Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, best known for his long career with the Chicago Cubs, has d**d at the age of 65, the team announced Monday, July 28, according to USA Today.
Sandberg first revealed on January 23, 2024, that he was undergoing treatment for metastatic prostate ca**er. In May, he shared hopeful news that he was ca**er-free. However, by December, he announced the ca**er had returned and spread to other parts of his body.
Ryne Sandberg was a legendary Major League Baseball player, best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs. Born on September 18, 1959, in Spokane, Washington, Sandberg grew up playing baseball and football, even turning down a college football scholarship to pursue a professional baseball career. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1978 but was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1982 — a move that would change the course of his career and Cubs history.
Sandberg became the Cubs’ everyday second baseman and quickly proved himself as one of the best in the league. He was known for his smooth defense, strong arm, and powerful bat — rare qualities for a second baseman at the time. In 1984, he had a breakout season, winning the National League MVP award and helping lead the Cubs to the postseason for the first time in nearly 40 years.
One of his most famous performances came that year during a nationally televised game against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he hit two game-tying home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter. That game became known as “The Sandberg Game” and helped solidify his superstar status.
Over his 16-season career — 15 of them with the Cubs — Sandberg was a 10-time All-Star and won nine Gold Glove Awards for his defense. He also earned seven Silver Slugger Awards, proving he was just as valuable at the plate as he was in the field. Sandberg retired in 1994 but returned for two more seasons in 1996 and 1997 before retiring for good.
After his playing days, Sandberg stayed involved in baseball, managing in the minor leagues and later serving as the Philadelphia Phillies’ manager from 2013 to 2015. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
