Ryne Dee Sandberg (September 18, 1959 – July 28, 2025), nicknamed "Ryno", was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. He played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies (1981) and the Chicago Cubs (1982–1994, 1996–1997).
After a slow start to his career, Sandberg made a name for himself on June 23, 1984, having a career game including two home runs in what colloquially became known as the "Sandberg Game". After that, Sandberg established himself as a perennial All-Star and Gold Glove candidate, making 10 consecutive All-Star appearances and winning nine consecutive Gold Gloves from to . His career .989 fielding percentage was a major-league record at second base when he retired in 1997. He is tied with Jose Altuve for the most Silver Slugger Awards for a second baseman with seven. In 2005, Sandberg was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
After his playing career, Sandberg coached in the minor leagues for the Cubs and Phillies organizations. After briefly serving as a base coach for the Phillies, he became the manager of the Phillies in the middle of the 2013 season, serving in the role until his resignation in the middle of the 2015 season.
Early life
Ryne Dee Sandberg was born on September 18, 1959, in Spokane, Washington, to Elizabeth, a nurse, and Derwent D. "Sandy" Sandberg, a mortician. He was named for relief pitcher Ryne Duren.
Sandberg was a three-sport star at North Central High School and graduated in 1978. In the fall of 1977, he was named to Parades High School All-America football team, one of eight quarterbacks listed and one of two players from Washington. The school's baseball field was named in his honor in 1985 as "Ryne Sandberg Field," and his varsity number was retired in both football and baseball.
Sandberg was recruited to play quarterback at NCAA Division I colleges, and eventually signed a letter of intent with Washington State University in Pullman.
Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
Sandberg opted not to attend after being selected in the 20th round of the 1978 baseball amateur draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 1978, at age 18, Sandberg began his professional career with the Helena Phillies in the rookie-level Pioneer League. In his first professional season, Sandberg played exclusively at shortstop and hit .311 with a .390 OBP, one home run, 15 stolen bases, and 23 runs batted in (RBIs) in 56 games. Among his teammates at Helena were George Bell, a future MVP, and Bob Dernier, who later formed the "Daily Double" with Sandberg in Chicago. The three advanced through the Phillies system as teammates.
Playing shortstop in 1979, Sandberg played for the Class A Spartanburg Phillies in the Western Carolinas League. In 138 games, he hit .247 with seven triples, four home runs, 21 stolen bases, and 47 RBIs.
The Phillies soon concluded that Sandberg was not a successor to Bowa at shortstop. While Sandberg had played both second and third base in the minor leagues, he was blocked from those positions by Manny Trillo and Mike Schmidt. He was traded along with Bowa to the Cubs for shortstop Iván DeJesús prior to the season. The trade came about after negotiations for a new contract between Bowa and the Phillies broke down. Cubs general manager Dallas Green wanted a young prospect to go along with the aging Bowa. Green had been instrumental in the drafting of Sandberg in 1978, while working in the Phillies front office. The two remained close over the years. The trade is now considered one of the best (if not the best) in recent Cubs history. At the same time, it is considered one of the worst trades in Phillies history.
Chicago Cubs (1982–1994, 1996–1997)
1982–1983
thumb|1988 [[Gold Glove Award trophy, received by Sandberg]]
The Cubs installed Sandberg as their third baseman, before shifting him to second base late in the season with the call-up of rookie third baseman Pat Tabler. Despite never having played third base before, he made just 11 errors in 140 games,
After the Cubs acquired veteran Ron Cey following the 1982 season, they moved Sandberg to second base full-time.
1984
Sandberg emerged with a breakout season in , in which he batted .314 with 200 hits, 114 runs, 36 doubles, 19 triples, 19 home runs, and 84 RBIs. In 1984, Sandberg's runs and triples totals led the National League. The Cubs went on to lose in the National League Championship Series, 3–2 to the San Diego Padres. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player after receiving 22 out of 24 first place votes, the first Cub to do so since Ernie Banks' back-to-back honors in and , and the first for a second baseman since Joe Morgan in .
The Sandberg Game
In an NBC national telecast of a Cardinals–Cubs game on June 23, 1984, the Cubs trailed 9–8 in the ninth inning against future Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter, who would save a league-leading 45 games that season. Sandberg slugged a solo home run to left field, tying the game. After the Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning, Sandberg hit a two-run homer against Sutter in the 10th inning to again tie the game. Cubs radio announcer Harry Caray described the home run: