Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, a Chicago Cubs legend known for his blend of power, speed and defensive brilliance, died Monday at age 65.
Videos by FanBuzz
(Getty)
Sandberg, a fixture with the Cubs for 15 of his 16 major league seasons, had been battling metastatic prostate cancer since his diagnosis in January 2024. He remained active with the team as recently as this past spring training, his familiar mix of quiet determination and competitive spirit still evident.
His death prompted an outpouring of remembrances from former teammates, coaches and players across generations who regarded Sandberg as one of the game's most respected and impactful figures.
Sandberg was originally acquired by the Cubs in a 1982 trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, who sent him and veteran Larry Bowa to Chicago in exchange for Ivan DeJesus. The move would shape Cubs history for the next decade and a half.
"I think about how he handled himself when he first got called up," Bowa told ESPN. "He struggled out of the gate. I watched this guy not let it affect him. It might have affected him on the inside, but the way he handled himself on the outside was great."
Bowa recalled early-morning workouts with then-manager Jim Frey designed to refine Sandberg's power stroke. Frey asked Sandberg to repeatedly hit balls over the tarp in left-field foul territory. The future MVP listened — and delivered.
The hard work paid off. In 1984, Sandberg earned National League Most Valuable Player honors after hitting .314 with 19 home runs, 19 triples, 32 stolen bases and a league-leading 114 runs scored. He helped lead the Cubs to their first postseason appearance since 1945.
That season also gave rise to his partnership with Bobby Dernier. The two batted first and second in the order, combining to score more than 200 runs.
"Just ungodly consistent," Dernier told ESPN. "Pitchers were always paying a little more attention to me on the bases than him at the plate, and that was a big mistake and he'd take full advantage."
Perhaps Sandberg's most iconic moment came on June 23, 1984, in a nationally televised showdown with the St. Louis Cardinals. In what became known as "The Sandberg Game," he homered twice off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter — both times tying the score — before the Cubs won in extra innings.
"After he tied it up, I ended up hitting the ball off the wall, but if mine goes out, it's probably never called the Sandberg game," teammate Gary Matthews told ESPN with a laugh. "He was great at everything that he did."
Sandberg retired with 282 career home runs, a .285 batting average, and nine Gold Gloves. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Beyond his accolades, those who knew him spoke of a quiet leader, a fierce competitor and a man who led by example.
"He's an outstanding human being," Bowa said. "That's what I think of. Such a good family guy. His mental toughness is off the charts. I've been around Pete Rose, and Ryno is right there."
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz also paid tribute.
"He's in a class by himself," Smoltz told ESPN. "You would never know he was one of the greatest players ever, just by the way he carried himself. I love competing against greatness that has integrity and character like Ryne Sandberg had."
Dernier added, "Joy. That's the first word that comes to mind. It's a grin on my face to think about him. And yeah, right now it's melancholy that we know he's gotten called up to the real big leagues. But I'm glad I knew him and I loved him being underestimated."
Despite his reserved public image, Sandberg was known among teammates for his mischievous side.
"Ryno would always take the sticks out of our folding chairs and put the seat back in," Matthews said. "Daily, I'd fall to the ground. He'd be over there snickering."
Matthews recalled golfing with Sandberg as well.
"I would ask for a few strokes," he said. "He would politely say, 'No strokes, play better.'"
Following his playing career, Sandberg managed the Phillies from 2013 to 2015 and later returned to the Cubs organization as a spring training instructor. In that role, he left a lasting impression on the franchise's next generation.
"I just think it's cool that he's somebody that has kind of done everything in our sport but still doesn't approach the game with any kind of ego," said current Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. "He's kind of softspoken, but if you got him going, it was really cool to hear him open up."
Shortstop Dansby Swanson called Sandberg "a top-shelf human being."
"He made such an impact on me even in my short time of being able to be around him," Swanson told ESPN.
Rookie Matt Shaw recalled Sandberg's encouragement during a rough patch.
"He told me, 'No matter what happens, you just got to keep believing in yourself and keep going,'" Shaw said. "That's something I definitely think about a lot."
Ryne Sandberg is survived by his wife Margaret, children, and grandchildren. The Cubs said in a statement that his legacy would "forever live on in the hearts of MLB fans, teammates and all who had the honor to know him."
