Ryne Dee Sandberg, one of the most beloved players in Chicago Cubs history, passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. He was 65.
Before his Hall of Fame baseball career, Sandberg was a top-tier high school quarterback—good enough to earn a scholarship offer from Washington State. But fate had other plans. In 1978, he was selected in the 20th round of the MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. Choosing baseball over football, Sandberg began a journey that would lead him to greatness.
After spending a few seasons in the minors, Sandberg made his MLB debut with the Phillies in 1981. Unfortunately, playing time was scarce; the Phillies’ infield was stacked with stars like Larry Bowa at shortstop, Manny Trillo at second base, and Mike Schmidt at third base.
In what would become one of the most lopsided trades in Major League history, the Phillies dealt Sandberg and Bowa to the Cubs for shortstop Iván DeJesús in 1982. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Sandberg flourished in Chicago. He became a 10-time All-Star—playing in ten consecutive Midsummer Classics—and won nine Gold Glove Awards at second base. In 1984, he was named National League MVP. He also won seven Silver Slugger Awards, tied for the most ever by a second baseman alongside Jose Altuve.
Midway through the 1994 season, Sandberg stunned the baseball world by walking away from the game, citing a loss of competitive fire. He explained it simply:
“The reason I retired is simple: I lost the desire that got me ready to play on an everyday basis for so many years. Without it, I didn’t think I could perform at the same level I had in the past, and I didn’t want to play at a level less than what was expected of me by my teammates, coaches, ownership, and most of all, myself.”
He returned to the Cubs in 1996 and played two more seasons, during which he surpassed Joe Morgan as the all-time home run leader among second basemen—a record later broken by Jeff Kent. Sandberg retired for good at the end of the 1997 season.
In 2005, on his third appearance on the ballot, Sandberg was inducted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame.
His connection to the game didn’t end there. In 2013, Sandberg returned to the Phillies—this time as a manager. Though his managerial stint lasted only three seasons, his presence in the sport endured. Whether mentoring or simply being around the ballpark, Sandberg remained a fixture in the baseball community.
I had the privilege of meeting Ryne Sandberg during the 2019 MLB season while working with the Cubs. He was everything you hoped a childhood hero would be: kind, humble, and generous with his time. He spoke with everyone—from fans to staff to media—making each person feel valued and seen.
Yesterday, the baseball world lost not just a Hall of Famer, but a true gentleman of the game.
Rest in peace, Ryno. You’ll never be forgotten