Chicago Cubs HOF Legend, Ryne Sandberg, announces he has cancer.

Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, 64, was the other famous Chicago sports hero to wear the number 23. He taught a generation of kids that it was okay to be quiet, work hard, and be at the top of your game without being flashy. He was shy, humbled, and kept his head down. His dedicated focus on perfecting his craft would win the hearts of many in the Windy City.

The beloved star would break the sad news of his diagnosis yesterday.

Sandberg was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1982 by the Philadelphia Phillies. Two years later, he would insert himself nationally by having a breakout performance during The Game of the Week by hitting two late-inning home runs off future HOF pitcher Bruce Sutter of the St. Louis Cardinals in what would later be called, “The Sandberg Game.”  He would go on to win the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player award.

He spent 15 of his 16 baseball seasons on the north side of Chicago. His career accolades are filled with excellence, consistency, and stability. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards between 1983 to 1991. He was elected to the All-Star Game ten consecutive times from 1984 to 1993. During this time, he would also collect seven Silver Slugger awards while leading the league in home runs (40), total bases (344), and runs (116) with a .306 batting average in 1990.

Sandberg would later be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. The Chicago Cubs have honored him multiple times throughout the years. They retired his jersey number in 2005. They elected him to their organization’s Hall of Fame in 2021. Finally, they are planning on erecting a statue of him outside of Wrigley Field later this year on June 23. That will be the 40th anniversary of "The Sandberg Game."

Our prayers are going out to Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg during this time.

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