Interesting:

The Tribune reports that the 79-year-old (Ernie) Banks traveled to Sosa's native Dominican Republic last year as a Cubs representative in an effort to contact Sosa but was unsuccessful.

"I would like to see Sammy come back," Banks told the Tribune. "Throw out the first pitch, sing 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame,' you know, meet some of the players and all of that. I was dreaming about it. I always thought that the way he left here and went to his demise here was quick. The lesson from that is that fame is fleeting. It can go in a minute.

The Trib story doesn't say whether it was pre- or post-Ricketts ownership. Either way, it's an encouraging sign by the Cubs.

(click "read more" for full article)

The question, of course, is would Cubs fans welcome him back?

In the same article linked above, as berselius notes, Banks is encouraging Sosa to "come clean" about his assumed steroid use.

Which of course puts Sosa in a box: If he doesn't fess up, he can't be welcomed back by the purer than thou set (let by Ryne Sandberg). If he admits to using, the pitchforks come out and they will demand he be banished because he's a cheater.

Bah. He's the greatest Cub of our lifetimes. It's time to put the sanctimony aside and welcome him back. For good.