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RK PLAYER POS HOMETOWN HT WT STARS GRADE SCHOOL

1 QB-PP Belleville, MI
Belleville High School 6’4” 205 92

2 OT Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’6” 250 91

3 WR Saraland, AL
Saraland High School 6’0” 175 91

4 DE Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’4” 250 90

5 DT Savannah, GA
Savannah Christian Preparatory School 6’4” 270 90

6 CB Birmingham, AL
A. H. Parker High School 6’2” 185 90

7 WR Duncanville, TX
Duncanville High School 5’11” 180 89

8 CB Houston, TX
North Shore High School 6’2” 170 88

9 S Zephyrhills, FL
Zephyrhills High School 6’3” 170 88

10 OLB Ellaville, GA
Schley High School 6’3” 225 88

11 S Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’2” 190 87

12 WR Jacksonville, FL
Mandarin High School 6’2” 185 87

13 OT Prichard, AL
Vigor High School 6’5” 290 87

14 WR Ackerman, MS
Choctaw County High School 6’4” 190 86

15 TE-H Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’5” 235 86

16 DT Manchester, GA
Manchester High School 6’6” 280 86

17 OT Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’6” 285 86

18 DE Edwardsville, IL
Edwardsville High School 6’4” 235 86

19 TE-Y Folkston, GA
Charlton County High School 6’7” 235 86

20 OG Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’3” 285 86

21 ATH Chattanooga, TN
Baylor School 6’3” 215 86

22 OT Roswell, GA
Fellowship Christian School 6’5” 255 86

23 OLB San Juan Capistrano, CA
JSerra Catholic High School 6’3” 210 86

24 OT Lewisville, TX
Lewisville High School 6’5” 290 86

25 QB-PP Brentwood, TN
Brentwood Academy 6’6” 185 86

26 ATH Selma, AL
Southside High School 6’2” 190 85

27 DE Birmingham, AL
Spain Park High School 6’7” 235 85

28 CB Winter Garden, FL
West Orange High School 6’0” 175 85

29 RB Metairie, LA
Saint Martins Episcopal School 6’0” 185 85

30 WR Tampa, FL
Tampa Bay Tech Senior High 6’4” 190 85

31 DE Norfolk, VA
Maury High School 6’6” 235 85

32 CB Atlanta, GA
Douglass High School 6’1” 185 85

33 RB Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’0” 215 85

34 CB Mission Viejo, CA
Mission Viejo High School 6’4” 185 85

35 OT Jacksonville, FL
Raines High School 6’5” 300 85

36 S Thomasville, GA
Thomas County Central High School 6’0” 175 84

37 RB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’1” 210 84

38 OLB Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’4” 210 84

39 RB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’9” 190 84

40 OLB Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’3” 215 84

41 CB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 5’11” 185 84

42 WR Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’0” 185 84

43 DE Houston, TX
Summer Creek High School 6’5” 230 84

44 S Monroe, NC
Monroe High School 6’0” 175 84

45 DE Troy, AL
Charles Henderson High School 6’4” 225 84

46 CB New Iberia, LA
Westgate High School 6’1” 180 84

47 QB-PP Saraland, AL
Saraland High School 6’0” 175 84

48 DE College Park, GA
Woodward Academy 6’3” 245 84

49 ATH Clayton, OH
Northmont Senior High School 6’2” 190 84

50 QB-PP Warner Robins, GA
Houston County High School 6’5” 215 84

51 RB Lynchburg, VA
Liberty Christian Academy 6’0” 195 84

52 DE Philadelphia, PA
Imhotep Institute Charter High School 6’6” 235 84

53 OLB La Verne, CA
Bonita High School 6’4” 215 84

54 S Washington, DC
Gonzaga College High School 6’0” 190 84

55 CB Katy, TX
Patricia E. Paetow High School 5’11” 175 84

56 RB Elba, AL
Elba High School 5’10” 190 84

57 OT Mesquite, TX
Horn High School 6’7” 280 84

58 OLB Galveston, TX
Ball High School 6’3” 210 84

