Ryne Sandberg, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and a legendary player for generations of Chicago Cubs fans, announced Monday that he was recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Sandberg, 64, shared the news on his Instagram account and revealed that he had already started treatment.
“I am surrounded by my loving wife Margaret, our incredibly supportive family, the best medical care team and our dear friends,” Sandberg wrote. “We will continue to be positive and strong and fight to overcome this. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for me and my family.”
Sandberg, who resides in suburban Chicago, remains associated with the Cubs as the team's ambassador and is a regular presence at Wrigley Field.
Sandberg's arrival via a one-sided trade with the Philadelphia Phillies helped turn the Cubs into a playoff team in 1984 and 1989. Sandberg became the face of the franchise when the Cubs broadcast their games on WGN superstation and installed lights for night games on Friendly Borders.
Sandberg played 15 of his 16 major league seasons with the Cubs, earning 10 All-Star selections, nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. He was the National League MVP in 1984 and one of the greatest second basemen of all time and received his Cooperstown plaque in 2005.
The Cubs plan to unveil a Sandberg statue outside Wrigley Field this year and honor him with a memorial that will be combined with the 23 flag that symbolizes his retired jersey number. The statue ceremony is scheduled for June 23, the 40th anniversary of “The Sandberg Game,” when he hit two late home runs against Bruce Sutter to go 5-6 and score a 12-11 comeback victory over the St. Louis Cardinals .
Sandberg later managed minor league affiliates for the Cubs, climbing from the Class A level to Triple-A Iowa. He used these experiences to return to Philadelphia as Phillies manager for parts of three seasons (2013–2015).
“We can't imagine how incredibly tough it is for Ryne and his family right now, but we know that Ryne is a fierce competitor and a winner,” said Julian Green, Cubs senior vice president of communications. “We stand with our arms close to his family as they embark on their journey to overcome cancer.”
Jane Forbes Clark, CEO of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, released a statement: “Part of what made Ryne a tremendous talent on the field was his quiet intensity, and we have no doubt he will bring that.” the same tenacity in this fight. During this difficult time, we join Cubs fans in Chicago and baseball fans around the world in sending love and support to Ryne and Margaret and the entire Sandberg family.”
(Top photo by Ryne Sandberg: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)