Latest Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame ballot hints at a major reunion

Prior to the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016, Sammy Sosa was the most relevant player to ever put on a Cubs uniform.

There is no question that the Cubs have had their fair share of legends to walk through the home clubhouse of the Friendly Confines but none had a greater impact than Sosa. It was Sosa and his legendary home run battle with St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire during the 1998 season that brought attention to a Cubs' team that was pegged as the "lovable losers".

The relationship, however, between the Cubs and Sosa has been fractured since the end of the 2004 season. In the years since, a new ownership group has taken control of the Cubs and team chairman Tom Ricketts has remained firm in his stance that Sosa would not be welcomed back until there is a conversation had where the slugger apologizes to the organization.

It's been a flawed stance for Ricketts to have and that is why he confronted with Sosa chants every winter at the annual Cubs' convention. The door to a Sosa return appears to be slightly opening with the latest Cubs' Hall of Fame ballot.

While Sosa is not expected to be inducted into the Cubs' Hall of Fame this go around, his inclusion on the ballot likely will lead to an induction in the coming year or two. It's also important to know that Ricketts has no say in the vote. Given the impact that many Cubs fans, beat writers, and former players realize that Sosa had, it would seem likely that Sosa will be a future Cubs' Hall of Famer.

At that point, Ricketts will be left with no other option but to do the right thing and that is to bring Sosa home.

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