R.I.P. Ryne Sandberg

Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs infielder who set the standard for second baseman in the 1980s and 90s, died July 28th, 2025. Sandberg had announced he had metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024, and after treatment, declared he was cancer free in August. However, in December, he announced that the cancer had returned and spread to other organs, ultimately proving fatal. He was 65 years old.

Sandberg was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and made his major league debut in 1981 with that club, playing in 13 games. He was traded to the Cubs in January of 1982. Sandberg emerged from the pack in 1984, when he hit .314, with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 stolen bases, a league leading 114 runs scored, and a major league leading 19 triples. He was an All-Star, Gold Glove winner, and was named the National League Most Valuable Player, leading the Cubs to their first post season appearance in 39 years. The Cubs-Cardinals game on June 23rd that year is still referred to as “The Sandberg Game”. He hit a pair of game tying home runs in the ninth and 10th innings, both off future Hall of Fame reliever Bruce Sutter, in the Cubs 12-11 win in 11 innings. Sandberg was five of six at the plate with seven RBIs.

Perhaps Sandberg s best overall season was in 1990, when he led the NL with 40 homers and 116 runs scored, drove in 100 runs, had 25 stolen bases, and led the majors with 344 total bases, plus winning another Gold Glove. In all, Sandberg won nine Gold Gloves and was a 10 time All-Star.

In an era of fewer playoff teams, the Cubs made only two post season appearances during Sandberg’s career. Both were in the National League Championship series, in 1984 and 1989. In 10 post season games, Sandberg hit .385, with five doubles, a triple, a home run, six RBIs, and three stolen bases.

Sandberg retired after the 1997 season. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.