Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs Second Base Legend, Dies at 65 Ryne Sandberg died. He was the 65 year old and a hall of fame baseball player wh...
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs Second Base Legend, Dies at 65
Ryne Sandberg died. He was the 65 year old and a hall of fame baseball player who was in second base in most of his playing career in Chicago cubs. He has also become the trainer of Philadelphia Phillies.
Cubs and Major League Baseball have reported that Sandberg had passed away on Monday, July 28.
The Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement on behalf of the Cubs and the Sandberg family that especially among fans of the team, Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation. His unbending integrity, his hustle and grit, his competitors fire, his devotion, and respect of this game were trademarks to his career.
Ricketts added: "He was very proud of his teammates and his place in the world as a global baseball ambassador, but he was most proud of Margaret, his children, and his place as a husband, father and grandfather."
Sandberg was born in the year 1959 in Spokane, Washington. His older brother Del was also named after a baseball star, Ryne Duren and was a relief pitcher Yankees. Del was beforehand the first coach of Sandberg. In 1984 Sandberg told PEOPLE, "When he got a girlfriend in high school, it was kind of hard." Whenever he would go out on a date I would be angry because I was yearning to play ball.
During her high school career, Sandberg played both all-state baseball and basketball at North central high school. He was also an all American quarterback at school and received offers in many institutions. Being draughted by Phillies, he chose to forego college, and he played baseball. In 1984 he said, "I believed that football was going to be a tough sport to play to earn a living." It is not a small time (league). Either you get into the NFL or you do not.
Making his debut in the 1981 MLB as a shortstop, the team believed he did not fit well in the team and traded him to this Cubs next season. The person who had draughted Sandberg was the former manager of cubs in the Phillies, who they had hired at that time. He had to play on the outfield but later the Cubs shifted him to second base where he played quite well. In 1983, he was awarded the gold glove, the highest award rule in defence in the league.
Sandberg was famous in the year 1984. In the National League, he led the league in runs and triples and hit.314. With this, he hit two home runs in a single game, the Cubs defeating St. Louis Cardinals by 12-11. The Sandberg Game is called this. His manager Jim Frey said that same year to PEOPLE, "I think he is one of the four or five best all-round players in baseball today."
Under Sandberg, the team won the Eastern Division championship of the National League and it was the first championship of any kind since 1945. Nevertheless, they lost to the National League Championship Series. He also made it to the MVP in the league.
Sandberg was a terrific player, however; he did not enjoy the attention and he was a soft-spoken guy. His squad referred to him as Gabby because he was too quiet. At the time he joined, he shared with PEOPLE that he used to feel a bit scared and was not talkative at all. He said on the fanatic Cubs, the fans, quote, "They really know the game." They are booing and cheering at the right time.
Eventually, Sandberg was the winner of nine times Gold Glove, ten time All-Star Game, and seven times Silver Slugger (an award to the best offensive talent at a particular position). In 1990, He led the National League with most home runs. He was among the 50 most beautiful people in the world in 1990 according to individuals.
In the year 1994, Sandberg had a difficult time and expressed that he was going to retire in the middle of the season. According to him, he cannot be satisfied with anything below his best and his best output. However, he returned to the Cubs in the two additional years 1996 and 1997. He finished his career with a batting average of .285 and 277 home runs which was a record in the second basemen. In the same winter, Harry Caray, the legendary announcer of the club, passed on, and it was his final game at home in the Wrigley Field of the Cubs and it was also the last chance at home.