Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has died

CHICAGO (AP) — Ryne Sandberg, a Corridor of Fame second baseman who turned considered one of baseball’s greatest all-around gamers whereas starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.

Sandberg was surrounded by his household when he died at his residence on Monday, in response to the workforce.

Sandberg introduced in January 2024 that he had been recognized with metastatic prostate most cancers. He had chemotherapy and radiation remedies, after which mentioned in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.

However he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his most cancers had returned and unfold to different organs. He introduced this month that he was nonetheless combating, whereas “wanting ahead to taking advantage of day by day with my loving household and buddies.”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts mentioned Sandberg “shall be remembered as one of many all-time greats in practically 150 years of this historic franchise.”

“His dedication to and respect for the sport, alongside together with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and aggressive fireplace had been hallmarks of his profession,” Ricketts mentioned within the workforce’s assertion.

Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was chosen out of highschool by Philadelphia within the twentieth spherical of the 1978 beginner draft.

He made his main league debut in 1981 and went 1 for six in 13 video games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago together with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.

It changed into one of the lopsided offers in baseball historical past.

Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star groups — profitable the Residence Run Derby in 1990 — and took residence 9 Gold Gloves.

“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved determine all through Main League Baseball,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned. “He was a five-tool participant who excelled in each side of the sport because of his energy, velocity and work ethic.”

Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made simply two postseason appearances whereas he was in Chicago.

He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago gained the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) within the playoffs, however the Cubs had been eradicated by San Diego after profitable the primary two video games of the Nationwide League Championship Sequence at Wrigley Subject.

The 1984 season featured what Cubs followers nonetheless name “The Sandberg Recreation,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.

Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that recreation when it unveiled a statue of the infielder exterior Wrigley Subject on that date in 2024.

“He was a superhero on this metropolis,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned throughout a TV broadcast of the workforce’s recreation on July 20. “You consider (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all right here on the similar time, and I can’t think about an individual dealing with their fame higher, their accountability for a metropolis higher than he did.”

Sandberg led Chicago again to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers because the Cubs gained the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) within the NLCS, however Chicago misplaced to San Francisco in 5 video games.

Sandberg set a profession excessive with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, however he by no means made it again to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.

“Whenever you study the offense and protection, you’ll discover some years the place he was the very best participant you’ve ever seen in your life,” former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace mentioned.

Sandberg was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America in his third attempt on the poll. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that very same 12 months.

“Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable optimistic outlook,” Corridor of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark mentioned. “With it, he impressed all those that knew him.”

Sandberg additionally managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He obtained the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the midst of a troublesome 2015 season.