In the storied history of the Chicago Cubs franchise, there are very few numbers that are retired from use. Those players that have been qualified as the best of the franchise's history proudly have their numbers hanging on flags from each foul pole.
Ernie Banks is the first, and most obvious, name and number that come to mind. He's "Mr. Cub" and is still the face of the franchise.
Billy Williams and Ron Santo, Banks' partners in the middle of the Cubs' order in the 1960's, have their numbers flying proudly from the poles as well.
Another great from the 1960's teams, Ferguson Jenkins, had his number co-retired this season. He shares the distinction with Greg Maddux as the greatest "one that got away" since Lou Brock on Chicago's North Side.
The final number that's been retired by the Cubs is Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Fame second baseman, who was a fixture in the infield at Wrigley for the better part of two decades.
Let me say that this proposition has nothing to do with my complete lack of respect for the current bearer of the number, Milton Bradley. He might be hot garbage, but he's not the reason to take this number out of circulation.
So why on Earth would the Cubs retire 21? Sammy Sosa is the reason this number needs to disappear forever.
I am not proposing the fanfare with which the Cubs retired the previous numbers; there shouldn't be a flag or a ceremony or anything else. The number just shouldn't be used anymore.
Out of respect for players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Roger Maris that achieved things Sosa has tainted by doing steroids, the Cubs should take the number out of the line-up.
Out of respect for players like Sandberg, Mark Grace, Rick Sutcliffe, and others that represented the Cubs franchise so proudly and achieved special things at Wrigley Field in a clean manner, they should take the number out of availability.
Out of respect for players like Jim Thome, Ken Griffey Jr., and Frank Thomas that, to most observers, have been special players above reproach in an era that's full of liars, cheats and hypocrites - they should wipe Sosa's number from the jerseys.
In fact, stores around Wrigley Field shouldn't sell the jersey any longer. It should be outlawed on EBAY. And the Cubs, in the spirit of Bill Veeck's "Disco Demolition Night," should offer a free replica jersey of a current Cubs' player to any fan that wishes to redeem his or her Sosa jersey at Wrigley Field. There should then be a ceremonial burning of Sosa's fans' jerseys, showing him the same level of class he showed his teammates in 2004.
Sosa was a fraud, who tugged on the heartstrings of baseball fans from coast to coast in 1998. He, along with fellow medically-created slugger Mark McGwire, were labeled as the players who "brought baseball back."
Perhaps the irony of those two "saving" the game runs deeper than just a Sports Illustrated cover.
Sosa and McGwire will now be the standard bearers of the steroid era. The first two big names to cross the ballots of the voters for Cooperstown.
McGwire didn't have as many Most Valuable Player Awards as Sosa, never stole as many bases as the young, un-enhanced version of Slammin' Sammy did, and didn't play in as big of a market as Sosa.
While they both crossed the once-sacred number of 500 home runs, Sosa also passed 600, a number he now shares with just five other players. He, and Barry Bonds, will be the most statistically accomplished hitters to ever force Hall of Fame voters to think twice.
So what I am proposing isn't so much a formal retirement of the number Sosa wore while he lied to millions of adoring fans. I'm asking the Cubs to do the right thing and just not let someone else wear the number ever again.
As a solemn notice of disrespect for Sosa, and the era in which he and his peers tainted America's Past time, the Cubs shouldn't let anyone else wear "Sammy's Number" ever again.
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