Hall of Famer and Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg dies after battle with prostate cancer

Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, a Cubs legend and the architect of the famous “Sandberg Game,” passed away Monday at his home after a battle with cancer. He was 65.

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.

"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,” chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement on behalf of his family and the 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."

Known for his quiet intensity as a player, Sandberg became an affable ambassador to the Cubs after his playing and managerial careers. He was open about his battle with metastatic prostate cancer over the past year and a half.

Sandberg’s decorated career had an innocuous beginning. The Phillies selected him in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft, out of North Central High School in Spokane, Washington. The nine-time Gold Glove second baseman rose through the Phillies system as a utility infielder.

He made his major-league debut for Philadelphia in 1981 and appeared in 13 games that season, before the Phillies traded him to the Cubs the following January. That deal, which also included shortstop Larry Bowa, for shortstop Iván de Jesús, would alter Cubs history.

“When I arrived here, I didn't have a position,” Sandberg said in his speech in June of 2024, when the Cubs unveiled his statue at Wrigley Field. “I had more gloves in my locker than bats with my name on it — which was actually zero.

“I had zero bats, but I had my three gloves that I brought from the minor leagues. I had a center fielder glove, a third base glove, a shortstop and second baseman's glove. I did not have a catcher's mitt, though. Very smart on my part.”

He played more third base than any other position his first year in Chicago. But when he moved to second base full time the next season, he claimed his first Gold Glove. Up next was the MVP trophy.

Sandberg’s breakout 1984 season couldn’t have come at a better time for the Cubs. The “Sandberg Game,” when that year’s NL MVP went 5-for-6 and hit two game-tying home runs off Cardinals closer Bruce Sutter, served as a turning point in the season. The Cubs would go on to clinch the division, snapping a 39-year playoff drought.

For Sandberg, that magical season also marked the start of a streak of 10 straight All-Star selections. He also took home seven Silver Slugger awards, to go with his collection of Gold Gloves.

Sandberg, who played 15 seasons with the Cubs, still holds the modern-era franchise record for runs scored (1,316). Among right-handed hitters, he leads the pack in career singles (1,624) as a Cubs and triples in a single season (19 in 1984).

“Commitment, work ethic and dreams. Those are all good words,” Sandberg said in his speech. “Faith, family, friends and love. These are also very good words. They are probably the best words for me.”

Sandberg announced in January of 2024 that he’d been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. With treatment, he was cancer-free by August, sharing the good news on Instagram: “Rang the Bell this morning! WE did it, WE won!”

Four months later, however, his cancer had returned, and Sandberg resumed intensive treatment.

‘We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this,” he posted. “Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family.’’

In recent weeks, Cubs alumni including Jon Lester, Kerry Wood and Bobby Dernier honored Sandberg in their appearances at Wrigley field, donning his jersey.

The Sandberg family said through the team that donations in remembrance of Ryne could be made to Cubs Charities. The Cubs will wear a special jersey patch the rest of the season to commemorate Sandberg.