59 CB Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’1” 185 84

60 RB Quitman, MS
Quitman High School 6’0” 205 84

61 OLB North Palm Beach, FL
The Benjamin School 6’5” 210 84

62 OT Spanish Fork, UT
Spanish Fork High School 6’8” 290 84

63 OLB McKinney, TX
McKinney High School 6’2” 205 84

64 CB Detroit, MI
Cass Technical High School 6’1” 180 83

65 WR Fulshear, TX
Jordan High School 6’1” 175 83

66 OLB Jesup, GA
Wayne County High School 6’1” 200 83

67 DE Tallahassee, FL
James S. Rickards High School 6’5” 250 83

68 S Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’2” 185 83

69 CB Buford, GA
Buford High School 5’10” 165 83

70 OT Evans, GA
Evans High School 6’6” 305 83

71 OLB Fort Pierce, FL
John Carroll High School 6’2” 215 83

72 OG Lilburn, GA
Parkview High School 6’4” 280 83

73 S Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’2” 205 83

74 ATH Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’3” 200 83

75 OT Atlanta, GA
Westlake High School 6’8” 330 83

76 DT Lake City, SC
Lake City High School 6’5” 295 83

77 QB-PP Moore Haven, FL
Moore Haven Jr-Sr High School 6’2” 190 83

78 OT Cedar Rapids, IA
John F. Kennedy High School 6’8” 345 83

79 DT Birmingham, AL
A. H. Parker High School 6’2” 310 83

80 OLB Omaha, NE
Westside High School 6’3” 215 83

81 OT Toms River, NJ
Toms River North High School 6’6” 305 83

82 WR Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 5’10” 175 83

83 RB Leesburg, GA
Lee County High School 6’1” 215 83

84 OT Denton, TX
Billy Ryan High School 6’5” 280 83

85 OLB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 210 83

86 S Enterprise, AL
Enterprise High School 6’3” 205 83

87 OT Salem, VA
Salem High School 6’4” 300 83

88 DE Weatherford, OK
Weatherford High School 6’5” 225 83

89 WR Pleasanton, CA
Foothill High School 6’1” 180 83

90 OC Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’3” 300 83

91 DT Snow Hill, NC
Greene Central High School 6’4” 265 83

92 DE Cocoa, FL
Cocoa High School 6’5” 235 83

93 WR Mission Hills, CA
Bishop Alemany High School 6’2” 190 83

94 OLB Sugar Land, TX
Fort Bend Christian Academy 6’3” 210 83

95 WR Homestead, FL
Homestead Senior High School 6’1” 180 83

96 TE-H Mukilteo, WA
Kamiak High School 6’4” 225 83

97 CB Lexington, MS
Holmes County Central High School 6’1” 180 83

98 DT Hattiesburg, MS
Oak Grove High School 6’4” 280 83

99 ATH Shaker Heights, OH
Shaker Heights High School 6’0” 180 83

100 QB-DT San Diego, CA
Abraham Lincoln High School 6’5” 200 82

101 DE Greensboro, NC
Grimsley High School 6’4” 245 82

102 DT Hattiesburg, MS
Hattiesburg High School 6’2” 285 82

103 WR West Palm Beach, FL
Cardinal Newman High School 6’1” 175 82

104 S Little Rock, AR
Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High 6’0” 180 82

105 ATH Cleveland Heights, OH
Cleveland Heights High School 6’1” 200 82

106 DT Nashville, TN
The Ensworth School 6’5” 280 82

107 TE-H Washington, OK
Washington High School 6’4” 225 82

108 ATH San Antonio, TX
Alamo Heights High School 6’3” 215 82

109 WR Ennis, TX
Ennis High School 5’10” 170 82

110 OLB Dallas, TX
Skyline High School 6’2” 220 82

111 DE Texarkana, TX
Pleasant Grove High School 6’5” 250 82

112 ATH Saint Louis, MO
Vashon High School 5’11” 190 82

113 OLB Jersey City, NJ
Snyder High School 6’1” 215 82

114 OG Fort Valley, GA
Peach County High School 6’4” 285 82

115 QB-DT Lucedale, MS
George County High School 6’4” 190 82

116 TE-H Alpharetta, GA
Alpharetta High School 6’3” 225 82

117 WR Lee’s Summit, MO
Lee’s Summit North High School 6’2” 190 82

118 OLB Philadelphia, PA
