With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today. pic.twitter.com/LJJ0jGqSy5
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 29, 2025
Several seasons over .300, a 40-homer season, another season with 19 triples, a third season with 54 stolen bases, nine gold gloves, an MVP, a plaque in the Hall of Fame.
And there was, of course, The Sandberg Game, a single game so impressive that it has its own Wikipedia page.
If Ryne Sandberg, the very embodiment of youthful speed, power and agility, could die so young, so enfeebled, what’s to become of the rest of us?
What indeed.
This one sucks. It’s part of my childhood dying again.
Took a leak next to him in Spring Training once (I worked in pro and college sports). He was a quiet guy.
It’s shocking because we expect professional athletes, especially the greatest athletes (which Rhyne Sandberg clearly was), to be healthier than average.
I am only 9 years younger than Sandberg was. Prostate cancer is supposed to be one of the most survivable cancers. Ironically, I had a test run on my prostate yesterday. I am roughly the same age my Dad was when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. His doctors decided to ignore it because his health was so poor (congestive heart failure from 40 years of smoking) that it was extremely unlikely that he would live long enough for the cancer to be a problem. They were right, he didn’t. I was assured by my urologist that there was no sign of cancer. Sandberg’s death will certainly provide motivation to ensure I keep my follow-up appointment in 6 months.
RIP Rhyne. God’s all-star team just got even better.