Ryne Sandberg's HOF speech

[ToupeeOnFire]

Did anyone hear him taking less-than-veiled shots at Sammy Sosa? Man, that was harsh.

 

To paraphrase, he basically pointed out that he concentrated on all facets of the game, as opposed to just focusing on hitting home runs. He then went to say that in his day if anybody showed up 20 pounds heavier over the offseason, everyone would of thought something was wrong (pointing out that he pretty much weighed the same his entire playing career). Now all of this is pretty vague and non-specific, but what followed was unmistakeable. In effect, he said that players like him did their jobs and didn't go seeking out the red light on the camera after hitting home runs (to big applause).

 

It was a very entertaining speech, by the way -- surprising, since he is considered such a low-key guy. I loved the shut-out to Ron Santo and the respect shown to Andre Dawson.

[J.R.]

Read "Second to Home." Sandberg apparently despised the Sosa/Himes tandem.

 

The speech is waiting in the TiVo for me. I'll watch it on the off-day.

[ToupeeOnFire]

Read "Second to Home." Sandberg apparently despised the Sosa/Himes tandem.

 

Yeah, I've read the book. I knew he hated Himes (and after reading the book, so did I), I just never realized he hated Sammy so much. Just kind of surprised he'd use his HOF induction speech to make his feelings toward Sammy known.

[imb]

That was a shot at Sammy, and a shot at most of the sluggers in the game today.

 

The shout out for Santo was awsome, btw.

[CubbieRich]

With the 'red light at the end of the dugout', 'name on the front means mre than name on the back' and '20 pounds heavier' comments, I thought Ryno was firing an AK-47 on automatic at Sammy, Big Yak and other steroid, me-me-me players. Good for Ryno. Excellent speech. His words to Margaret were very touching.

 

As Boggs was talking, I thought maybe that was a plumpier Margo Adams sitting next to his wife. Boggs's words to his wife were quite hollow. Tastes like chicken, does it Wade?

[fibro]

It was a great speech to bad none todays current players will listen.

[The Voice of Reason]

Sandberg was the Anti-Sosa. He put the team first. I thought the shot at Sammy, selfish players and steroid abusers was dead solid perfect. Very classy speech by a very classy player.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Even my wife caught the jabs, so I'm guessing he wasn't trying too hard to disguise his hatred. I nearly wet myself when he made reference to the dugout camera.

 

The plug for Santo was priceless, and his comical jabs at Dunston and Gracie were hilarious. Shawon with the hammy problems before facing Nolan Ryan and Gracie telling him to cover foul line to foul line. Classic. Growing up watching them on a daily basis, I have no doubts that they would have been one of the most fun double play combos to be around.

[rocket]

Sorry, Sandberg sounded like a bitter old man. "IN MY DAY THINGS WERE BETTER BLAHBLAHBLAH"

[Roast]

Sandberg was the Anti-Sosa. He put the team first. I thought the shot at Sammy, selfish players and steroid abusers was dead solid perfect. Very classy speech by a very classy player.

 

Yes, taking shots at other players is the classiest thing to do.

 

That being said, Congrats to Sandberg on this acheivment.

[shnsajax]

Is it just me or does Wade Boggs have a whole lot more hair now than he did when he retired?

[dougdescenzo]

Does anyone know if there is a transcript of this speech online anywhere?

 

Is it just me or does Wade Boggs have a whole lot more hair now than he did when he retired?

 

He had that hair transplant thing. I know this because he's on infomercials at 3a.m.

[shnsajax]

Does anyone know if there is a transcript of this speech online anywhere?

 

Is it just me or does Wade Boggs have a whole lot more hair now than he did when he retired?

 

He had that hair transplant thing. I know this because he's on infomercials at 3a.m.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/2005/07/31/telhlxSR.jpg

 

I hate it when the hair looks nothing like the beard. Its almost Mel Kiper Jr. like.

[Cubzfan64]

I'm obviously biased, but I think Ryno's speach was the best of the bunch. Peter Gammons had a very good speach as well and I could have listened to him tell stories all day - Jerry Coleman's speech was the most boring of the bunch - Wade Bogg's just seemed to be way too "practiced" and formal.

 

Ryno's was funny, very heartfelt and as has been pointed out - had some "teeth" to it.

 

I have no idea whether his "jabs" were supposed to be taken as direct hits to Sammy or not, but I took them more as a commentary on some of the things that are "wrong" with baseball.

 

The whole focus of his speech was dedicated to respect - for the game, the organization, his teammates and the fans. I found it interesting that he said they were told not to lift weights in the offseason, but rather to stay limber and flexible (maybe that has something to do with all the injuries we see now?). I also liked his comments about being a complete ballplayer - able to move runners along, bunt, hit for power etc... rather than just one dimensionally be a slugger.

