Ryne Sandberg, a longtime Chicago Cubs great and Hall of Famer, died Monday, the team confirmed. He was 65.
Sandberg died of cancer complications in 2024, after being diagnosed twice. He stated in January 2024 that he has metastatic prostate cancer. Sandberg first fought it off, and eight months later declared himself cancer-free.
In December, Sandberg revealed that the disease had spread to other organs in his body. That prompted him to seek “more intensive treatment.”
Sandberg spent almost his entire MLB career with the Cubs. After a 13-game stint with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981, Ryne Sandberg played the next 15 seasons with the Cubs before retiring in 1997. He made ten consecutive All-Star appearances beginning in 1984, when he won the NL MVP award and led the league in triples and runs scored.
Sandberg collected seven Silver Slugger medals and nine Gold Gloves during his career. In the 1990 season, he led the National League with 40 home runs and won the Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field.
Sandberg was also quite punctual. He appeared in at least 115 games in all but one of his Cubs seasons, and he played more than 150 games in all but four of them. Ryne Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, and the Cubs retired his number the same year.
Hall of Famer and Cubs Legend Ryne Sandberg Dies After Cancer Battle
Last season, the Cubs unveiled a statue outside Wrigley Field to honor Sandberg.
Ryne Sandberg grew up in Spokane, Washington, and was selected in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies. After retiring from playing, he worked as a coach for both the Cubs and the Phillies before becoming the manager of the Phillies in 2013.
He was with the squad for three seasons before resigning during the 2015 campaign. He finished with a 119-159 record as manager after only one full season.
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