Former MLB Hall-of-Fame Infielder Announces He is Cancer Free

Major League Baseball legend Ryne Sandberg has had plenty of reasons to celebrate in his career.

One of the most beloved players in Chicago Cubs history, Sandberg is a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time Gold Glove Award winner, a seven-time Silver Slugger Award winner, and a former National League MVP.

He entered into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 and had his number retired by the Cubs the same year.

Now, he can add cancer survivor to that list of accolades.

In January 2024, Sandberg announced that he had begun treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Seven months later, he revealed that he rang the bell to signify that he was cancer-free.

“Rang the Bell this morning! WE did it, WE won!” Sandberg said on Instagram. “What a Dream Team, family, doctors, friends, nurses, fans who supported myself and Margaret through the last 8 months!”

“We feel so blessed from all the love, prayers and thoughts and positive words that have come our way! Modern medicine has come a long way so once again early detection is important. Annual doctor visits! Time to celebrate!”

Sandberg began his professional baseball career after he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1978. He made his Major League Baseball debut in 1981 as a shortstop at Wrigley Field. In 1982, he made his permanent home there when he joined the Cubs.

While his career started off slow, Sandberg experienced a breakthrough in 1984.

Still fairly unknown outside of Chicago, Sandberg helped win a difficult game against the St. Louis Cardinals with back-to-back home runs in the ninth and tenth innings. The game later became known as “The Sandberg Game.”

In 1990, Sandberg led the league with 40 home runs. This made him one of four players to record a 40-homer and 50-steal season in their career. The others are Brady Anderson, Barry Bonds, and Ronald Acuña Jr.

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Sandberg also won the Home Run Derby in 1990.

After a disappointing season in 1994, Sandberg announced his retirement. He returned to the Chicago Cubs in 1996 before retiring again after the 1997 season.

In his 16-year career, 15 of them with the Cubs, Sandberg recorded a .285 batting average with 2,386 hits, 282 home runs, and 1,061 RBI. To this day, he is considered one of the greatest players Chicago has ever seen.

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