Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, who was a fixture at the position for the Chicago Cubs for all but one of his 16 major-league seasons, has died at the age of 65, the team announced on Monday, July 28.
Sandberg publicly revealed on Jan. 23, 2024, that he had begun treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. That May, he announced that he was cancer-free before sharing on social media in December that the cancer had returned and spread to other organs.
A 10-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove award winner, Sandberg blazed a trail in the 1980s for a wave of power-hitting middle infielders who would come along later.
“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic."
At the time he retired as a player (for the second time), Sandberg held the major league record for career home runs by a second baseman with 282. And his seven Silver Slugger awards are the most ever at the position. Sandberg finished his career with 2,386 hits, a .282 batting average and 344 stolen bases.
