Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Famer and beloved star for the Chicago Cubs, has passed away.

He was 65.

The 10-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner is considered one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball history.

Sandberg spent the majority of his 16-year career with the Cubs.

“With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today,” the Chicago Cubs wrote.

“Ryne Sandberg. Second to None,” the Cubs said in a tribute video to Sandberg.

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Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.

But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”

“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.

The Cubs said that they would wear a special jersey patch to commemorate Sandberg for the rest of the season.

“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. Everyone in Chicago – including White Sox fans – will miss him deeply,” Barack Obama commented.

MLB.com remembered Sandberg’s sensational career:

At the time of his retirement, Sandberg stood as Major League Baseball’s record-holder for home runs as a second baseman (277 of his 282 shots). He was a 10-time All-Star who collected nine Gold Glove Awards, seven Silver Slugger trophies and won the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player Award.

“Ryne remained active in the game he loved as an ambassador for the Cubs, a manager for the Phillies and in the Minor Leagues, and a frequent participant at the Hall of Fame,” said MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “His many friends across the game were in his corner as he courageously fought cancer in recent years. We will continue to support the important work of Stand Up To Cancer in Ryne’s memory.”

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Sandberg rose to national stardom on June 23 of that ’84 campaign after what will forever be affectionately known as “The Ryne Sandberg Game.” In a wild win over the rival Cardinals, Sandberg had five hits, drove in seven runs and launched a pair of game-tying home runs off future Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter.

“My life changed a lot in 1984,” Sandberg said on the 40th anniversary of that game in 2024, when the Cubs unveiled a statue of the franchise great outside Wrigley Field.

Cubs fans were already embracing their young star, but that game in ’84 put him on the map among fans around the country. It was the catalyst for a career that saw “Ryno” put himself among the top five in Cubs history in homers, doubles (403), stolen bases (344), hits (2,385), runs scored (1,316), extra-base hits (761), total bases (3,786) and games played (2,151).

 

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