Cubs unveil jersey move that perfectly honors Ryne Sandberg’s legacy

This weekend marks the first home series for the Chicago Cubs since the passing of franchise icon Ryne Sandberg. As part of 670 The Score’s 24-hour Cubs for a Cure Radiothon, Cubs president of baseball operations Crane Kenney joined the show to detail how they would honor Sandberg’s legacy.

Sandberg passed away on Monday, shocking the baseball world, with tributes coming in from sports fans across the country. The 65-year-old battled cancer for two years, maintaining a constant presence around the Cubs organization until his final days.

The Cubs unveiled a commemorative jersey sleeve patch on Tuesday, with the team wearing Sandberg’s signature and iconic #23 for a remainder of the season. The Cubs plan to continue to celebrate Sandberg’s legacy beginning this weekend, as his #23 will be displayed throughout Wrigley Field.

On Saturday, the team will host “Cubs for a Cure” Day for a day of fundraising for the fight against cancer. The Cubs’ jerseys for the day will serve as a touching tribute to Sandberg.

The celebration of Ryne Sandberg's legacy will continue this weekend at Wrigley Field

“As a tribute to Ryne on Saturday, we’re going to wear the blue jerseys … but no names on the back,” Kenney said. “Every player will wear number 23. And then we’ll auction those jerseys off to raise money for cancer research as part of the club’s work here.”

Sandberg had many iconic moments for the Cubs wearing a blue jersey, the team’s signature away jersey throughout Sandberg’s playing days. The jerseys held not only a significance in Cubs history, but a special place In Sandberg’s heart as well.

“(Sandberg’s) favorite jersey was the blue pullover,” Kenney said. “He said, ‘I love the jerseys with no names on the back.’ And his view was always, you know, you play for the name on the front of the uniform, not the name on the back. He was such a team guy.”

Sandberg manned second base for the Cubs for 15 years, revolutionizing the position as a five-tool player. Across 2,151 games in Chicago, Sandberg was a ten-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner in addition to winning the NL MVP Award in 1984.

Upon his retirement in 1997, Sandberg was the all-time leader in career home runs by a primary second baseman with 282. While his record has since been surpassed, his legacy will endure forever, as he was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.