Ryne Sandberg, the Chicago Cubs legendary second baseman and Baseball Hall of Famer, has died, his family announced Monday night. He was 65.
“It is with heavy hearts we announce that Ryne has passed away tonight in the comfort of his home,” the Sandberg family wrote in an Instagram post from Ryne’s account. “Ryne was surrounded by his loving wife Margaret, their children and grandchildren. We thank you all for the kind words, support and love during a difficult time. Ryne will forever be in our hearts.”
Sandberg first announced he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024.
He showed no signs of cancer in follow-up testing in May, and in August he “rang the bell” to celebrate defeating cancer. In December, however, the former National League MVP announced his cancer had returned and spread to other organs.
Most recently, Sandberg shared an update on his health on July 16, admitting that “it’s been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis.
“While I am continuing to fight, I’m looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends,” he added in an Instagram post.
Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts issued a statement Monday remembering the franchise legend.
“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,” Ricketts said. “His dedication and respect for the game, along with 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,” he added.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also issued a statement Monday honoring the late Cubs icon.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” Manfred said.
“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,” he added.
Sandberg played 15 of his 16 MLB seasons for the Cubs from 1982 to 1997, excluding his rookie season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981. He is widely considered one of the greatest second basemen in MLB history, having earned 10 All-Star selections, nine Gold Glove awards and seven Silver Slugger awards.
Sandberg finished his MLB career with a .285 batting average, 282 home runs, 344 steals, 2,386 hits, and 1,061 RBI in 2,164 career games. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
“[Sandberg] was a superhero in this city,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game July 20, according to ESPN. “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 was honored with his own statue outside of the Cubs’ home Wrigley Field during a ceremony on June 23, 2024. The date marked the 40th anniversary of the “Ryne Sandberg Game” in 1984, when he recorded five hits, two home runs and seven RBI against the rival St. Louis Cardinals.
“A generation of Cubs fans grew up watching Sandberg and his heroics in the 1980s,” said David Campbell, sports manager for cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. “He leaves a legacy not just as one of the greatest Cubs of all time, but one of the greatest Chicago athletes of all time. ”