Corridor of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg has died after battling most cancers : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2992x1955+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F99%2Fa7feafee485c812dda1c8931019b%2Fryne-sandberg-ap.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/2992x1955+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F99%2F99%2Fa7feafee485c812dda1c8931019b%2Fryne-sandberg-ap.jpg" class="img" alt="Chicago Cubs ' Ryne Sandberg slugs a triple during Wednesday, Aug. 29, 1984 game against the Cincinnati Reds in Chicago." fetchpriority="high"/> Chicago Cubs ' Ryne Sandberg slugs a triple throughout Wednesday, Aug. 29, 1984 recreation towards the Cincinnati Reds in Chicago. John Swart/AP conceal caption

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John Swart/AP CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg, a Corridor of Fame second baseman who grew to become one among baseball's finest all-around gamers whereas starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.

Sandberg was surrounded by his household when he died at his house on Monday, based on the staff.

Sandberg introduced in January 2024 that he had been identified with metastatic prostate most cancers. He had chemotherapy and radiation therapies, after which mentioned in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.

However he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his most cancers had returned and unfold to different organs. He introduced this month that he was nonetheless preventing, whereas "trying ahead to taking advantage of day by day with my loving household and mates."

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts mentioned Sandberg "will likely be remembered as one of many all-time greats in practically 150 years of this historic franchise."

"His dedication to and respect for the sport, alongside together with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and aggressive hearth have been hallmarks of his profession," Ricketts mentioned within the staff's assertion.

Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was chosen out of highschool by Philadelphia within the twentieth spherical of the 1978 novice draft.

He made his main league debut in 1981 and went 1 for six in 13 video games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago together with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.

It changed into some of the lopsided offers in baseball historical past.

Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star groups — profitable the Residence Run Derby in 1990 — and took house 9 Gold Gloves.

"Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved determine all through Main League Baseball," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred mentioned. "He was a five-tool participant who excelled in each aspect of the sport due to his energy, velocity and work ethic."

Even with Sandberg's stellar play, the Cubs made simply two postseason appearances whereas he was in Chicago.

He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago received the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) within the playoffs, however the Cubs have been eradicated by San Diego after profitable the primary two video games of the Nationwide League Championship Collection at Wrigley Subject.

"I've by no means seen a participant work more durable, and it appeared like the higher he bought, the more durable he labored," former Cubs supervisor Jim Frey mentioned.

The 1984 season featured what Cubs followers nonetheless name "The Sandberg Recreation," when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.

Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that recreation when it unveiled a statue of the infielder exterior Wrigley Subject on that date in 2024.

"Ryno was an amazing teammate and clearly an amazing participant," Corridor of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux advised The Related Press in a textual content message. "He led by instance on the sphere and a mentor off. I used to be fortunate to know him."

Sandberg led Chicago again to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers because the Cubs received the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) within the NLCS, however Chicago misplaced to San Francisco in 5 video games.

Sandberg set a profession excessive with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, however he by no means made it again to the postseason. When he retired after the 1997 season, he had hit probably the most homers as a second baseman in main league historical past.

"He was a superhero on this metropolis," Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer mentioned throughout a TV broadcast of the staff's recreation on July 20. "You concentrate on (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all right here on the similar time, and I am unable to think about an individual dealing with their fame higher, their accountability for a metropolis higher than he did."

Sandberg was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Affiliation of America in his third strive on the poll. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that very same 12 months.

"If you look at the offense and protection, you may discover some years the place he was the perfect participant you've got ever seen in your life," former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace mentioned.

Sandberg additionally managed within the minors with Chicago and Philadelphia earlier than he grew to become the third base coach for the Phillies. He was promoted to interim supervisor when Charlie Manuel was fired in August 2013, and he had a 119-159 document when he resigned with the Phillies in the midst of a tough 2015 season.

"Not solely was he a Corridor of Famer, he was a person who personified class and dignity," Phillies managing associate and CEO John Middleton mentioned in a press release. "We have been honored that he was a part of our group."

Sandberg spent a while across the Cubs throughout spring coaching this 12 months, and supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned it meant so much to everybody on the staff.

"We're grateful that he was keen to spend that point with us when issues weren't going nice for him," Counsell mentioned after the staff's recreation at Milwaukee. "It is a unhappy day for the Chicago Cubs. He was an amazing Cub."