St. Joseph’s Prep School 6’4” 215 82

119 QB-PP Corona, CA
Centennial High School 6’1” 190 82

120 CB Kahuku, HI
Kahuku High School 6’0” 165 82

121 WR Allen, TX
Lovejoy High School 6’0” 175 82

122 OLB Lake Cormorant, MS
Lake Cormorant High School 6’2” 210 82

123 CB Brownsboro, TX
Brownsboro High School 6’1” 180 82

124 S Jacksonville, FL
Mandarin High School 6’2” 185 82

125 RB Cleveland, OH
Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School 6’1” 215 82

126 DT Washington, DC
Friendship Collegiate Academy 6’4” 310 82

127 CB Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’0” 170 82

128 OT Waukesha, WI
Catholic Memorial High School 6’6” 280 82

129 RB Philadelphia, PA
Imhotep Institute Charter High School 6’1” 210 82

130 DE HIghland Home, AL
Highland Home High School 6’4” 235 82

131 QB-PP Frisco, TX
Rock Hill High School 6’1” 200 82

132 RB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 5’11” 205 82

133 DT Lufkin, TX
Lufkin High School 6’3” 295 82

134 WR Oklahoma City, OK
Millwood High School 6’4” 190 82

135 CB Santa Ana, CA
Mater Dei High School 6’0” 185 82

136 S Jackson, TN
Jackson Christian School 6’1” 190 82

137 DT Port Charlotte, FL
Port Charlotte High School 6’5” 285 82

138 QB-PP Findlay, OH
Findlay High School 6’3” 210 82

139 OLB Owings, MD
McDonogh School 6’2” 215 82

140 CB Chester, VA
Thomas Dale High School 6’2” 180 82

141 DT Greenville, MS
Saint Joseph Catholic School 6’3” 265 82

142 RB Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 5’9” 185 82

143 CB Quartz Hill, CA
Quartz Hill High School 6’2” 170 81

144 ILB Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 6’0” 210 81

145 RB Humble, TX
Atascocita High School 5’11” 180 81

146 CB Pearland, TX
Shadow Creek High School 6’0” 170 81

147 WR Pahokee, FL
Pahokee High School 6’1” 175 81

148 OLB El Centro, CA
Central High School 6’2” 210 81

149 CB Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’2” 165 81

150 OLB Cincinnati, OH
Winton Woods High School 6’4” 215 81

151 CB Miami, FL
Booker T. Washington High School 6’1” 170 81

152 OG Rabun Gap, GA
Rabun Gap Nacoochee School 6’5” 275 81

153 WR Red Oak, TX
Red Oak High School 6’0” 175 81

154 TE-Y West Chester, OH
Lakota West High School 6’6” 235 81

155 OLB Danville, CA
San Ramon Valley High School 6’4” 220 81

156 OT Toledo, OH
Whitmer High School 6’5” 290 81

157 S Las Vegas, NV
Faith Lutheran High School 6’3” 190 81

158 DT Philadelphia, PA
St. Joseph’s Prep School 6’4” 275 81

159 OG Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’3” 295 81

160 WR Sachse, TX
Sachse High School 6’2” 185 81

161 OLB Spanaway, WA
Bethel High School 6’3” 225 81

162 OT Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’8” 315 81

163 ATH Tampa, FL
Berkeley Prep 6’1” 175 81

164 DT Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’4” 285 81

165 WR Geneva, IL
Geneva High School 6’1” 170 81

166 RB Gaithersburg, MD
Quince Orchard High School 5’11” 185 81

167 WR Toms River, NJ
Monsignor Donovan High School 6’0” 185 81

168 DT Cypress, TX
Cy-Fair High School 6’2” 265 81

169 QB-PP Lexington, KY
Lexington Christian Academy 6’5” 210 81

170 WR DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 5’11” 170 81

171 RB Tampa Bay, FL
Plant Senior High School 6’2” 195 81

172 OT Houston, TX
Lamar High School 6’6” 305 81

173 CB Miami, FL
Booker T. Washington High School 6’2” 180 81

174 TE-Y Pittsburgh, PA
North Catholic High School 6’6” 235 81

175 OT Boerne, TX
Boerne High School 6’6” 320 81

176 CB Montvale, NJ
Saint Joseph Regional High School 6’1” 185 81

177 WR Pearland, TX
Shadow Creek High School 5’11” 180 81

178 RB Tyler, TX
Chapel Hill High School 5’10” 185 81

179 TE-Y Green Bay, WI
Notre Dame De La Baie Academy 6’5” 225 81

180 OG San Jose, CA
Valley Christian High School 6’4” 325 81

181 WR Scottsdale, AZ
Notre Dame Prepatory 6’2” 190 81

182 DT Bellville, TX
Bellville High School 6’3” 285 81

183 CB Washington, DC
St. John’s College High School 6’0” 175 81

184 WR Pflugerville, TX
Weiss High School 6’1” 170 81

185 QB-PP Orange, CA
Orange Lutheran High School 6’2” 190 81

186 OLB Opelousas, LA
Opelousas High School 6’3” 210 81

187 TE-H Jasper, TX
Jasper High School 6’5” 245 81

188 OT Overland Park, KS
Blue Valley Northwest High School 6’6” 270 80

189 RB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 5’10” 185 80

190 TE-H El Dorado Hills, CA
Oak Ridge High School 6’6” 220 80

191 S Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 5’11” 175 80

192 QB-PP Fort Myers, FL
Bishop Verot High School 6’4” 185 80

193 RB Houma, LA
Vandebilt Catholic School 5’8” 165 80

194 OLB Baton Rouge, LA
University Laboratory School 6’2” 220 80

195 DT Oak Park, IL
Fenwick High School 6’4” 265 80

196 DE Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’3” 230 80

197 S Chattanooga, TN
Brainerd High School 6’1” 190 80

198 RB Fort Worth, TX
North Crowley High School 5’10” 175 80

199 DE Port Arthur, TX
Memorial High School 6’3” 240 80

200 ILB Las Vegas, NV
Arbor View High School 6’2” 200 80

201 RB Covington, GA
Newton High School 5’9” 180 80

202 DE Warner Robins, GA
Warner Robins High School 6’5” 250 80

203 QB-PP Harrisburg, PA
Bishop McDevitt High School 6’1” 195 80

204 OT Beverly Hills, MI
Groves High School 6’5” 280 80

205 RB DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 5’11” 200 80

206 WR West Bloomfield, MI
West Bloomfield High School 5’11” 175 80

207 OG Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 285 80

208 S Norfolk, VA
Maury High School 6’3” 190 80

209 OLB Pittsburgh, PA
Imani Christian Academy 6’2” 210 80

210 QB-DT Murrieta, CA
Murrieta Valley High School 6’2” 215 80

211 TE-H Calhoun, GA
Calhoun High School 6’2” 230 80

212 RB Shreveport, LA
Calvary Baptist Academy 6’0” 200 80

213 QB-PP Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 6’2” 180 80

214 ILB Culpeper, VA
Eastern View High School 6’2” 220 80

215 CB Murfreesboro, TN
Siegel High School 6’3” 180 80

216 WR Hollywood, FL
Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School 6’2” 185 80

217 QB-DT Little Rock, AR
Robinson High School 6’2” 190 80

218 DT Saraland, AL
Saraland High School 6’2” 270 80

219 OG Nashville, TN
David Lipscomb High School 6’4” 320 80

220 ILB Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’2” 225 80

221 CB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 5’11” 185 80

222 QB-PP Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’5” 195 80

223 WR Gautier, MS
Gautier High School 5’11” 180 80

224 CB Indianapolis, IN
Ben Davis High School 6’0” 170 80

225 WR Wayne, NJ
DePaul Catholic High School 6’0” 185 80

226 OG Dyersburg, TN
Dyersburg High School 6’4” 320 80

227 ILB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’1” 220 80

228 WR Lafayette, LA
Acadiana High School 5’8” 170 80

229 TE-Y Derby, KS
Derby Senior High School 6’5” 225 80

230 S Miami, FL
Belen Jesuit Prep 6’1” 180 80

231 OLB Princeton, NJ
The Hun School Of Princeton 6’1” 215 80

232 DE Shawnee, KS
Mill Valley High School 6’3” 220 80

233 ATH Saint Louis, MO
Cardinal Ritter College Prep 6’0” 185 80

234 QB-PP Severn, MD
Archbishop Spalding High School 6’5” 205 80

