Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs have confirmed the passing of Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg at the age of 65. In January 2024, Sandberg publicly announced his diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer, which he bravely battled until his death.

Over the course of his 16-season career, Sandberg played for both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs. A remarkable player, he was selected as an All-Star on ten occasions, earned MVP honors once, and was a nine-time Gold Glove Award recipient as well as a seven-time Silver Slugger winner. Sandberg's impressive resume includes leading the National League in runs scored three times, hitting 40 home runs in 1990, and achieving an 8.5 Wins Above Replacement in 1984—the year he also led all of baseball with 19 triples.

Sandberg concludes his career with a lifetime batting average of .285, totaling 282 home runs, 1,061 runs batted in, and 344 stolen bases. His legacy as one of the all-time Cubs icons and one of the greatest second basemen in the history of Major League Baseball is secure. Following the news of his passing, tributes from the baseball community emerged, underscoring his impact on the game. Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner remarked on Sandberg's extraordinary consistency and legacy, stating, 'The level of the consistency and the longevity that he did it is just incredible.' Sandberg's contributions to the team and the game were celebrated by fans, including his heartfelt words on September 20, 1997, where he expressed, 'I truly lived my field of dreams right here at Wrigley Field.'