I live in Des Moines, and when Ryno was managing the Iowa Cubs he would take about 20 minutes before each game to stand by the dugout and sign autographs for folks.
One day I got into the line and waited patiently for my turn, then handed him this complete in box copy of Super Bases Loaded. He was in "signing mode" so at first just took the box and got ready to sign it, but then his brain must have processed what he was holding and he paused. Flipped it over and looked at the back. Flipped it BACK over and looked at the front again.
I said "It's probably been a while since you've seen one of these."
He laughed and said "I don't think I've EVER seen this. I have absolutely no memory of this existing."
He signed the front, then I shook his hand and wished him luck. He pointed at the game box and said "thanks for bringing that by. That's crazy."
Growing up, Ryno was my guy. I had a few other things signed over the years at Cubs Conventions and the like, and he was always a personable, outgoing man. But that interaction will always stick with me, and today felt like a good day to share. Rest easy, Ryne. Thanks for everything.
10 comments
One of the many reasons I became a Cubs fan.
Great story, may he rest easy 💙♥️
Such a cool collectible and a great story to go with it. We need more Rynos around, not less. Thank you for sharing.
Great story and similar here for someone growing up in Upstate NY. I saw Ryno in a Hall of Fame game and was playing 2B in Little League and that was it. Had to rock his glove, had to get his jerseys. 500+ baseball cards and my dad was always on the lookout for autographs for him in card shops. The true highlight was getting to go to his induction ceremony where it all began. A special player and great human, he will be missed by this guy.
https://preview.redd.it/jcumz6jw4uff1.jpeg?width=3390&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53ca5e5cb0e79eecf1fec1d3922cf1cac4243caf
That’s a good one!
Man, it feels so good when you hear one of your childhood idols is a real good dude.
This is a wonderful story. I have a similar one regarding a photo I had him sign at a Cubs convention when I was a kid in the early 90s.
My family knew a guy who worked field security and he used to take field level photos of the players in between innings. He gave me one of these pictures of Ryno and I brought it to the convention to get autographed. When I showed the picture to Ryno he immediately asked where I got this picture from since it was taken from on the field. He laughed when I told him one of the on field security guards snapped it with a disposable camera.
I managed to get a few other items signed by him over the years and recently, while cleaning out my parents garage, I found my old Ryne Sandberg glove from Little League. He is my all time favorite ballplayer and I was really sad to hear the news of his passing. Baseball needs more like him.
Ryno is 23 to me.
Thank you so much for sharing that story and for unlocking a core memory with the picture. I used to play that game all the time!
That’s a great item and a cool story!