235 DE Red Oak, TX
Red Oak High School 6’4” 235 80

236 CB Midwest City, OK
Carl Albert High School 6’2” 170 80

237 OLB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’1” 215 80

238 ILB Auburn, WA
Auburn-Riverside High School 6’0” 195 80

239 WR San Antonio, TX
Brandeis High School 6’1” 175 80

240 DE Wyncote, PA
Cheltenham High School 6’4” 230 80

241 RB The Woodlands, TX
The Woodlands High School 6’0” 185 80

242 OLB Jefferson, GA
Jefferson High School 6’3” 210 80

243 WR The Woodlands, TX
The Woodlands High School 6’0” 175 80

244 DT Overland Park, KS
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 6’6” 270 80

245 S Wellington, FL
Palm Beach Central High School 6’1” 190 80

246 OT Scottsdale, AZ
Saguaro High School 6’5” 255 79

247 WR Houston, TX
Andy Dekaney High School 6’0” 175 79

248 S Nashville, TN
David Lipscomb High School 6’3” 195 79

249 DT Palatine, IL
Palatine High School 6’6” 280 79

250 DE Chicago, IL
Simeon Career Academy 6’5” 250 79

251 S Spring, TX
Legacy The School of Sport Sciences 6’0” 180 79

252 WR Checotah, OK
Checotah High School 6’1” 185 79

253 DE Concord, CA
De La Salle High School 6’6” 250 79

254 RB North Richland Hills, TX
Richland High School 6’0” 200 79

255 TE-H Orange, CA
Orange Lutheran High School 6’6” 215 79

256 WR Columbia, MS
Columbia High School 6’1” 200 79

257 DE Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’3” 225 79

258 RB Tampa, FL
Jesuit High School 6’0” 190 79

259 CB Rabun Gap, GA
Rabun Gap Nacoochee School 6’2” 175 79

260 TE-H Clear Lake, IA
Clear Lake High School 6’5” 210 79

261 WR Pembroke Pines, FL
West Broward High School 6’3” 210 79

262 DT Melbourne, FL
Eau Gallie High School 6’2” 275 79

263 CB Chatsworth, CA
Sierra Canyon High School 5’11” 165 79

264 ATH Winston-Salem, NC
Mount Tabor High School 6’2” 175 79

265 RB Montvale, NJ
Saint Joseph Regional High School 6’0” 190 79

266 QB-DT Kernersville, NC
East Forsyth High School 6’3” 185 79

267 WR Pembroke Pines, FL
Somerset Academy 6’2” 190 79

268 ATH Hesperia, CA
Sultana High School 6’1” 180 79

269 DE Galveston, TX
Ball High School 6’4” 245 79

270 OT Riverview, FL
Jule F. Sumner High School 6’4” 260 79

271 TE-Y Milton, GA
Milton High School 6’5” 220 79

272 OLB Sanford, FL
Seminole High School 6’2” 195 79

273 DE HIghland Home, AL
Highland Home High School 6’4” 230 79

274 DT Chesterfield, VA
Matoaca High School 6’6” 260 79

275 ATH Lubbock, TX
Estacado High School 6’4” 210 79

276 DE Detroit, MI
Martin Luther King High School 6’5” 220 79

277 CB Atco, NJ
Winslow Township High School 5’11” 165 79

278 QB-PP San Juan Capistrano, CA
JSerra Catholic High School 6’1” 185 79

279 ATH Omaha, NE
Millard North High School 6’0” 190 79

280 WR Richmond, VA
Trinity Episcopal School 6’2” 180 79

281 OG Sanford, FL
Seminole High School 6’5” 285 79

282 RB Wynnewood, OK
Wynnewood High School 5’11” 190 79

283 ILB Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’1” 210 79

284 DE Indianapolis, IN
Warren Central High School 6’5” 235 79

285 QB-PP Downey, CA
Warren High School 6’3” 185 79

286 S East Saint Louis, IL
East St. Louis High School 6’2” 190 78

287 OT New Orleans, LA
Isidore Newman School 6’4” 275 78

288 RB Southlake, TX
Carroll High School 5’10” 180 78

289 QB-DT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 205 78

290 DT Cahokia, IL
Cahokia High School 6’2” 290 78

291 RB Greer, SC
Greer Senior High School 5’10” 180 78

292 OT Slinger, WI
Slinger High School 6’5” 305 78

293 DT Buford, GA
Buford High School 6’2” 280 78

294 ATH College Park, GA
