Shawon Dunston’s Cubs story about Ryne Sandberg now feels like a farewell

Tributes to the late Ryne Sandberg will likely continue beyond this season as many Chicago Cubs fans process the loss of the beloved Hall of Famer, and it's likely that the Cubs will continue to honor Sandberg's legacy for the remainder of this season. Last Saturday at Wrigley Field, the Cubs wore Sandberg's favorite blue jersey while each of their players had the No. 23 for the day.

Over the weekend, FanSided's Adam Weinrib caught up with one of Sandberg's former teammates, Shawon Dunston, and talked about the visit Dunston had to Cubs' spring training earlier this year.

"It meant everything. You know Grace, and myself went out there, they said, well, you wanna come out there? I said, yes," Dunston said. "And we've seen him, and he looks good. And we just talk about the old days, about the pop ups and all the ground balls, the ones that I missed, and the one that I did catch. And it was just enjoyable to see him, I think."

Cubs great Shawon Dunston recalls a moment with Ryne Sandberg that hits harder now

Dunston and Sandberg were teammates with the Cubs from 1985 through 1995 before the shortstop went to the San Francisco Giants in 1996. Dunston returned to the Cubs for part of the 1997 season, and of course, was reunited with Sandberg. For a period of time when the Cubs were more known for being the "lovable losers", Dunston and Sandberg were two of the main reasons why Wrigley Field was the place to be during the summer.

All these years later, listening to Dunston recall seeing Sandberg at spring training before the start of this season speaks to the impact the Hall of Fame second baseman had on his teammates. Sandberg wasn't just a favorite among Cubs fans; he was a favorite among the Cubs players he shared the clubhouse with.

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