Cubs unveil Sandberg statue on ‘an awesome day’
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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer
CHICAGO — On the 40th anniversary of his most famous game, Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman, Ryne Sandberg, was immortalized outside Wrigley Field as the team unveiled a statue of his likeness in an afternoon ceremony on Sunday.
Sandberg, 64, was feted in front of friends and family as well as former teammates, while current Cubs looked on from the second level of the stadium concourse. Both his double play partners at shortstop — Larry Bowa and Shawon Dunston — were in attendance and spoke to the crowd which included legions of Cubs and Sandberg fans.
“This guy wanted to win more than anyone I played with,” Bowa said.
Sandberg was a 9-time gold glove winner, 10-time all-star and won the silver slugger award seven times as well. He hit 282 home runs at a time when second basemen didn’t possess a lot of power.
“I was an opposite field hitter my first two years,” Sandberg said after the ceremony. “(Manager) Jim Frey wanted me to turn on some fastballs on fastball counts. ‘If it doesn’t work you can go back to your way.’ I did it and learned how to cover the inside pitch and hit some home runs. It was instant results.”
Sandberg also had that rare combination of power and speed as he stole 344 bases over his 16 year career. The entirety of his game landed him in the Hall of Fame in 2005.
“All of us want to impact the game in every way,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said on Sunday. “I’ve always wanted to do that. He’s one that did that for his entire career which is incredible.”
There was some doubt that Sandberg would even be able to attend his own statue ceremony as between the time the team announced they were honoring him and Sunday’s unveiling, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. But just last month, he declared he was cancer free.
“This was a guarantee for me,” he said of attending. “I reverted back to my baseball days of having goals and my attitude of working towards something. That’s what I’ve done.”
The honor comes exactly 40 years after he hit two home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in the same game — one in the ninth inning and one in the tenth — helping secure his MVP award that season as well as the Cubs division title. Just two years earlier — as a rookie — Sandberg began his career 0 for 31, fearing he’d be sent back to the minors.
“I was in Triple-A just the year before,” Sandberg stated. “I knew how that went.”
He never did go back down as he dominated at the plate and in the field leading to the honor of a lifetime. His statue will forever stand next to Hall of Fame Cubs players Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Fergie Jenkins.
Sandberg was asked if the day lived up to his expectations.
“Can’t really say it’s what I thought,” he said with a smile. “It’s more than what I thought.
“What an awesome day. Incredible.”
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play against Mississippi State on Saturday, per sources, as the Longhorns staff is expected to sit him out in order for him to be fully healthy for the game against Oklahoma on Oct. 12.
A final decision on Ewers is expected later Saturday, per sources, but the decision is trending toward allowing him to use Texas’ week off following the Mississippi State game to get healthy. Ewers has been considered week-to-week since injuring his oblique against UTSA on Sept. 14.
Ewers finished the week at nearly 70%, as he practiced Tuesday, was limited Wednesday and ended up limited in practice Thursday to allow him to fully heal. Per sources, the Texas coaching staff wanted to give Ewers the extra rest to ensure he’d return at full strength.
The decision means that Texas will against start backup quarterback Arch Manning, who will make his first career start in an SEC game. Manning made his first start against Louisiana Monroe, completing 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Ewers’ oblique injury came in the wake of him displaying one of the season’s best performances at Michigan in Week 2, as he threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout Texas win in Ann Arbor.
Mississippi State enters the game on a three-game losing streak, which includes back-to-back blowout home losses to Toledo and Florida. The Bulldogs are trending toward finishing at the bottom of the SEC, as they have one of the country’s worst defenses. They are No. 111 nationally in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense.
Mississippi State will also be without its starting quarterback, as starter Blake Shapen is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury against Florida. Michael Van Buren, a true freshman, will make his first career start for the Bulldogs.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams is a “true game-time decision” for the No. 2 Bulldogs at No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night, according to ESPN sources.
Williams has missed the previous two games with a Grade 2 ankle sprain, which he suffered against Clemson in the opener. He’ll be evaluated in pregame warmups and a decision will be made on his status.
Williams has been limited in practice this week, and it’s expected that if he does play it’ll be at less than 100 percent. He’s also unlikely to play a heavy snap count if he does play, as he’s working his way back.
Williams is a marauding defensive end who is the best player in Georgia’s front seven and is a high-end NFL prospect. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked No. 4 overall player for the 2025 NFL draft.
Williams started the season hot before injuring his ankle against Clemson, as he had two tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures in that game.
They will be an onus on Georgia’s defensive line, especially on the ends, to help slow Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in Tuscaloosa.
Georgia’s defensive line will benefit from the return of senior Warren Brinson, who is listed as probable after missing the past two games. Sophomore defensive lineman Jordan Hall is questionable for the SEC showdown.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Utah quarterback Cam Rising, who has been snakebit by injuries the past two years, is again expected to be a game-time decision against Arizona on Saturday night, sources told ESPN.
Rising has missed No. 10 Utah’s past two games after an injury to his throwing hand that he suffered against Baylor on Sept. 7. He missed all of last season after an ACL tear in the Rose Bowl following the 2022 season.
Rising’s status will undergo the same evaluation process with the Utah staff as before the Oklahoma State game last week. He’ll throw the ball pregame, and his ability to deliver spin and velocity on the ball will determine whether he’ll play, per sources.
As Rising has struggled to recover and get back on the field, one factor that could weigh into the decision is the chance to get him back fully healthy in two weeks. Utah has a bye before they play at Arizona State on Oct. 11.
Rising has practiced this week but remained limited as the staff has attempted to rest his finger.
Freshman Isaac Wilson has started the past two weeks, leading the Utes to victories over Utah State in Logan and in Stillwater against the Cowboys.
Wilson has shown both moments of promise and interspersed those with moments that have illuminated his youth. He threw for 207 yards on 17-of-29 passing against Oklahoma State. He also threw two interceptions. He threw for three touchdowns and 239 yards against Utah State.
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