CHICAGO — Before the lights at Wrigley Field could be turned off forever, Ryne Sandberg left behind some final words — and they left the baseball world speechless.
In a private but powerful moment, Sandberg — the former soul of the Chicago Cubs — delivered a final message to those who loved him, who chanted “Ryno!” through the fiery summers.
“I don’t know how many more days I have left to feel the sun shining through Wrigley Field … but I know this: I’m still a baseball player.”
Despite his battle with the disease, Sandberg didn’t talk about pain or fear. Instead, he talked about the double play in the seventh inning, the resounding sound of the bat hitting the ball, or the look in the eyes of a little boy seeing his hero emerge from the dugout for the first time. Those seemingly small things — were Ryno’s whole life.
“If anyone asks why I’m remembered, the answer is: Respect. I played baseball with respect — because I didn’t know any other way to play it.”
An icon leaves, but the spirit remains
With tired eyes and a voice that sometimes cracks, Ryne Sandberg doesn’t talk about accomplishments, titles, or records. He talks only about his love for the game, his pride in being a part of the Cubs, and his belief that the old values still live on if we cherish them.
“When I leave, let the cheers at Wrigley say goodbye. I’ve never been a talkative person. I’m just a baseball player … and I always will be.”
And then he quietly walked off the field — the way he always played: without fanfare, but with a world of silence.
Rest easy, Ryno. Baseball was lucky to have you. And so were we.