Ryno Forever: A tribute to Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg |
Anthony Pasquale
· · 14 hours ago
On Monday, it was announced that Ryne Sandberg had passed away after an intense and valiant battle with cancer. While it would be impossible to put into words what he meant to countless Cubs fans and their families, it felt irresponsible not to at least try to articulate the role Sandberg played in Chicago.
In the days since Sandberg’s passing, the outpouring of love and well-wishes for his family has been overwhelming. That is, of course, because any person who had ever come in contact with Ryno does not have a bad word to say about him. As outstanding a player he was on the field, he was twice the man off of it. Sandberg transcended generations of Cub fans. For a strong decade, he was every Cub fan in Chicago’s hero. In fact, he is the reason why many Cubs fans are Cubs fans. While Harry Caray deservedly receives a lot of praise for lifting the Cubs to national prominence in the 1980s, the product on the field is undoubtedly worthy of the attention, and Sandberg was the catalyst. Caray could make any baseball team watchable, and Sandberg made the Cubs lovable. In 1984, Sandberg’s MVP season, the Cubs graduated from years of lovable losing into America’s favorite team — and number 23 was a huge reason why. Since it was announced on Monday night that Ryne Sandberg had passed away, the love and support have poured out and flooded timelines. Cubs legends past and present, former Presidents, Hall of Famers, his competitors, peers, fans from all over the country, journalists, and everybody in between had great things to say about the Cubs’ historic figure. The Cubs have a rich history, and few players have been as decorated over the years as Sandberg. His number 23 flies along the right field foul pole, never to be worn again by any Cubs player. His nine gold gloves rank 2nd all-time among 2nd basemen, and lead the Cubs all-time at any position. Ryno ranks 3rd All-Time in home runs as a second baseman, a position not typically known for its power; Sandberg brought all five tools. In fact, Sandberg is the only second baseman ever with over 275 home runs and over 300 stolen bases. Not to mention, Sandberg even won the 1990 home run derby at Wrigley Field. Plus, Sandberg has the most silver sluggers at second base all-time. There is a very valid argument that he’s the best to ever play the position, and he was beloved in Chicago. He has a statue in Gallagher Way immortalizing those achievements and support, and he was deservedly elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. It’s not just his impressive accolades that set him apart from his peers; it’s the type of man he was. The way he embraced his community, the Cubs organization and the youth in the sport is second to none. His respect for the game of baseball is inspiring to all those who follow to play the sport. The reason the outpouring of love and support and adoration for Sandberg will continue long after today is not because of his prowess on the field, but his character off of it. An unmatched leader, he showcased what it meant to be a superstar in more ways than one. Cubs' current second baseman Nico Hoerner has been very vocal in his appreciation for Sandberg and his presence. "I think he’s kind of the blueprint for what it means to be an amazing Cub,” Hoerner said postgame on Monday. "I got to meet Ryno this spring,” said Cubs All-Star Matthew Boyd. “And he treated me like I'd worn a Cub uniform my whole life." “Hall of Famer and Cubs stalwart Ryne Sandberg wasn’t just a great baseball player,” said former President Barack Obama via X/Twitter. “He was a class act who never cheated the game. Everyone in Chicago – including White Sox fans – will miss him deeply.” Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said this of Ryno in a statement released on Monday: "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,” he said. “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 by baseball fans around the world.” The kind words go on and on. This week has seen many teams honor the Hall of Famer with a moment of silence, and 670 The Score held a radio-thon to raise money for cancer research. On Saturday, all of the Cubs will wear number 23 during their game vs Baltimore. Sandberg will also be honored with a patch on the Cubs’ jerseys for the rest of the season, and will continue to be honored at Wrigley Field for years to come — and he deserves it all. While he may have played second, Sandberg is second to none. Number 23 on the field, but forever number 1 in our hearts.