Woodward Academy 5’11” 180 78

295 OLB San Juan Capistrano, CA
San Juan Hills High School 6’2” 225 78

296 WR Miami, FL
Dade Christian High School 6’1” 170 78

297 DE Los Angeles, CA
King Drew Medical Magnet High School 6’2” 220 78

298 RB Aliquippa, PA
Aliquippa High School 5’10” 190 78

299 ATH Germantown, TN
Germantown High School 5’10” 190 78

300 OLB Belleville, MI
Belleville High School 6’0” 205 78

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‘Just a top-shelf human being’: Teammates, opponents remember Ryne Sandberg

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'Just a top-shelf human being': Teammates, opponents remember Ryne Sandberg

Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg died on Monday at age 65. Sandberg, known for his power, speed and defensive prowess during his 16-year major league career, was the face of the Cubs during his 15 seasons with the franchise and a fan favorite throughout the sport.

Originally diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January of 2024, Sandberg was still around the Cubs as recently as spring training — and just as he did in his playing days, he made his presence felt with his signature combination of power and grace.

As the baseball world mourns the loss of an icon, those who knew Sandberg best shared their favorite stories about the Hall of Famer.


‘Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m.’

Sandberg was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Cubs in January 1982 after struggling during his first call-up in Philly. A legendarily hard worker, Sandberg was willing to do whatever it took to make sure his stay in Chicago would go differently.

Larry Bowa, who was dealt along with Sandberg in the trade for veteran infielder Ivan DeJesus, remembers the hours Sandberg put in as he transformed from a light-hitting rookie in Philadelphia to a budding superstar in Chicago.

“I think about how he handled himself when he first got called up. He struggled out of the gate. I watched this guy not let it affect him. It might have affected him on the inside, but the way he handled himself on the outside was great,” Bowa said.

“Ryno would be out there at 9 a.m. [Manager] Jim Frey would tell him [to] hit every ball over the tarp and into the seats down the left-field line in foul territory. Hit it with authority over that tarp. Ryno looked at him like he was crazy. ‘I want every ball with authority over that tarp,’ Frey kept telling him. He did it for a week straight. That’s how he learned how to pull the ball.”


‘Just ungodly consistent’

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How Ryne Sandberg will be remembered in Chicago

Jesse Rogers reflects on Ryne Sandberg’s career in Chicago after he died on Monday at the age of 65.

After his power stroke clicked, it didn’t take long for Sandberg to take his game to the highest level. He was named National League MVP in 1984 after hitting .314 with 19 home runs and 19 triples, stealing 32 bases and leading the Cubs to their first postseason appearance in 39 years.

Perhaps no one had a better view for Sandberg’s dominant campaign than his close friend, Cubs leadoff hitter Bobby Dernier. The two batted 1-2 in the Chicago lineup and earned the nickname “The Daily Double” as they combined to score 208 runs that season.

“Just ungodly consistent,” Dernier said of what made Sandberg so great. “And the style of game back then demanded a little bit of baserunning prowess and being capable of stealing bases and scoring a lot of runs. And so that was our style. He was tremendous.

