Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg was honored outside Wrigley Field on the 40th anniversary of his most memorable game, when the team dedicated a statue of his likeness in an afternoon ceremony on Sunday.
The 64-year-old Sandberg was honored in front of his loved ones, friends, and former teammates as the current Cubs watched from the stadium concourse’s second level. In attendance were both of his double-play partners at shortstop, Larry Bowa and Shawon Dunston, who addressed the large gathering of Cubs and Sandberg supporters.
“This guy wanted to win more than anyone I played with,” Bowa stated.
In addition to being a ten-time All-Star, Sandberg won nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers. During a period when second basemen lacked much power, he hit 282 home runs.
After the ceremony, Sandberg remarked, “My first two years, I was an opposite-field hitter.” “[Manager] Jim Frey wanted me to turn on some fastballs on fastball counts. ‘If it doesn’t work you can go back to your way.’ I did it and learned how to cover the inside pitch and hit some home runs. It was instant results.”
Sandberg stole 344 bases in his 16-year career, demonstrating his unique blend of speed and strength. In 2005, his entire career earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Teammate Nico Hoerner of the Cubs stated on Sunday, “All of us want to impact the game in every way,” “I’ve always wanted to do that. He’s one that did that for his entire career which is incredible.”
Given that Sandberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer between the time the team announced it was honoring him and Sunday’s unveiling, there was some uncertainty about whether he would even be able to attend his own statue ceremony. However, he announced that he was cancer-free just last month.
“This was a guarantee for me,” he remarked. “I reverted back to my baseball days of having goals and my attitude of working towards something. That’s what I’ve done.”
The accolade came precisely 40 years after he blasted two home runs in the ninth and tenth innings of the same game against Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter, enabling the Cubs win their division and win MVP that season. Sandberg started his rookie season 0-for-31 and worried he would be sent back to the minors just two years prior.
Sandberg remarked, “I was in Triple-A just the year before,” “I knew how that went.”
He achieved the distinction of a lifetime by dominating both in the field and at the plate, and he never did look back. His statue will always be placed alongside to the Cubs Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, and Ernie Banks.
Sandberg remarked, “I was in Triple-A just the year before,” “I knew how that went.”
He achieved the distinction of a lifetime by dominating both in the field and at the plate, and he never did look back. His statue will always be placed alongside to the Cubs Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, and Ernie Banks.
Someone asked Sandberg if the day had fulfilled his expectations.
“Can’t really say it’s what I thought,” he grinned. “”It’s more than what I thought.
“What an awesome day. Incredible.”