Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Fame second baseman who spent nearly all 15 seasons of his playing career with the Chicago Cubs, has died at the age of 65, it was announced Monday.
Sandberg, a 10-time All-Star who was the National League MVP in 1984, announced that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer on Jan. 22, 2024.
The team said Sandberg died Monday at his home, surrounded by his family.
“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,” Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “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.”
The Cubs said they will wear a special jersey patch to commemorate Sandberg for the rest of the season.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “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.”
Sandberg was a fan favorite in Chicago, hitting .285 for his career while amassing 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs and 344 stolen bases. After his playing career, he served as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015, going 119-159.
Sandberg was a fixture for the Cubs at spring training and Wrigley Field over the years, providing guidance for young infielders while being an ambassador for the team. He has appeared as a pregame and postgame analyst in various mediums as well.
The Cubs unveiled a statue of Sandberg outside of Wrigley Field on June 23, 2024 — the 40th anniversary of the “Sandberg Game” in which he hit game-tying home runs in the bottom of the ninth and 10th innings and had 7 RBIs in Chicago’s 11-inning, 12-11 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sandberg joined the team in 1982, stealing 32 bases. He led the way in 1984 as the Cubs won the division title. That season, he led the league in triples (19) and runs scored (114) while hitting .314 with 19 home runs. He also won the second of his nine consecutive Gold Glove awards.
In 1990, Sandberg hit 40 home runs, becoming just the third primary second baseman to reach that plateau.
He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Sandberg is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children, Justin, Lindsey, Steven, BR and Adriane; and 11 grandchildren.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers contributed to this report.
