Ryne Sandberg, Legendary Baseball Hall of Famer, Passes Away at 65

Ryne Sandberg, a legendary Hall of Fame second baseman who starred for the Chicago Cubs, has passed away at the age of 65. According to the team, he was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday.

Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In August 2024, he said he was cancer-free, but sadly, he posted on Instagram in December that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs.

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts remembered Sandberg as "one of the all-time greats" in a statement, praising his dedication, respect for the game, integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire.

Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He made his major league debut in 1981 with the Philadelphia Phillies, before being traded to the Cubs in January 1982. Over 15 years with Chicago, he hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs, and 344 steals.

Sandberg was a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball, said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. "He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed, and work ethic."

Even with Sandberg's stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago.

Sandberg was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples, and 114 runs scored. He also played in what Cubs fans call "The Sandberg Game" on June 23, when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis.

"He was a superhero in this city," said Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. "You think about Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can't imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did."

Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989 and set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990. He drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991 but never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.

Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same year.

"Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook," said Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark. "With it, he inspired all those who knew him."