“Pitchers were always paying a little more attention to me on the bases than him at the plate, and that was a big mistake and he’d take full advantage. He’d almost giggle about it, is what I remember in the dugout.”

Sandberg cemented his legacy during that season with a signature game against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 23, forever known in Chicago as “The Sandberg Game.” He hit two game-tying home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in the ninth and 10th innings before the Cubs won the game in the 11th — in front of a national TV audience.

“After he tied it up, I ended up hitting the ball off the wall, but if mine goes out, it’s probably never called the Sandberg game,” outfielder Gary Matthews said with a laugh. “He was great at everything that he did. I hit behind him and he was always on base.”


‘He had a perfect swing for his home ballpark’

Sandberg hit 282 career home runs during an era of baseball where second baseman weren’t known for that kind of power, but he was more than just a long ball threat. Six of those home runs — the second most off an opposing pitcher — were hit off Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who recalled one memorable afternoon for Sandberg.

“I gave up two home runs to him in a game and I had a [autograph] card show after the game and everyone in the world knew I gave up two home runs to Ryne Sandberg,” Smoltz said. “One was an inside-the-park home run. Those fans at the card show reminded me of that.

“He had a perfect swing for his home ballpark. He had a flatter swing that worked great for the angles at Wrigley Field, especially when the wind was blowing in.”

Sandberg was more than just an offensive threat; he also won nine consecutive Gold Glove awards during his time with the Cubs and posted a 123-game errorless streak.

“I used to tell Joe Morgan, ‘This guy doesn’t have to take a second seat to anybody on defense,'” Matthews said. “Morgan would say Ryne’s uniform was always clean. I said, ‘Well, you have to dive because you can’t get in front of it! Don’t get on him for perfecting the backhand.’ In the end Joe said, ‘You’re right.'”


‘He’s in a class by himself’

For all of his accomplishments on the field, the way Sandberg handled himself as a competitor and away from the game is what many who knew him best will remember about him.

“He’s an outstanding human being,” Bowa said. “That’s what I think of. Such a good family guy. His mental toughness is off the charts. Don’t let people deceive you by that little laugh he has all the time. He wanted to win as much as anybody. I’ve been around Pete Rose, and Ryno is right there.”

Smoltz added: “He’s in a class by himself. You would never know he was one of the greatest players ever, just by the way he carried himself and the ‘aw, shucks’ type attitude.

“I love competing against greatness that has integrity and character like Ryne Sandberg had. The way he carried himself, the way he was as a person is what I think about. It sure was nice to see him represent the sport and the city he played for.”

“Joy,” Dernier said. “That’s the first thing, and way so many more happiness types of stories. And it’s a grin on my face to think about him. And yeah, right now it’s melancholy that we know he’s gotten called up to the real big leagues. But I’m glad I knew him and I loved him being underestimated.”


‘Oh, man, I loved Ryno, but he’s lucky he was that good at baseball’

Of course, there were a few moments in Sandberg’s career where he wasn’t as gracious. In the Cubs clubhouse, teammates saw a different side of the Hall of Famer — a playful troublemaker and prankster.

“We had those chairs directors they use making movies, held together by sticks,” Matthews said. “Ryno would always take the sticks out, put the seat back in, and daily I’d fall to the ground. He’d be over there snickering or walking away.

“Or he would load your cigarette up and make it explode in a non-harmful way. Then when you figured it out, he would put two of those in the pack. He thought that was the funniest thing.”

Despite that kind of back-and-forth, Matthews and Sandberg often golfed together.

“I would ask for a few strokes,” Matthews said. “He would politely say, ‘no strokes, play better.’ He would hit some balls you couldn’t believe. Ball after ball. He would hit one and know it’s a good one but he’d ask, ‘Do you think that was any good?’ And just smile at me.

“Oh, man, I loved Ryno, but he’s lucky he was that good at baseball,” Matthews said with a laugh.

“He’d stir the pot and then walk away and look over his shoulder,” Bowa added. “He’d be cracking up after getting us going. He was so quiet outwardly with you guys [media], but not with us.”


