Ryne Sandberg: Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame Second Baseman Dies at 65
Ryne Sandberg was an American baseball player and manager best known as the Hall of Fame second baseman of the Chicago Cubs. Born on September 18, 1959, in Spokane, Washington, and nicknamed "Ryno," he was one of the most complete players of his era, admired for his bat, his glove and his quiet leadership.
Sandberg was named National League MVP in 1984, the year he hit two home runs in the June 23 "Sandberg Game" against the Cardinals. He won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1983 to 1991 and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1992 he briefly became the highest-paid player in baseball. He later coached and managed in the minor leagues and managed the Philadelphia Phillies.
Sandberg married his high school sweetheart, Cindy White, and later Margaret Koehnemann, and had two children. He announced in 2024 that his prostate cancer had returned and spread. He died at his home in Lake Bluff, Illinois, on July 28, 2025, at age 65, remembered as a Cubs icon.
Achievements: National League MVP (1984), won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1983-1991), starred in the "Sandberg Game" (1984), elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame (2005).
Birth: September 18, 1959 - Spokane, Washington.
Profession: Baseball player and manager.
Interesting Facts: Sandberg was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren. He was a star high school quarterback and signed a letter of intent with Washington State University before choosing baseball after the Phillies drafted him in 1978.
