Two baseman within the Corridor of Fame, Ryne Sandberg, who turned top-of-the-line all-rounders in baseball whereas starring within the Chicago Cubs, has handed away. He was 65 years outdated.
In response to the crew, Sandberg was surrounded by his household when he handed away at his residence on Monday.
Sandberg introduced in January 2024 that he had been recognized with metastatic prostate most cancers. He acquired chemotherapy and radiation remedy, and in August 2024 he mentioned he had no most cancers.
however He posted on Instagram on December tenth His most cancers has returned and unfold to different organs. He introduced this month that he’s nonetheless combating, “I look ahead to taking advantage of my beautiful household and buddies on daily basis.”
Cubs President Tom Ricketts mentioned Sandberg can be “remembered as one of many best best males of this historic franchise, nearly 150 years outdated.”
“Alongside along with his relentless integrity, grit, hustling and aggressive fireplace, his dedication and respect for the sport had been hallmarks of his profession,” Ricketts mentioned in a crew’s assertion.
Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was chosen from highschool by Philadelphia within the twentieth spherical of the 1978 newbie draft.
He made his main league debut in 1981, 6-1 in 13 video games in opposition to the Phillies. In January 1982 he was traded for Chicago together with veteran infielder Ivan de Jesus together with Larry Bohr.
It has change into one of the vital biased transactions in baseball historical past.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 Homer, 1,061 RBI and 344 metal in 15 years in Chicago. He made 10 All-Star groups – received the Residence Run Derby in 1990 and introduced residence 9 gold gloves.
“Lynn Sandberg was a legend within the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved determine all through main league baseball,” mentioned MLB’s commissioner Rob Manfred. “He was a five-tool participant who was wonderful in all facets of the sport because of his power, pace and work ethic.”
Even in Sandberg’s nice play, the Cubs made simply two postseason appearances whereas he was in Chicago.
He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 Homer, 84 RBI, 32 metal, 19 triples and 114 runs. Chicago received the NL East, with Sandberg hitting .368 (19-7) within the playoffs, however the Cubs had been eradicated by San Diego after successful the primary two video games of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence at Wrigley Subject.
“I by no means noticed a participant working laborious, however the higher he was, the extra he appeared like he labored,” mentioned Jim Frey, former Cubs supervisor.
The 1984 season featured what Cubs followers nonetheless name the “Sandberg Recreation.”
Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and its recreation The statue was introduced The infielder outdoors Wrigley Subject that day in 2024.
“Reno was an amazing teammate and clearly an amazing participant,” Corridor of Fame pitcher Greg Madducks advised the Related Press by way of textual content message. “He has resigned as a subject mannequin and management. I used to be fortunate to know him.”
Sandberg returned Chicago to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers because the Cubs received the NL East. He hit a .400 (8 for 20) within the NLCS, however Chicago misplaced to San Francisco in 5 video games.
Sandberg constructed his profession within the NL Prime 40 Homer in 1990, incomes a career-high 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, however he by no means returned to the postseason. When he retired after the 1997 season, he was assaulting probably the most Homer because the second baseman in main league historical past.
“He was a superhero within the metropolis,” mentioned Jed Heuer, president of the Cubs baseball enterprise, throughout a televised broadcast of the crew’s recreation on July twentieth.
Sandberg was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the American Affiliation of Baseball Writers Associations in his third try at Borotto. The Cubs retired from his twenty third place in the identical 12 months.
“In case you look into offense and protection, you may discover just a few years when he was the most effective participant you have ever seen in your life,” mentioned Mark Grace, the primary baseman for the previous Cubs.
Sandberg additionally managed minors in Chicago and Philadelphia earlier than changing into the Phillies’ 3 base coach. When Charlie Manuel was fired in August 2013, he was promoted to interim supervisor and had a file of 119-159. He resigned The Phillies are in the course of a tough season in 2015.
“He was not solely a Corridor of Fame, he was a person who personified class and dignity,” Phillies Managing Companion and CEO John Middleton mentioned in an announcement. “It was an honor to be a part of our group.”
Sandberg spent a while across the Cubs throughout coaching this spring, and supervisor Craig Counsel mentioned it means quite a bit to everybody on the crew.
“We’re grateful that he was keen to spend that point with us when issues did not go nicely for him,” Counsel mentioned after the crew’s recreation in Milwaukee. “It is a unhappy day for the Chicago Cubs. He was an amazing child.”