Ryne Sandberg, who died Monday at 65, was a Hall of Fame second baseman for the Chicago Cubs who played for 16 major-league seasons and later became a manager.
From the time he disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis in January 2024, Sandberg received an outpouring of support from fans and from across baseball.
The Sandberg family has asked that donations be made to Cubs Charities. The Cubs will commemorate Sandberg the rest of the season with a special jersey patch.
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Statement posted to Ryne Sandberg’s Instagram account (rynesandberg23):
To Ryne’s fans, friends and baseball family — It is with heavy hearts we announce that Ryne passed away tonight in the comfort of his home. Ryne was surrounded by his loving wife Margaret, their children and grandchildren. We thank you all for all the kind words, support and love during this difficult time. Ryne will forever be in our hearts. — Ryne’s family
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts
“Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Chicago Cubs fans and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise. His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career. He was immensely proud of his teammates and his role as a global ambassador of the game of baseball, but most of all, he was proud of Margaret, his children and his role as husband, father and grandfather.
“Margaret and their children and grandchildren will always be a part of the Cubs family. Ryno will never be forgotten by the Cubs community and baseball fans around the world.”
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball. He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic. Ryne earned 10 consecutive All-Star selections, nine straight Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers and 1984 National League MVP honors.
“Ryne remained active in the game he loved as an ambassador for the Cubs, a manager for the Phillies and in the minor leagues and a frequent participant at the Hall of Fame. His many friends across the game were in his corner as he courageously fought cancer in recent years. We will continue to support the important work of Stand Up To Cancer in Ryne’s memory.
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Ryne’s family, Cubs fans everywhere and his admirers throughout our National Pastime.”
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Chairman Jane Forbes Clark
“Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook. With it, he inspired all those who knew him. He always emphasized his respect for the way the game should be played, for his teammates and for the Hall of Fame, especially during his 2005 induction speech. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Margaret, and his family, as we remember and celebrate his life.”
Cubs manager Craig Counsell
“We’re saddened by the loss of a great man. We were lucky as a group this year to have Ryno in spring training, and it was an honor to be around a man battling for his life but wanting to come to the baseball park and spend his day with us. And I know it meant a lot to everybody in there, and we’re grateful that he was willing to spend that time with us when things weren’t going great for him.
“What’s so cool is that what we do for a living is about competing and beating people, but his presence was almost due to kindness. And that’s so rare and he was probably living on a higher level than the rest of us, and I think that’s what he was known for. That’s what made him special, and that’s why people like that make you better people.”
White Sox manager Will Venable
“Condolences to the Sandberg family. I was able to be around him a little bit in my time with the Cubs. Outstanding human being. Obviously meant a lot to that organization, a lot to this city, a lot to baseball. Really sad day.”
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Cubs outfielder Ian Happ
“There’s a whole generation of Cubs fans that just absolutely adored Ryno, and you could feel it. You could feel it when he was around, whether it was people yelling at him in spring training or just when he would come on the field and those last few first pitches that he threw (at Wrigley). And it’s really cool every year to see those guys, their Hall of Fame jackets, go out on the field when a new inductee is out there and all those guys together. Ryno’s one of the most special, and I can’t say enough about just what he meant to all of us, the fan base and the players.”
Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner
“As far as the way he carried himself, obviously through his career and everything (he) achieved, but just how selfless he was in his time with us too. It was never about him, ever. It was just truly love of the game of baseball, and I think that was particularly clear this spring and all the effort that he made to be there throughout even more than I’m sure what we can even imagine, treatment and everything else. And there’s nothing he wanted more than to be on a baseball field and to share that time and be present with that, so we’re all incredibly lucky that he was a part of our season this year.
“He was thoughtful and he has achieved so much in this game but was never above the small things that make it such a special sport and the connections that the game brings. And he, more than anything, wanted to talk about baseball and things that we were doing that were different than what they did then and things that he saw, and he never came from it with an angle of him having everything figured out. He just wanted to be on the field and talk about the sport that he loved and that loved him, honestly.”
Counsell on watching Sandberg playing as a kid
“He was really good at everything, and he was fast. He was a great defender. Loved triples. He’s talked about getting triples in Wrigley, and we still to this day — there’s once a week we’ll talk about, how did he hit (13) triples in Wrigley (in 1984)? Literally, like, once a week (bench coach) Ryan Flaherty and I will talk about that. But he loved the game and he played it in a way that it was fun for me to watch. Him and Shawon Dunston, growing up watching those two play middle infield was always a thrill.”
Broadcaster Steve Stone
“He was probably the most accurate thrower we’ve ever seen at an infield position. Every time he threw it it was right at the Cubs logo. He was able to do that throughout his career. His consistency was something you really found remarkable.”