RIP Ryne Sandberg

[Outshined_One]

Link

No words.

[Irrelevant Dude]

I dont think it has quite hit me yet, but this really sucks...

Jed said it last week, but there were absolutely 3 sports heroes of my childhood : Jordan, Payton, and Sandberg.  And now 2 of the 3 are gone way too young.

[Cubfanintheknow]

Sucks. There are a lot of boys named Ryne in this world because of him... including my first son.

[Chicago Al]

Rest in peace to the legend Sandberg… Thanks for all the memories growing up, forever beloved.

[Hot Sauce]

Love you, Ryno. 

[JHBulls]

As someone who came to Baseball just over 10 years ago, I never watched Ryne play but it is hard to not know the impact that he had to the Chicago Cubs and the sport in general.

I look forward to reading everyone’s favourite memories. 

[cl smooth]

growing up, i had two heroes: my dad and ryne sandberg. oddly enough, both were diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

gutted. 

[Brian707]

My favorite player growing up. The 84 Cubs was the first Cubs team i followed 

[mul21]

Man, I knew it was coming and it still hit me like a ton of bricks. My first sports hero. I turned 8 the summer of ‘84 and that team really set the bar high for my expectations as a Cubs fan. RIP and fúck cancer. 

[Rob]

My childhood idol. 

This sucks. 

[KatJ]

Damn it. 😭 Rest in peace, Ryno. 

[WrigleyField 22]

RIP Ryno

[Proven Veteran]

This one hits hard. My favorite Cub growing up. 

[cubfansince77]

11 minutes ago, cl smooth said:

growing up, i had two heroes: my dad and ryne sandberg. oddly enough, both were diagnosed with prostate cancer. 

gutted. 

Well said cl smooth. I just spent the afternoon with my Dad and he's in the late stages of prostate cancer as well. But he's 80 and has lived a pretty full life unlike Sandberg who was only 65. However, I'm gonna miss the hell out of my Dad and took this summer off work (teaching) to spend more time with him. 

My favorite memory of Ryno is getting an autographed picture of him signed in 1994 at the Cubs Convention in Chicago. He was soft spoken, classy and larger than life in my eyes. RIP Ryno: you fought the good fight. 

[chopsx9]

Absolutely devastated.  1984 was the first full season that I followed the Cubs and I still remember losing my mind during "The Sandberg Game".  My mother had no interest in baseball until she saw Sandberg play.  He was such a rock and influence during my formative years.  Noone could pound that high inside fastball like Ryno.  Godspeed Ryno.

[Randall Simon]

As someone who's always rooted for teams, not so much players, Ryno was my only true sports hero. I had his "Blue Heaven" poster on my wall for my entire childhood, (still have it) and collected more than 200 of his baseball cards. 

RIP Ryno

[Irrelevant Dude]

I'm wracking my brain and I can't really think of an individual memorable Sandberg moment from his playing days.  I was too young to remember 84, although I have seen replays of the Sandberg game countless times over the years.  He was just always there, a consistent presence in the Cubs lineup and on defense. 

Last year, a few weeks after the statue unveiling, I saw him walking through Gallagher Way with his blue jacket on.  He stopped to talk briefly with a few fans and take a few pictures.  I considered "should I or shouldn't I" but ultimately decided to leave him alone and let him carry on wherever he was going.  He looked great and I expected him to be around for years to come.  In hindsight, I should have talked to him.  A photo, a handshake, or just a simple thank you.

It won't be the same without Ryno around Wrigley.

[Post Count Padder]

One of my favorite players growing up. This really sucks.

He signed through the mail for me a few years ago and he was prolific at signing for fans and there had been people saying their cards were returned to sender recently so it didn't seem good. 

[jeremym0]

RIP Ryno, my favorite player of all time.  I was able to see him play in St. Louis after he came back from retirement and saw some games when he managed the Iowa Cubs here in Des Moines.  Always reminded me of my father and he will be sorely missed.

[Hunter]

My all-time favorite player and the reason I became a Cubs fan. Watching him playing in 84 when I caught day games on WGN. I pulled out my album of magazine covers and cards I collected. I was obsessed with his cards as a kid and even have some weird ones from candy boxes or sausage vendors. Truly a legendary player and one of the best 2nd basemen to ever play. May he rest in peace. 

[gflore34]

1984 will forever live in my memory, first time in my sports fandom life that the Cubs were relevant.  Led by  an MVP second baseman named Ryne Sandberg - 19 - 19 - 32 came so close to 20+3B, 20+SB, 20+HR.  RIP Ryno.

Edited July 29, 2025 by gflore34

[PackLandVA]

Chicago's first "#23". I have his bat from a Spring Training game in 1984 (back when he used a black bat). 

His 1984 season was a preview of things to come in his career. May he rest in peace.

[Soul]

In my sports life he was to baseball what Payton was to football and Jordan was to basketball.  Just devastating to hear this.  65?  F.U. Cancer.

 

[Soul]

1 hour ago, Hunter said:

My all-time favorite player and the reason I became a Cubs fan. Watching him playing in 84 when I caught day games on WGN. I pulled out my album of magazine covers and cards I collected. I was obsessed with his cards as a kid and even have some weird ones from candy boxes or sausage vendors. Truly a legendary player and one of the best 2nd basemen to ever play. May he rest in peace. 

It was “Jump”, Harry, Ryno, WGN every afternoon.  We all know how it ended but that was a magic Summer I’ll never forget.  I was at the Mets doubleheader where the Cubs took the divisional lead.  Both games.

[Hot Sauce]

You often hear fans say, "those were my Cubs" and for each person, that phrase captures something uniquely personal. For me growing up, my Cubs were Sandberg, Dunston, Dawson, and Grace. They defined my childhood love of baseball and filled it with memories and joy at a time when life was just about living in the present moment and soaking it all in with wide wondrous eyes. That's why saying goodbye to sports heroes hurts so much. It's a reminder of how deeply sports and the athletes we grow up admiring and wanting to be like can be intertwined with our identities and childhood memories, and how the end of an era can feel like the loss of a piece of ourselves.

Thanks for everything, Ryno!