Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, renowned for his illustrious career with the Chicago Cubs, has shared on Instagram that he is battling metastatic prostate cancer and has initiated treatment.
In his Instagram post on Monday, Sandberg conveyed his diagnosis to his fans and the baseball community: “To my Chicago Cubs, National Baseball Hall of Fame, extended Baseball Family, the city of Chicago, and all my loyal fans, I want to share some personal news. Last week, I learned that I have been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. I have begun treatment, and I am surrounded by my loving wife Margaret, our incredibly supportive family, the best medical care team, and our dear friends.”
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The 64-year-old Sandberg, a 10-time All-Star during his 15-year tenure with the Cubs from 1982 to 1997, compiled an impressive record, including 282 home runs and 344 stolen bases. Following his playing career, he managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015.
Sandberg has remained closely associated with the Cubs, providing guidance to young infielders and serving as an ambassador for the team. He is a familiar presence at spring training and Wrigley Field and has made appearances as a pregame and postgame analyst in various media outlets.
The Cubs have expressed their unwavering support for Sandberg and his family during this challenging period. Cubs senior vice president Julian Green shared, “We cannot imagine how incredibly tough it is right now for Ryne and his family, but we do know Ryne is one tough competitor and a winner. We are rallying around his family with locked arms as they begin their journey to conquer this battle with cancer.”
The Cubs have planned to unveil a statue of Sandberg outside Wrigley Field on June 23, commemorating the 40th anniversary of his extraordinary game in 1984 when he hit game-tying home runs in the bottom of the ninth and 10th innings, tallying seven RBIs in the Cubs’ 12-11 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Throughout his career, Sandberg achieved numerous accolades, including the National League MVP in 1984 and nine consecutive Gold Glove awards. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.