he said. “This is where I belong.
“It feels great to be back. And it feels great making people happy again.”