‘He made such an impact on me ‘

After his playing days, Sandberg served as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015 before returning to Chicago, often putting on a uniform as a spring instructor and imparting the lessons from his Hall of Fame career to a new generation of Cubs.

“I just think it’s cool that he’s somebody that has kind of done everything in our sport but still doesn’t approach the game with any kind of ego,” current Chicago second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “He doesn’t talk like he has the answers to everything or the conversation is never about him.

“He’s kind of softspoken, but then if you got him going on something he really cared about, it’s really cool to hear him open up, whether it’s routines he had or how he took care of his body or just fun memories with teammates or playing at Wrigley.”

Shortstop Dansby Swanson added: “Just such a top-shelf human being. He made such an impact on me even in my short time of being able to be around him. Just an unbelievable human being and someone that I’m very, very grateful to have met and spent time with, whether it’s talking about life or talking about ball.”

It’s those attributes, the ones the baseball world got to see on the field and the ones only his teammates were able to witness, that were missed in retirement. But his attitude about life stands out for everyone.

“We talked about a lot of things, about defense and offense, but we talked about life, too,” rookie third baseman Matt Shaw said. “When he first came up, he struggled a little bit early on and he was like, ‘No matter what happens, you just got to keep believing in yourself and keep going.’ And I definitely take that to heart, and that’s something that I definitely think about a lot — is that belief to just to keep going.”

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Cubs Hall of Famer Sandberg dies at age 65

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Cubs Hall of Famer Sandberg dies at age 65

CHICAGO — Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs died Monday at age 65.

Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home, according to the team.

Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free.

But he posted on Instagram on Dec. 10 that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while “looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.”

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg “will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.”

“His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,” Ricketts said in the team’s statement.

The Cubs said they would wear a special jersey patch to commemorate Sandberg for the rest of the season.

Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft.

He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1-for-6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus.

It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.

Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and collected nine Gold Gloves.

“Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said. “He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.”

Even with Sandberg’s stellar play, the Cubs made only two postseason appearances in his time there.

He was the National League MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7-for-19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the NL Championship Series at Wrigley Field.

The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call “The Sandberg Game,” when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23.

The Cubs paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when they unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024.

“He was a superhero in this city,” Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations, said during a TV broadcast of the team’s game on July 20. “You think about [Michael] Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can’t imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.”

Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8-for-20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games.

Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season.

“When you examine the offense and defense, you’ll find some years where he was the best player you’ve ever seen in your life,” former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said.

Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in his third year on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same season.

“Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook,” Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark said. “With it, he inspired all those who knew him.”

Sandberg also managed the Phillies from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.

Sandberg is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children, Justin, Lindsey, Steven, BR and Adriane; and 11 grandchildren.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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D-backs 3B Suárez hit on hand, X-rays negative

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D-backs 3B Suárez hit on hand, X-rays negative

DETROIT — Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez hopes he avoided a major injury when he was hit on the right index finger by a pitch late in Monday night’s 5-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Suárez, who is a candidate to be traded to a contender, was struck by a 95.6 mph sinker from Will Vest in the ninth inning. Suárez immediately doubled over in pain and quickly left the field.

“The good news is that the X-rays were negative, but it still obviously hurt,” said Suárez, who was not bending the finger. “There are more tests scheduled for [Tuesday], and we will go from there. I’ll come back as quickly as I can.”

The 34-year-old infielder is hitting .248 with 36 homers and 87 RBIs in 104 games this season — the seventh time he has hit at least 30 homers across the past eight full campaigns.

“He’s very tough, and he never even winces,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “When he reacts like that, you know it isn’t good.”

Lovullo said he didn’t blame Vest.

“I don’t think there was any intent there,” Lovullo said. “He’s one of the most impressive hitters in MLB, and you don’t want to take those type of players off the field.”

The Diamondbacks are 51-56 and already have signaled they will be unloading players at the deadline. One of the teams believed to be interested in Suárez is the Tigers. The Venezuelan was signed by Detroit at age 17 and made his debut for the club in 2014, before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds after that season.

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