Really interesting for me to read that Frey is the guy largely responsible for unlocking Ryno by imploring him to start pulling the ball. I guess I just thought the Cubs never had a progressive mind among them in those days.
He was definitely my favorite Cub growing up, although I imitated Dawson's stance. I was too young for 84 but we do have pics of us attending a game in L.A. that year when we took a family vacation. Anyway, Ryno had the coolest nickname in the game. I always loved it, loved saying it with a little growl. I remember when he blasted a HR in Wrigley's first night game and then the game got rained out. My dad explained that the HR wouldn't count and I threw a fit.
It was really weird when he abruptly retired, and it stung even more because Jordan had just done the same a little while earlier. That was a painful time for Chicago sports fans.
RIP Ryno, one of my childhood heroes.