Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, cherished by fans throughout his 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, passed away Monday at his home at the age of 65 after fighting metastatic prostate cancer. According to the Cubs, Sandberg was with his family when he died.
A native of Spokane, Washington, Sandberg shared his diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation, and by August 2024, he announced he was in remission. However, on December 10, he revealed through Instagram that his cancer had returned and spread to other parts of his body. Earlier this month, he expressed his determination to keep fighting the disease while savoring time with loved ones.
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg will always be remembered as one of the franchise’s all-time legends in nearly a century and a half of Cubs baseball. Ricketts described Sandberg’s career as defined by his commitment to the game, consistent integrity, relentless drive, and fierce competitive spirit.
Sandberg was chosen by the Philadelphia Phillies out of North Central High School in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He made his big-league debut in 1981, collecting one hit in six at-bats over 13 games for the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to the Cubs along with Larry Bowa in exchange for veteran Ivan De Jesus—in what turned out to be one of the most one-sided trades in baseball history.
With the Cubs, Sandberg posted a .285 batting average, hit 282 home runs, drove in 1,061 runs, and stole 344 bases. He was selected to 10 All-Star Games, won the Home Run Derby in 1990, and earned nine Gold Gloves. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred called Sandberg not just a Cubs icon but a beloved figure across baseball, praising him as a five-tool player with tremendous power, speed, and work ethic.
Sandberg’s most remarkable year came in 1984, when he was named National League MVP after batting .314 with 19 home runs, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples, and 114 runs. The Cubs took the NL East that season, and Sandberg batted .368 in the playoffs, though the team fell to San Diego after capturing the first two games of the NLCS at Wrigley Field.
That memorable 1984 season included what fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when Sandberg hammered two home runs and drove in seven in a dramatic 12-11 victory over the Cardinals in 11 innings on June 23. In tribute, the Cubs unveiled a statue of Sandberg outside Wrigley Field on the anniversary of that game in 2024.
Jed Hoyer, Cubs President of Baseball Operations, said Sandberg was a superhero to Chicago, putting him alongside Michael Jordan and Walter Payton as icons who represented the city at the same time. Hoyer said no one handled stardom or the responsibility to a city better than Sandberg did.
Sandberg led the Cubs back to the postseason in 1989, batting .290 with 30 homers as Chicago won the NL East again. He hit .400 in the NLCS, but the Cubs were defeated by the Giants in five games. In 1990, he set a personal best with a National League-leading 40 home runs and collected 100 RBIs in both 1990 and 1991, though he never made another playoff appearance.
At the time of his retirement following the 1997 season, Sandberg held the record for most home runs by a second baseman in MLB history. Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux remembered Sandberg as both a fantastic teammate and player, noting how he led by example and mentored those around him.
Sandberg entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, earning 76.2% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third year of eligibility. That same season, the Cubs retired his number 23 jersey. Former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said that, considering both his offensive and defensive impact, there were years when Sandberg was the best all-around player anyone had seen.
After finishing his playing days, Sandberg managed in the minor leagues for both Chicago and Philadelphia, later joining the Phillies as third-base coach. Following Charlie Manuel’s dismissal in August 2013, he served as Philadelphia’s interim manager and posted a 119-159 record before stepping down during a tough 2015 season.
To honor Sandberg, the Cubs announced they would wear a special jersey patch for the remainder of the season. Cubs outfielder Ian Happ remarked that an entire generation of fans admires Sandberg, highlighting the tremendous influence he had on both the fan base and the team.
Former President Barack Obama was one of many who honored Sandberg in a post on X early Tuesday morning. “Hall of Famer and Cubs stalwart Ryne Sandberg wasn’t just a great baseball player – he was a class act who never cheated the game,” Obama wrote. “Everyone in Chicago – including White Sox fans – will miss him deeply.”