© 2025 Blue Ridge Public Radio
Blue Ridge Mountains banner background
Your source for information and inspiration in Western North Carolina.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg has died at age 65

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

Chicago Cubs legend and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg has died. He was known for his quiet leadership on and off the field and his work ethic, but his prowess at second base made him a Cubs fan favorite.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED SPORTSCASTER: A great catch by Sandberg. What a play by Ryne Sandberg.

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Sandberg made his Major League debut with the Phillies in 1981, but they weren't impressed with his turn as shortstop and traded him to the Chicago Cubs the next year. That trade would go down as one of the worst mistakes in baseball history.

SUMMERS: Sandberg went on to win the 1984 National League MVP Award and dozens of other accolades. He earned a reputation as one of the game's best all-around players. In his Hall of Fame speech in 2005, Sandberg opened up to the media about his reputation of being soft-spoken and quiet.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

RYNE SANDBERG: And I wasn't trying to be difficult. I had other things on my mind. Baseball wasn't easy for me. I struggled many times when maybe it didn't look like I was struggling.

CHANG: Sandberg announced last year that he had metastatic prostate cancer. He died Monday. He was 65 years old.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Jeffrey Pierre is an editor and producer on the Education Desk, where helps the team manage workflows, coordinate member station coverage, social media and the NPR Ed newsletter. Before the Education Desk, he was a producer and director on Morning Edition and the Up First podcast.
Jeanette Woods
[Copyright 2024 NPR]