Cubs announce the passing of Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg

Cubs Media Relations · 9 hours ago

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg, 65, passed away today at his home, surrounded by his family, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

"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,” said Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts on behalf of his family and the Chicago Cubs organization. “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."

Sandberg is survived by his wife, Margaret, his children, Justin (Ashley), Lindsey (Adam), Steven (Megan), BR (Katie), and Adriane, and his 11 grandchildren: Joshua, Micah, Eli, Brooklyn, Owen, Nathan, Weston, Adalyn, Bode, Stella, and Roman.

"Margaret and their children and grandchildren will always be a part of the Cubs family," Ricketts said. "Ryno will never be forgotten by the Cubs community and baseball fans around the world.”

Sandberg played 15 seasons of his 16-year major league career with the Cubs (1982-97) and led Chicago to N.L. East Division titles in 1984 and 1989. He was a 10-time All-Star with the Cubs, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, and a seven-time Silver Slugger winner. He finished his major league career with a .285 batting average, 2,386 hits, 1,061 RBI, and 282 home runs.

In 1984, Sandberg was named the N.L. Most Valuable Player, hitting a career-best .314 while leading the league in runs (114) and triples (19). His 19 triples that year remain the team record for triples in a season by a second baseman and are tied for the third most in a season by any Cubs player.

In 1990, he led the N.L. in home runs with 40 en route to picking up a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger. That season, he became only the third second baseman in baseball history to hit 40 home runs in a season. He earned All-Star honors that season, playing in front of his hometown fans at Wrigley Field. Sandberg won the Home Run Derby that year as well.

He ranks among the Cubs all-time franchise leaders in runs scored (3rd, 1,316), doubles (4th, 403), games played (4th, 2,151), hits (4th, 2,385), extra-base hits (4th, 761), stolen bases (4th, 344), home runs (5th, 282), RBI (7th, 1,061), and walks (9th, 761). His 164 home runs at Wrigley Field rank fifth all-time and he is one of 15 Cubs players to have 200-plus hits in a single season (200, 1984). As a rookie with the Cubs in 1982, he scored 103 runs—a number that remains the Cubs rookie record since 1900. His 54 stolen bases in 1985 are the fifth-most in a season in team history since 1900.

Sandberg made his major league debut with the Phillies on Sept. 2, 1981, at Atlanta, and played 13 games for Philadelphia that season before an offseason trade sent him to the Cubs on Jan. 27, 1982. That trade also sent Larry Bowa to the Cubs in exchange for Ivan De Jesus.

In 2005, Sandberg was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and, in August of that summer, saw his number retired by the Cubs at Wrigley Field. At the time, he was only the fourth player in team history to have his number retired by the team joining Ernie Banks (#14), Billy Williams (#26), and Ron Santo (#10).

He later began a managerial career that led him to the Cubs’ Class-A affiliate, the Peoria Chiefs, where he served as manager from 2007-2008. In 2009, he took the helm of the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. He then managed the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2010 and was named 2010 Manager of the Year in the Pacific Coast League.

In 2011, he left the Cubs organization and joined the Philadelphia Phillies organization, the team where he was originally selected in the 20th round of the 1978 Draft, to manage the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs and earned Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year honors. After the 2012 season with Lehigh Valley, he was named third base coach of the Philadelphia Phillies and was promoted to interim manager on August 16, 2013. Sandberg served as manager of the Phillies until stepping down from the role in June of 2015.

On June 23, 2024, a statue depicting Sandberg’s iconic defensive stance was dedicated at Gallagher Way next to Wrigley Field during a ceremony that featured former teammates, members of the Sandberg family, and the entire 2024 Cubs team. The day was selected to honor the 40th anniversary of the famous “Sandberg Game” where he went 5-for-6 with seven RBI and home runs in the ninth and tenth innings to help the Cubs to a thrilling 12-11 win over their rival St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

The Sandberg Family has asked that donations can be made in remembrance of Ryne to Cubs Charities. The Cubs will commemorate Sandberg the rest of the season with a special jersey patch.