Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies at 65 after courageous cancer battle | (*65*) Sports News

Ryne Sandberg. Image through: Griffin Quinn/MLB Photos through Getty Images

Ryne Sandberg, one among baseball’s most revered second basemen and a beloved Chicago Cubs icon, handed away on July 28 at the age of 65 after a valiant combat with metastatic prostate cancer. He was revered for each his stellar profession and quiet management. Sandberg leaves behind an indelible legacy not simply in Chicago however throughout the whole baseball world.

Ryne Sandberg, aka Ryno, passes away at 65

Known affectionately as “Ryno,” Sandberg turned the center and soul of the Cubs for over a decade and a half. Originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1978, he arrived in Chicago via a now-legendary commerce in 1982, and it modified the franchise’s fortunes.In his rookie season, Sandberg flashed his potential by hitting .271 with 32 stolen bases. But it was the 1984 marketing campaign that actually launched him into stardom. He batted .314, led the National League in runs and triples, and captured the NL MVP award. That identical yr, he authored probably the most iconic video games in Cubs historical past — the “Sandberg Game” — the place he blasted two game-tying homers in opposition to Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter in a dramatic 12-11 win over the Cardinals.“Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Chicago Cubs fans,” stated Cubs government chairman Tom Ricketts. “His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career.”Sandberg’s profession accolades are as spectacular as his work ethic: 10 All-Star alternatives, 9 Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, 282 residence runs, 2,386 hits, and a .285 lifetime common. He additionally held the document for many residence runs by a second baseman at the time of his retirement in 1997.In 2005, Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His induction speech was a masterclass in humility and sportsmanship:“I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager — and never, ever your uniform,” he stated. “Because the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back.”

Ryne Sandberg was a fighter on and off the courtroom

Off the diamond, Sandberg remained near the sport. He coached within the Cubs and Phillies techniques, managed the Phillies from 2013–2015, and later served as a Cubs ambassador.In January 2024, he revealed his cancer analysis. By August, he was declared cancer-free, solely to face a heartbreaking relapse later that yr. Yet, Sandberg continued to encourage. In February 2025, he made an emotional look at Cubs Spring Training, the place Manager Craig Counsell stated,“People like Ryno… make an impact like when they step in the room — and that’s what Ryno has done for us already.”His statue outdoors Wrigley, unveiled on the fortieth anniversary of his signature sport, now stands as a reminder to the person who performed the sport the best manner and lived the identical manner, even within the face of his hardest battle.Also Read: Hall of Fame boxer ‘Camden Buzzsaw’ Dwight Muhammad Qawi dies at age 72

FAQs

What was Ryne Sandberg’s reason behind dying?He died from problems associated to metastatic prostate cancer.How a few years did Sandberg play within the MLB?Sandberg performed 16 MLB seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs.When was Sandberg inducted into the Hall of Fame?He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.