Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg was on hand at the annual Cubs Convention, greeting fans alongside past, present, and future Cubs greats.
It was a moment of joy to offset some recent bad news and bad times.
The Hall of Fame second baseman announced in January of last year that he had metastatic prostate cancer. In August, he gave the well-received update that he was cancer-free, following chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Sandberg’s Cancer Has Returned
This past December, however, the 65-year-old Sandberg issued the sad update that the cancer had returned and had spread to other organs.
So, as the fight continues, “Ryno” got a shot of some of the best possible medicine– the love and support of Cubs fans.
“Fan Support Is The Best Medicine”
“[Friday night, at the convention opening ceremony] was awesome. It was something special that I’ll really never forget,” Sandberg told Marquee Network. “The fan support that I’ve gotten this past year has been off the charts. I felt it at the statue, and I felt it [Friday night]. It was heartfelt. It’s the best medicine I can think of. The Cubs fans, once again, they’ve been doing this for me since 1982, and it continues with the current players, with the alumni. We all love it.”
In June, deep in the middle of his first bout with the cancer, Sandberg returned to Wrigley Field to take part in the ceremony to dedicate the statue erected to honor his contributions to Cubs lore.
“Last year at Wrigley Field, I had some tremendous experiences with what I was going through, having some symptoms and some things leading up to it,” Sandberg added. “Then, I’m going to Wrigley Field, the juices start flowing, feels good. They put me on the big screen, the crowd acknowledges that, and I leave Wrigley feeling nothing and feeling great. That would last a long time.”
An Update On The Chicago Cubs Legend
As for his current state of health, the 16-year major league veteran remains positive and optimistic.
“I’m feeling good. I’m getting my treatments, doing my thing and things are working,” Sandberg said. “I was happy to be here in full spirits and on the go. The fans are awesome and once again, I’m getting energized and got the juices flowing.”
Sandberg, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2005, was the National League MVP in 1984. A 10-time All-Star over the course of 15 seasons for the Cubs, from 1982 to 1997, he finished his playing career with 282 home runs, 1061 RBIs, and 344 stolen bases. He also won nine consecutive Gold Gloves from 1983 to 1991.
After his playing career, he managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015. In recent years, he’s served as manager of Cubs Double-A affiliate Tennessee Smokie as well as a “goodwill ambassador’ for the organization, making public appearances and greeting fans at Cubs events.
“Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere,” Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a press release issued in December, after it was announced that Sandberg’s cancer had returned. “I know all Cubs fans join my family and me in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces this next round of treatments to defeat cancer. Ryne has the heart and soul of a champion and that will serve him well in this challenge.”
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