Ryne Sandberg has passed away. He was 65 years old when he became a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played second base for the Chicago Cubs for the most of his career. Later on, he became the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sandberg passed away on Monday, July 28, according to the announcement made by the Cubs and Major League Baseball.
“Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Chicago Cubs fans and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise,” said Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts in a statement on behalf of the Cubs and Sandberg’s family. Ricketts made the comment in a statement that was released on behalf of the group. His career was distinguished by his unwavering commitment to and respect for the game, as well as his unwavering integrity, tenacity, hustle, and competitive fire he displayed throughout his career.
“He was immensely proud of his teammates and his role as a global ambassador of the game of baseball, but most of all, he was proud of Margaret, his children and his role as husband, father and grandfather,” Ricketts said further.
In 1959, Sandberg was born in the city of Spokane, Washington. The bullpen pitcher for the Yankees, Ryne Duren, was the inspiration for his name, and his elder brother, Del, was also named after a different baseball star. In addition, Del was Sandberg’s very first coach. “It was kind of hard when he got a girlfriend in high school,” Sandberg says in an interview with PEOPLE from 1984. “I always would get mad because he would go out on a date and I wanted to play ball.”
During his time at North Central High School, Sandberg was recognized as an all-state athlete in both baseball and basketball. Additionally, he was recognized as an all-American quarterback and had many offers from universities. After the Phillies selected him in the draft, he made the decision to continue his career in baseball rather than attend college. “Football, I thought, would be a tough sport to make a living in,” he said back in the year 1984. Nobody plays in the minor leagues. You either make it to the National Football League or you don’t.
It was in 1981 that he made his debut in the Major League Baseball as a shortstop. However, the organization determined that he was not a suitable match for the team and moved him to the Cubs for the 1982 season. The Cubs had recruited the former general manager of the Phillies, who had selected Sandberg. The Cubs had originally intended for him to play in the outfield, but they ultimately decided to shift him to second base, where he performed quite well. In 1983, he was awarded the Gold Glove, which is the highest defensive distinction in the league.
This was the season in which Sandberg made his debut. After leading the National League in runs and triples, he had a batting average of.314. He blasted two home runs in a single game, which became known as the Sandberg Game, which helped push the Cubs to a win against their rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals, by a score of 12-11. According to statements made by his manager, Jim Frey, to People magazine in that year, “I think he is probably in the top four or five in baseball right now in all-round ability.”
Despite the fact that they were unsuccessful in their attempt to win the National League Championship Series, Sandberg was instrumental in the team’s success in winning the Eastern Division of the National League. This was the team’s first championship of any type since 1945. He was also awarded the Most Valuable Player of the League.
On the other hand, despite his abilities, Sandberg was a reserved person who disliked being in the limelight. Due to the fact that he was so quiet, his teammates referred to him as “Gabby.” According to what he said with PEOPLE, when he first joined the squad, “I was a little scared and I didn’t talk at all.” According to him, the fervent followers of the Cubs are well knowledgeable about the game. Whenever it is appropriate for them to do so, they boo and applaud.
Ultimately, Sandberg was awarded the Gold Glove nine times, the All-Star game ten times, and the Silver Slugger award seven times. The Silver Slugger is the honor that is given for the finest offensive talent in a position. When it came to home runs in 1990, he was the National League leader. He was recognized as one of the fifty most attractive individuals in the world by individuals in the year 1990.
Sandberg had a difficult time in 1994 and announced his retirement in the middle of the season. He said, “I am not the kind of person who can be content with anything less than my very best effort and my very top performance.” He would not settle for anything less than the absolute best. However, he continued to play with the Cubs for two more seasons, in 1996 and 1997 respectively. His career batting average was.285, and he hit 277 home runs, which was a record for a second baseman at the time. He eventually retired with those accomplishments. Sandberg’s last home game at Wrigley Field was also the final home game for the iconic announcer Harry Caray, who passed away that winter. Sandberg’s game was also the final home game for Caray.
In the year 2005, Sandberg was honored with induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Cubs put his number into retirement not long after that, making him the fourth player on the franchise to be honored with this distinction. In 2024, the Cubs unveiled a monument that was erected in his honor.
During the year 2007, Sandberg started working as a manager for the Cubs’ minor league organization. After being passed up for the position of managing the big league club, he was given the opportunity to manage the Phillies’ minor league affiliates instead. when being elevated to the position of third-base coach for the big league squad in 2012, he was given the opportunity to take over as manager of the team for the 2013 season when the previous manager was terminated. It was in the midst of the 2015 season that he finally decided to step down.
Between the years 1979 and July 1995, Sandberg was married to his first wife, Cindy. Two years later, in July 1995, they divorced. Justin and Lindsey were their children that they shared. BR, Adriane, and Steven were his stepchildren when he married Margaret, his second wife, in August of 1995. He also became the stepfather to her three children.
Sandberg, like many other Cubs supporters, was fervently hoping that the team would finally win the World Series, something that they hadn’t accomplished since 1908. When it comes to the tag of “Lovable Losers,” I believe the Cubs supporters are becoming very tired of it. When asked about it in an interview in 2011, he said, “I believe that it would be the biggest party ever for a winning team, and the party would be celebrated all over the world.”
This year, 2016, the Cubs were victorious. Sandberg had returned to the organization in that year to serve as an ambassador, and he was also presented with a World Series ring before his departure.
Announcing that he was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, Sandberg made the announcement in January of 2024. In May, he shared the news that he had been cancer-free. During the month of December, he disclosed the information that the cancer had returned and that he was once again undergoing treatment. It was at that time that he posted the following message on Instagram: “We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this.”
Only Sandberg’s wife and children will go on after his passing.
