Wrigley Field is about to relive a part of the spirit of the 1990s. In an announcement that shook the American baseball community, the Chicago Cubs will officially welcome back legends Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood this March, as co-ambassadors and senior advisors. This is not just a simple nostalgic gesture. It’s a strategic move, and also a historic reconciliation.
For generations of Cubs fans, the names Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood evoke unforgettable memories: the fiery summer of 1998, the nights that shook Wrigley, and the belief that Chicago could dream big. Now, as the Cubs seek a new identity amidst a transformative era, bringing back two contrasting yet perfectly complementary icons simultaneously sends an unmistakable message: the Cubs are reconnecting with the past to pave the way for the future.
Sosa and Wood will serve as co-senior advisors, working directly with the leadership, coaching staff, and young players. They will be involved in shaping the club’s culture, advising on morale, and bridging the gap between the golden generation and the next.
Sammy Sosa’s return holds special significance. For years, the relationship between Sosa and the Cubs was considered “frozen” due to old differences and controversies. But time, along with a desire to close unfinished chapters, has opened a new door.
“Chicago is where I got everything,” Sosa shared in a short message. “I’m not back to look back, but to help the Cubs move forward.”
For fans, this is more than just the return of a legendary former slugger. It’s mutual recognition, a sign that the Cubs are willing to embrace Sosa, and that Sosa is ready to contribute his experience and influence without the spotlight.
If Sosa was the offensive fire, then Kerry Wood embodies the courage on the mound. His 20-strikeout game in 1998 turned Wood into a legend overnight, but what kept him in the hearts of Cubs fans was his never-give-up warrior spirit.
Wood has been involved with the Cubs in various roles after retirement, and this return is seen as a natural continuation. As a co-ambassador and mentor, Wood will focus on working with young pitchers, sharing how to cope with the pressure, setbacks, and immense expectations in a market like Chicago.
“The Cubs will always be home,” Wood said. “If I can help a young player overcome what I went through, that’s the most valuable thing.”
The simultaneous appointments of Sosa and Wood were no accident. The Cubs are sending a powerful message: the team respects its history, but isn’t stuck in the past. The two legends represent two different facets of the Cubs: glory and controversy, explosiveness and resilience, spotlight and quietude. Bringing them together is the Cubs’ way of acknowledging its entire legacy—both beautiful and gritty.
As the Cubs build a generation of promising young players, the role of mentors with “real-life experience” is invaluable. No one understands the pressure at Wrigley, the harshness of the Chicago media, and the expectations of the fans better than Sosa and Wood.
This coming March will be more than just Spring Training. It will be an iconic moment, when two legends walk onto the Cubs campus not as guests, but as members of the organization. The locker room conversations, the advice on the sidelines of practice, and the quiet handshakes could have a greater impact than any grand speech.
The Cubs are saying: we haven’t forgotten who we are. That history isn’t just for museum display, but to live on in the present. And that legends—despite past distance—have a place if the common goal is victory and sustainable growth.
Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood’s return isn’t just breaking news. It’s a statement. A reminder that in Chicago, the big stories never really end—they just wait for the right moment to be written.