Ryne Sandberg Remembered: Cubs Icon’s Career and Cancer Fight
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Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg died on Monday, July 28, 2025, at age 65 after a prolonged fight with prostate cancer. Chicago Cubs officials confirmed that Sandberg’s health had deteriorated following a relapse announced late last year. His passing closes a storied chapter for one of baseball’s most respected figures and leaves a void in the hearts of fans across generations.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts issued a heartfelt statement, noting Sandberg’s profound impact on and off the diamond. “Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Cubs fans and one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise,” Ricketts said. He praised Sandberg’s “unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire,” and added, “He was immensely proud of Margaret, his children, and his role as husband, father, and grandfather.”
Sandberg’s journey began when the Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the 20th round of the 1978 draft. He made his Major League debut in 1981 and was traded to Chicago the following year. Over 16 seasons and 2,116 games in a Cubs uniform, Sandberg posted a career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 56.3, securing his reputation as one of the most versatile and valuable second basemen in the modern era.
Offensively, Sandberg compiled a .285 lifetime batting average with 282 home runs and 1,116 runs batted in, peaking with the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player award. Defensively, he captured nine straight Gold Glove awards between 1983 and 1991, a testament to his range, quick hands, and reliable backhand at second base.
In 2005, Sandberg was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot with 76.7 percent support. The Cubs retired his No. 23 jersey, and on April 8, 2024, they unveiled a life-size statue outside Wrigley Field to honor his enduring influence on the franchise and its fans.
Sandberg publicly disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis in January 2024 and announced remission by August of that year. In December, he revealed the disease had returned, prompting renewed treatment and an outpouring of support from across Major League Baseball.
The news of his passing reached Cubs players as they competed in Milwaukee, and the organization will honor Sandberg with a commemorative jersey patch for the rest of the 2025 season. At Wrigley Field and beyond, supporters are already planning memorial gatherings and moments of silence.
His legacy extends beyond statistics to a cultural shift in evaluating second basemen, blending power, speed, and defensive skill. Teammates and coaches have credited Sandberg with elevating clubhouse standards and mentoring young prospects who would go on to shape baseball’s next generation.
Sandberg’s final inning may be called, but his legend lives on in the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field and in every young player who aspires to emulate his blend of skill and sportsmanship.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Chicago Cubs
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