 

I also really liked how he mentioned so many of his teammates - Dernier, Dascenzo, Grace, "Sarge," "Hawk," Bowa, etc... The most touching part (outside of his comments to his wife) was when he said the only thing he regretted was not winning a WS for the fans - that meant alot to me.

 

I didn't see anyone else mention this here - but at one point of the induction ceremony they played a video clip about Boggs before his actual induction. It was kind of a "jab" at Sosa there too when they commented something about him only striking out "x" times over a span of years, then they showed Sammy on the screen and mentioned that he struck out more than that many times in one year.

 

Ryno was a very class act all the way to the end!

[OleMissCub]

Sorry, Sandberg sounded like a bitter old man. "IN MY DAY THINGS WERE BETTER BLAHBLAHBLAH"

 

so what? Things were better in his day.

[rocket]

Sorry, Sandberg sounded like a bitter old man. "IN MY DAY THINGS WERE BETTER BLAHBLAHBLAH"

 

so what? Things were better in his day.

 

I guess that's your opinion. Personally, I think baseball is better now.

[NCCubFan]

I really enjoyed Sandberg's speech. I happen to agree with him about having respect for the game. I miss the days when players cared more about the team and weren't as concerned with individual stats and attention.

 

I wonder why Ernie Banks didn't attend. He was one of the very few living HOF members who did not attend. I hope there isn't anything wrong with him.

[OleMissCub]

I wonder why Ernie Banks didn't attend. He was one of the very few living HOF members who did not attend. I hope there isn't anything wrong with him.

 

I wondered the same thing myself

[Tracer Bullet]

Sorry, Sandberg sounded like a bitter old man. "IN MY DAY THINGS WERE BETTER BLAHBLAHBLAH"

 

so what? Things were better in his day.

 

No kidding. I get so tired of guys going 0/3, then in thier last AB hitting a 325-foot homerun over a short porch and admiring the ball before trotting the bases. I'm not saying guys have to be Mickey Hatcher and sprint around the bases, but the fact that so many guys hit so many HRs makes it less of an accomplishment to me.

[Cubfanintheknow]

I haven't seen Ryne Sandberg's speech in full, only excerpts in this morning's columns. He may have had Sammy Sosa in mind when he talked about today's generation of players, but only to get his point across that players need to respect the game. It's all about respect.

 

My son is eight years old and is learning to play baseball. In a little league game a few weeks ago, playing shortstop, he made a leaping grab of a line drive. It wasn't the kind of catch you see eight year olds make every day. But what impressed me more than the catch was the way he tossed the ball to the umpire and jogged back to the bench like he'd made that play a thousand times before. I made it a point to tell him how reacted after the catch was just as important as the catch itself. Can't begin to tell you how proud I was.

 

I need to get a copy of the speech and watch it with him. After all, his name is Ryne, too.

[Mizzou]

Why are you assuming that he was taking shots at Sosa rather than talking about players in general? Not once did he mention Sosa.

 

I thought it was a great speech. It was funny to see him make fun of himself, great to hear that Santo has another vote, and it was great of him to have The Hawk stand up. Very good speech overall.

[mopapa]

I didn't get to hear the whole speech, but what I heard, I enjoyed. I loved the part about the red light on the camera in the dugout. And his words about his wife, wow. Ya think he likes her a little bit? :lol:

 

Does anyone know of any site that's got the entire speech, in print? I'd love to have a printout of it.

[NCCubFan]

Here is the transcript of Sandberg's speech, posted on the Hall of Fame's web site. It's a Microsoft Word document, so you probably need to have either Word or Word Viewer (a free program downloadable from Microsoft's web site) to open it.

[gus_dog]

Sorry, Sandberg sounded like a bitter old man. "IN MY DAY THINGS WERE BETTER BLAHBLAHBLAH"

 

so what? Things were better in his day.

 

I guess that's your opinion. Personally, I think baseball is better now.

 

I agree with OleMiss, baseball was better then. Certainly, more players paid more attention to the fundamentals.

[Scott G. F.]

I liked the speech because it reminded me of why I watched baseball in the first place. I had my favorites over the years but watching a team play baseball the right way and respect the game brought me back year after year.

 

Players today that take on what Sandberg said are Maddux and Derek Lee. Both are not flashy attention whoring people. Their baseball players trying to do their job. Both respect the game. Players like Andrew Jones, Manny Rameriez don't repsct the game at all. I don't even think Bonds does. He acts bigger then the game.

 

As for the Sosa conection to the Sandberg HOF speech it could be connected to McGuire, Bonds, Boone etc... not just Sosa.

 

I thought Sosa played the game hard. I loved it when he went yard, I didn't like the ego or the fact he left on the last day or corked his bat. I thought he was bigger then that. Unfortunately all heros are human and ceratinly not perfect.

 

Sandberg was, without a doubt, spot on correct on what he said in his speech. The only names he mentioned were positive. Lets remember he never even once mention Sosa. We all did.