Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg Has Died at 65

Cubs Legend Ryne Sandberg Has Died at Age 65

Sandberg, a 20th-round draft pick in 1978, broke into the major leagues in 1981 with the Philadelphia Phillies. His tenure in Philly did not last long, however, going a total of 1-for-6 across 13 games. That offseason, not seeing room on their roster for him, the Phillies traded Sandberg to the Cubs, along with Larry Bowa, in exchange for Iván de Jesús. Philadelphia would come to regret the deal, while the Cubs made one of the best deals in their franchise history.

“Ryno” started out at third base in Chicago but moved to second base after one season, where he would become a star. His breakout season came in 1984, which, not coincidentally, was a phenomenal year for the Cubbies. That season, Sandberg slashed .314/.367/.520, with 19 homers and 84 RBI. He led the National League with 114 runs scored and the major leagues with 19 triples. Helping the Cubs to their first-ever division title, he took home NL MVP honors.

On June 23 of that year, Sandberg became a household name with what is still known in Chicago and beyond as “The Sandberg Game.” He hit two game-tying home runs in the 9th and 10th innings, propelling the Cubs to an eventual 11-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Although their season ended in heartbreak with an NLCS loss to the San Diego Padres, it remains one of the most notable seasons in Cubs history and Sandberg’s standout campaign.

Career Numbers and Accolades

For his 16-season career, Sandberg slashed .285/.344/.452 with 282 home runs, 1,061 RBI, and 2,386 hits. From 1983-91, he won nine straight NL Gold Gloves at second base. He also won a total of seven Silver Sluggers, including five straight from 1988-92. In 1990, he led the National League with 40 homers, a career-high. A 10-time All-Star, Sandberg retired after the 1997 season. He was a career Cub aside from the initial cup of coffee in Philly, although he did manage the Phillies from 2013-15. Sandberg entered the Hall of Fame in 2005, crossing the threshold on his third ballot. He was enshrined in Cooperstown alongside Wade Boggs. The Cubs have retired his number 23 and enshrined him in their team’s Hall of Fame.