There are well-deserved accolades pouring in from every corner of the baseball community about one of the greatest second basemen of a generation. On June 23, 2024 when Ryne Sandberg’s statue was unveiled at Gallagher Way I wrote about that ceremony, and genuinely wasn’t sure I needed to say anything else today.
But this morning before work I headed to Wrigley Field to pay tribute to the man who sparked my love for the game and reflected a bit on how much Sandberg’s quiet, steady work ethic impacts me, even now. I thought I’d share a much more personal reflection on 40+ years of Cubs fandom and Ryne Sandberg.