Chicago Cubs: Who would the Cubs welcome back first, Sosa or Big Z?

Last month, the Chicago Cubs welcomed back longtime fan favorite and Hall of Fame second baseman, Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg was not only an all-star for the Cubs but was also a very successful minor league manager.

A lot of people thought he was a leading candidate to take over for the Chicago Cubs as their manager when Dale Sveum was fired.

Ultimately the Cubs went in a different direction and thus spelled the end of Sandberg’s stay with the Chicago Cubs and brought him back to his first major league team, the Philadelphia Phillies as their skipper.

The reunion is a special one, not just for Sandberg, but for a lot of a long time faithful Cubs fans (including this one). With this recent return, it makes one think about what other former iconic Chicago Cubs could make a return under the Ricketts/Epstein regime?

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Two names that come to mind are, Sammy Sosa and Carlos Zambrano.

Sosa has been rumored off and on about wanting to come back home to Wrigley Field and be a part of his former clubs in some fashion. But with the dark cloud that still hangs over “Slammin’ Sammy’s” head, it’s not really surprising that the owners and front office want to keep themselves at a distance.

As for Zambrano, it was under the Ricketts and Epstein leadership that he had his biggest meltdown that led to his trade from the Cubs.

Both were big stars in their own time and created their fair share of fireworks on the field, but it was the fireworks they caused off the field that lead to their ugly exit from the Chicago Cubs.

No one can take away Sosa’s success on the field and the number of highlights and memorable moments he gave all Chicago Cubs fans all around the world. Unfortunately, it is the last moments of his Cubs career that still linger in the minds of most.

Whether it was the corked bat, the steroid allegations, or his unwillingness to play in the final game of the 2004 season and not staying around to thank the Wrigley faithful, all are moments that Sosa is just as known for as he is for all the home runs he hit – if not more so.

As for “Big Z”, the talent was always there – as was the temper. But it was that fire that he brought to every start that made him one of the Cubs’ most popular and beloved players during his tenure.

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His career highlight would have to be the no-hitter that he threw against the Houston Astros in 2008; ending a franchise drought of 36 years since the last no-hitter was thrown by Milt Pappas in 1972.

Both are polarizing characters and would garner a fair amount of cheers (and boos) if they were to ever be granted a second chance with the Chicago Cubs organization.

Their returns would be interesting stories to read about, but I would imagine Sosa’s would bring in a lot more attention – both positive and negative.