Ryne Sandberg, the former Phillies manager and Hall of Fame second baseman, died on Monday from cancer. Sandberg had reached the age of 65.
Sandberg was dealt by the Phillies to the Chicago Cubs in 1982 for shortstop Ivan DeJesus, one of the franchise’s most disastrous trades.
“It’s a sad day for baseball where you lose one of the better players in the game and, obviously, a nice human,” commented Kyle Schwarber. “He was always respectful among us in the Chicago camp’s clubhouse. Just an all-around wonderful person. We are thinking of his family. Hopefully he is at ease now.”
Over his 16-year career in Major League Baseball, Ryne Sandberg put together an impressive resume. He batted .285, racked up 2,386 hits, and added 403 doubles and 282 home runs. Sandberg was one of the best of his era, winning the National League MVP award in 1984. He was selected to 10 All-Star Games and earned nine Gold Gloves for his elite defense at second base.
After his playing days, Sandberg moved into coaching and managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015. During that time, he posted a 119-159 record. He stepped into a tough role, replacing longtime fan-favorite manager Charlie Manuel, which added extra pressure to the job.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson reflected on his memories of Sandberg. “I used to see him when I was with Larry Bowa, and he’d bring Ryne around,” Thomson said. “He was such a class act, just a great human being and an incredible player. It’s heartbreaking. He fought so hard. This is a huge loss, and my heart goes out to his family.”