A Few Thoughts to Celebrate the Life of Ryne Sandberg

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, baseball, Chicago, Chicago stories

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND”

I’m taking a break from writing about nature in Chicagoland to celebrate the life of Ryne Sandberg, one of baseball’s greats who passed away yesterday. More nature stories coming soon.

Ryne Sandberg passed away at the age of 65 yesterday after battling prostate cancer for 1.5 years.  

The 10-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove–award winner (who also won the MVP Award in 1984 . . . and who had a stunning WAR of 8.5) was one of my favorite childhood players in my favorite sport because he played with excellence, dignity, consistency, and professionalism. I treasure his baseball cards that I’ve saved all these years.  

I thought I’d share a few thoughts and memorable moments before I go back to my real job.

Sandberg had a tough start to his career, but he persevered. He went 0 for a lot (I couldn’t track down the stats quickly), and I remember the tension building as I waited for him to start hitting. (Chicago’s April weather was always tough on his batting average.) Sandberg had a challenging start, but eventually started hitting and had a terrific career. He had a lifetime batting average of .285 and had 2,386 career hits and 282 career home runs. Sandberg stole 344 bases and drove in 1,061 runs in about 15.5 seasons (excluding his 13 games with the Phillies). Sandberg’s start to his career is a good lesson for us all—it’s not how you begin, but how you finish.

The “Sandberg Game!” Sandberg had already been playing for two full years, but this game on June 23, 1984, at Wrigley Field was his national coming out party. It was broadcast by NBC and announced by Bob Costas. I remember watching the game in the early innings—the Cubs were getting blown out—and thinking the Cubs would never rally. But then the Cubs chipped away at the Redbirds’ lead until it was 9-8 Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth. I was at the edge of my seat hoping that Sandberg would get on base against future Hall-of-Famer Bruce Sutter. But Sandberg did even better, smashing a game-tying home run, then another game-tying home run off Sutter in the 10th, with the Cubs winning the game in the 11th. (Ahh, the days of multi-inning closers.) Sandberg tallied seven RBI in the game.

Wrigleyville was not Rickettsville back then. Many young people don’t realize that what we now know as Wrigleyville was a working class neighborhood with serious gang problems in the 1980s. It was gritty and rundown in places and you had to keep your wits about you when you visited. I’m not saying that today’s Wrigleyville is the French Riviera because Chicago continues to have a major crime problem, but the Ricketts have so Disneyfied and corporatized the area that some areas are completely unrecognizable. I used to live half-a-mile from Wrigley Field in the early 2000s, but when I visit Wrigley Field today I’ve turned into one of those old guys that says, “I remember when a (e.g., historic house, mom-and-pop beer, cool restaurant) was in this spot.” (The same has happened to Southport just west of the park.) In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Wrigleyville began an upswing that continues today with overpriced rents, bars, and restaurants. But Gallagher Way is a winner, and there are other great additions to the park and area—although I miss the Wrigley of the 1990s and early 2000s. I never want to be one of those people who says that everything was better in the old days.    

It’s a wonderful thing to hear the roar of a far-off baseball crowd as you sit on your deck. When we lived near Wrigley, I would sometimes watch the game on TV on our back porch. If the acoustics were right, you could hear the roar of the Wrigley crowd after a homer or other big hit from Sammy Sosa, Fred McGriff, or even Mark Bellhorn. (Sandberg was long retired by that time.) Baseball magic!

I miss the old days of Cubs baseball on WGN-TV. The Cubs on free TV. Every day. Harry Caray drunkenly mispronouncing players’ names (or seeing how they sounded backwards). Steve Stone trying to right the ship and provide real analysis. Baseball continues to be very popular, but the free TV era allowed fans to fall in love (or hate on) their entire home team and get to know the entire roster. I remember sitting with my friend Carlo and competing to see who could name the entire Cubs roster. In 1984, it was Sandberg, Davis (“Jody, Jody Davis,” I can still hear Harry Caray chant his name), Bowa, Cey, Dernier, Moreland, and the lesser-known team members such as Gary Woods, Thad Bosley (who also played for the White Sox), and Steve Lake, among others.

Sandberg’s first retirement. In 1994, Sandberg was having a rough first third of the season, so he decided to retire—less than two years into a record four-year, $28 million deal. At the time he said: “I am not the type of person who can be satisfied with anything less than my very best effort and my very top performance. I am not the type of person who can leave my game at the ballpark and feel comfortable that my future is set regardless of my performance. And I am certainly not the type of person who can ask the Cubs organization and Chicago Cubs fans to pay my salary when I am not happy with my mental approach and my performance.” I was impressed that he left so much money on the table (but chump change today for baseball’s top players—Juan Soto makes $51 million a year) because he didn’t want to cheat the fans or himself. Perhaps other factors also fueled this decision, but it was still an admirable choice by him.

But then Sandberg came back. After retiring for 1.5 years, Sandberg came back to the Cubs. I was ecstatic. He was not the Sandberg of old, but he hit 25 home runs and banged in 92 runs in 1996. My dad died in January 1997, and I remember how much baseball meant to me during the first summer after his death. Seeing the unreal green of Wrigley Field in person and on TV, as well as enjoying the call of each game was very comforting. It was Sandberg’s last year with the Cubs (he announced his retirement in early August 1997). He did not have a great year, but it was still fun to watch one of my favorite players.

Hall of Fame. Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. His plaque, in part, read “A sure-handed second baseman with power and speed who dignified the game with his professionalism, quiet leadership, and tireless preparation.”

These were some of the main reasons why I was a fan. Sandberg played the game with class, humbleness, and excellence. I love these words from his moving Hall of Fame induction speech:

“I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.

Make a great play? Act like you’ve done it before.

Get a big hit? Look for the third-base coach and get ready to run the bases.

Hit a home run? Put your head down, drop the bat and run around the bases.

…

A lot of people say this honor validates my career. But I didn’t work hard for validation. I didn’t play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel. I played it right because that’s what you’re supposed to do–play it right and with respect.

…

I dreamed of this as a child, but I had too much respect for baseball to think this was ever possible. I believe it is because I had so much respect for the game and getting the most out of my abilities that I stand here today.

I hope others in the future will know this feeling for the same reasons–respect for the game of baseball. When we all played it, it was mandatory. It is something I hope we will one day see again.”

Final thoughts. 65 years of age is so freaking young (says the 55-year-old who is currently wrestling with his own mortality). But Sandberg packed a lot into 65 years. Thanks, Ryne, for your class, advocacy for those with prostate cancer while battling cancer, and the many summer days and nights of jaw-dropping plays, home runs and other hits, and general excellence on the field.

Copyright (text/photos) Andrew Morkes

Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I have been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.

In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 70 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).

Here’s a list of the environmental-focused titles that I’ve written:

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