Cancer Claims Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg

 

I'm very saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg of metastatic prostate cancer. He was only 65. 

After a brief remission following his initial diagnosis in January 2024, Sandberg announced last week that the cancer had spread to other organs.

A native of Spokane, Washington, Sandberg was a 20th round draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 MLB draft straight out of high school. Sandberg would make his big-league debut with the Phillies late in the 1981 season. 

That off-season, the Phillies and Cubs exchanged shortstops. The Phillies sent Larry Bowa to the Cubs in exchange for Ivan DeJesus. Sandberg was a throw in. 

At first, the trade went OK for the Phillies as the team would win the NL pennant in 1983 with DeJesus at short. While Sandberg finished sixth in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 1982 and would earn a Gold Glove for his work at second base in 1983, few were expecting much from Sandberg.

Then came 1984 when Sandberg would win the NL MVP as the Cubs would make the post-season for the first time since winning the NL pennant in 1945. Sandberg hit .314 with 19 HR and 84 RBI collecting 200 hits and leading the league in runs scored (114) and triples (19). 

His legend came to the fore on NBC's Game of the Week on June 23, 1984 when the Cubs hosted the Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Sandberg hit not one, but two HR off future Hall of Fame closer (and former Cub) Bruce Sutter to tie the game in the 9th and 10th innings. Although Dave Owen drove in the winning run in the 11th to give the Cubs a 12-11 victory, it was called The Sandberg Game on the strength of both HR along with 7 RBIs. 

Between 1984 and 1993, Sandberg was selected to 10 consecutive NL All-Star Teams and would win an additional 8 Gold Gloves at second base. Following a decline in production in 1994, Sandberg retired but would come back in 1996 playing two more seasons with the Cubs. In 2164 career games over 16 seasons, Sandberg collected 2386 hits for a lifetime batting average of .285 with 282 HR and 1061 RBI along with 344 stolen bases. Aside from 10 NL All-Star Team selections and 9 Gold Gloves, Sandberg won 7 Silver Sluggers, led the NL in runs scored thrice and HRs once with 40 in 1990. Sandberg was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his third year of eligibility in 2005 with 76.2% of the vote.

Sandberg managed in the Cubs minor league system from 2007 thru 2010 with the goal of managing at Wrigley Field. This, however, did not come to pass and he rejoined the Phillies in 2011 as a minor league manager. He would be promoted to the team's third base coach at the big-league level in 2012. In the middle of the 2013 season, Sandberg replaced Charlie Manuel who had guided the team to a World Series title in 2008 as manager. However, the Phillies were in a rebuilding phase and Sandberg would resign mid-season in 2015. 

Sandberg returned to the Cubs fold in 2016 as a goodwill ambassador and was in this position at the time of his passing.

Ryne Sandberg might be gone forever but in a Cub uniform he will be forever young. R.I.P.