Sammy Sosa became larger than life with the Cubs, ushering in a new generation of baseball fans while reinvigorating those dismayed by the 1994 MLB strike. The 1998 home run race captivated the world, but by 2004 Sosa was a scrutinized figure on the North Side and his divorce from the Cubs was imminent.
Controversy hit Sosa in 2003, when one of his bats was found to be corked. His production declined in 2004 (for his standard, at least) and he later abandoned his teammates on the final game of the season.
That incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back — the Cubs fined Sosa $87,500 for leaving that game shortly after first pitch — and the club turned their attention towards trading the former superstar.