SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane native and Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg passed away Monday after battling prostate cancer for a year and a half. He was 65 years old.
His family posted on Instagram that he passed surrounded by loved ones.
Many will remember Sandberg launching baseballs over the Wrigley Field ivy, giving fans majestic home runs and unforgettable plays at second base. For the community, he was a hometown hero.
Sandberg career started at North Central High School, where he was a three sport athlete. His impressive ability on the field and court stood out from the start.
Sandberg planned to play football at Washington State University, but the Philadelphia Phillies selected him in the 1978 MLB draft. He made the move to the Chicago Cubs, where he played almost his entire career as a second baseman.
“If you’ve been around baseball, you can see the little things that he could do and just the ability that he had and the way he impacted the game at a higher level,” said Bud Nameck, a former KXLY sportscaster.
Nameck knew Sandberg both professionally and personally, describing him as a reluctant superstar.
“He didn’t like to talk about himself. He didn’t want the focus to be on him,” Nameck said.
His focus was on the game, which he played exceptionally well. Some even say he redefined the second base position.
“I met a lot of people that played pro baseball and not many could do things as well as he did,” Nameck said.
The Hall of Famer won nine Gold Glove awards in his career and was named an All-Star ten times. But despite how decorated he became, he always remained hardworking and humble.
“I think when people will look back on his career, they’re going to see the ultimate professional,” Nameck said. “He was a guy who didn’t want to be flashy but wanted to get the job done.”
North Central High School named their baseball field the Ryne Sandberg Field in 1985, just seven years after he graduated.
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