Ryne Sandberg last played for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, but he remained close to the franchise until his death on Monday.
Sandberg spent time around the Cubs during spring training ahead of the 2025 season, and he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Cubs home opener in April.
Cubs players, as well as manager Craig Counsell, spoke about Sandberg’s life and impact on the Cubs organization following Monday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
“We’re saddened of the loss of a great man,“ Craig Counsell said. ”We were lucky as a group this year to have Ryno in spring training and it was an honor to be around a man battling for his life but wanting to come to the baseball park and spend his day with us.
“We’re grateful that he was willing to spend that time with us when things weren’t going great for him. It’s a sad day for the Chicago Cubs. He was a great Cub.”
Sandberg is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in franchise history.
He had been battling cancer and provided an update on his health earlier this month, sharing that it had been a “challenging few months.”
He died Monday at the age of 65.
Cubs star Ian Happ, who has spent his entire career with the Cubs, spoke about how Sandberg has helped him throughout his time in Major League Baseball.
“I was 21 years old in spring training. Him being able to give some advice and talk to me and not being above that. He just loved being around it, loved being there,” Happ said. “We knew how much he loved being a Cub. We’re really lucky in this organization to have legends that want to come back and want to be around. He was a special man and we’ll miss him very much.”
Ryne Sandberg spent one season with the Phillies before he was traded to the Cubs ahead of the 1982 season. He went on to win the 1984 National League MVP and make the MLB All-Star game 10 times while in Chicago.
He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 after hitting .285 with 282 home runs and 1,061 RBIs for his career. He was also an excellent defender, earning nine Gold Glove awards.
After his playing days, Sandberg was the manager of the Phillies from 2013-15.
Still, he is best known for his time with the Cubs, and his No. 23 is retired by the organization.
“There’s nothing he wanted more than to be on a baseball field and to share that time and be present with that, so we’re all incredibly lucky that he was a part of our season this year and it means a lot,” Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner said.
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