RIP Ryne Sandberg

[NittanyPirate]

This really doesn’t belong here but I think there are some posters that can relate. Feel free to remove if necessary.

When I was 8 I bought my first packs of baseball cards(1989 Topps)and that’s about when my obsession with all things Cubs/Ryne Sandberg began. I was about 10 when he hit 40 HRs annd won the HR derby, and about 13-14 when he crushed me by retiring(the first time). I didn’t just have all his cards, starting lineups, posters, I even pissed my dad off by cutting up his newspaper’s sports section just to save Sandberg’s box scores.
I didn’t get WGN so when the Cubs played the Mets, Braves, Phillies, or Pirates and I had a chance to watch him live, I was glued to the television. In short, I idolized Sandberg.
Losing your childhood idol is strangely sad. I’ve never met the guy yet I find myself reliving my sandlot years and mourning the loss of a guy that inspired a kid’s dream.
RIP Ryno

 

[Piratz]

Wow, RIP. What a great player.

 

[Halldan]

Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg dead at 65 after cancer battle

Sandberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2024, and had been battling the disease since.

nypost.com

 

[Hall1996]

This really doesn’t belong here but I think there are some posters that can relate. Feel free to remove if necessary.

When I was 8 I bought my first packs of baseball cards(1989 Topps)and that’s about when my obsession with all things Cubs/Ryne Sandberg began. I was about 10 when he hit 40 HRs annd won the HR derby, and about 13-14 when he crushed me by retiring(the first time). I didn’t just have all his cards, starting lineups, posters, I even pissed my dad off by cutting up his newspaper’s sports section just to save Sandberg’s box scores.
I didn’t get WGN so when the Cubs played the Mets, Braves, Phillies, or Pirates and I had a chance to watch him live, I was glued to the television. In short, I idolized Sandberg.
Losing your childhood idol is strangely sad. I’ve never met the guy yet I find myself reliving my sandlot years and mourning the loss of a guy that inspired a kid’s dream.
RIP Ryno

Great story about being a fan.

My dad had similar story, growing up in Northern NJ with brothers who were Yankee fans, got a Ted Williams card in the early 1950's and led to him being a life long suffering Red Sox fan.

 

[Seton75]

joined a rotisserie baseball league in the early 80s. ryne was my first draft choice. offensive categories were average, hr, sb, rbi. ryne did it all.

great player.