Jon Niednagel remembers him well from his consulting services with the Chicago Cubs in the mid 1990s. Two weeks ago, Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg died at the young age of 65 from prostate cancer. Sandberg was known for his his all-around play; he tried to master every dimension of the game, including defense. During his 16-year major league career, he spent 15 of those years with the Cubbies.
A #15 FCIL, Sandberg was a legend known for his hard work (go figure). He once said, “My style is I work hard at it. I feel like I’m prepared every day.” Early on, after being traded from the Philadelphia Phillies in 1982, he made it his goal to always put in 150% to avoid ever being traded again. “Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m. [Manager] Jim Frey would tell him [to] hit every ball over the tarp and into the seats down the left-field line in foul territory … He did it for a week straight. That’s how he learned how to pull the ball.”
Of course, #15s are known for their mental strength, and Ryne was no exception. “His mental toughness is off the charts,” said fellow teammate Larry Bowa. “Don’t let people deceive you by that little laugh he has all the time. He wanted to win as much as anybody. I’ve been around Pete Rose (#6 BEIR), and Ryno is right there.” He also respected the game in typical #15 fashion. “I played it right because that’s what you’re supposed to do – play it right and with respect.”
Sandberg finished his career as a .285 hitter with 282 home runs and a fielding percentage of .989. Best of all, he was a kind human being, one whom Niednagel was blessed to know.
Written by: Staff
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