Cubs will present Sandberg statue to Cubs. They are not ready for Sosa reunion.

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs plan to honor Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg with a statue outside Wrigley Field and put him in an exclusive club that includes Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ferguson Jenkins and Harry Caray.

Nothing has changed about Sammy Sosa. They aren’t ready for a reunion.

Chairman Tom Ricketts surprised Sandberg with the announcement Saturday that the statue “is in progress” during a question-and-answer session with fans, drawing a standing ovation in a crowded ballroom.

They were less happy when he said that Sosa has not been welcomed back. Ricketts said he remains hopeful a reunion will happen and insisted: “I don’t think the final chapter has been written on this.”

The Cubs have begun a new chapter with Sandberg, giving him a statue. President of Business Operations Crane Kenney stated that the statue will be unveiled by the Cubs in 2024. The second baseman, who is slugging and smooth-fielding, could not be happier.

“I’m 63 years old and things are still happening,” Sandberg said. “Something like this is a pretty cool thing, like the Hall of Fame. It means so much to be a part of something, like Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field was always friendly and my friend. The atmosphere, the fans, WGN TV, 162 broadcast games and everything about it was wonderful. And the day games, I liked everything about that.”

Sandberg was an obvious candidate for a statuary.

In 1981, he was a Philadelphia player who played 13 games. After being traded to Chicago, he set off on a journey to Cooperstown.

Sandberg was the National League MVP of 1984. He made 10 All-Star teams, won nine Gold Gloves and was named National League MVP. Over 16 years, he hit.285 and had 282 homers. He also drove in 1,061 runs.

In 2005, Sandberg was inducted in the Hall of Fame and received his No. The Cubs retired Sandberg’s No. 23 that year. He is now set to join Williams, Santo, Jenkins and Santo with statues in Gallagher Way. It’s a gathering spot just outside the ballpark and close to the main entrance. You will find the sculpture of Caray just beyond the stadium at the corner of Waveland Avenue and Sheffield avenues.

“Everybody comes across the country to watch Cubs games just because of Wrigley Field,” Sandberg said. “To have that outside of there and have the fans be able to see that and enjoy it along with my family, that’s pretty cool.”

On Friday, Sandberg’s parents were informed by the Cubs. He was not told the news until he was summoned to the podium along with Ricketts’ sister Laura, who is a member the team board.

Sandberg indicated that the design process was just beginning. Sandberg stated that the sculpture will be posed by a small group of people. He also said that it could be challenging because he is known for his glove and bat.

“What’s pretty neat about it is I know all the statues that are there — from Harry Caray to Ernie Banks to Billy Williams, Fergie and Santo,” Sandberg said. “I was able to be around all those guys a lot and to join them, kind of join a team of statues, is pretty awesome.”

Sosa is the franchise’s alltime record holder, with 545 homers, and he remains on the outside.

The Cubs expelled Slammin’ Sammy and traded him to Baltimore. In January 2022, he along with Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire were rejected for the Hall of Fame on their 10th and final year on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot because of allegations they used performance-enhancing drugs.

“I just want to be thoughtful about it and do it in a way that’s respectful of both the people that loved Sammy as a player — as I did — and people that respect the game, too, and I think there’s a balance for that somewhere and maybe we’ll find it at some point,” Ricketts, whose family bought the team from the Tribune Company in 2009, said in response to a fan’s question.

Sandberg indicated that he would like to see Sosa celebrated at Wrigley. He also knows the issues involved in a reunion of the Cubs and an induction into the Hall of Fame.

“You got to respect the game and play the game the right way,” said Sandberg, one of 16 members of the contemporary baseball era committee. “There was a little problem there with the way that Sammy played the game. If that’s a roadblock, then that’s a roadblock.”

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