When someone mentions the number 23 in Chicago, we instinctively think of Michael Jordan. But before Mike laced up his Nikes and took flight on the hardwood of the United Center, a young second baseman named Ryne Sandberg was making his name across town on the base paths of Wrigley Field.

Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Sandberg starred on both the baseball diamond and the football field. He committed to play quarterback at Washington State University before being drafted by Major League Baseball’s Philadelphia Phillies. He would later rescind his commitment to WSU to join the Phillies organization in 1978.

After climbing the ranks of the Phillies’ minor league system, Sandberg made his major league debut in 1981. After playing sparingly in 13 games, the Phillies traded him to the Chicago Cubs, where he was given a chance to play every day at third base. Despite having never played third before, he had an impressive rookie season and finished sixth in the Rookie of the Year voting. 

In 1982, Sandberg was on the move again, but this time to the opposite side of the diamond, second base. Sandberg flourished at second and would win his first of nine consecutive (1983-1991) Gold Glove Awards, becoming the third National League player to win the award in their first year at a new position.

The Sandberg Game

Sandberg had shown flashes of greatness in his first two years in the “Windy City,” but he had only begun to scratch the surface of stardom. Reliable at the plate, he was not known for his power, but on June 23, 1984, he would blast two late-game home runs against the St. Louis Cardinals in an 11-inning nail-biter in Wrigley. The Cubs would win the game 12-11. This game was the catalyst for the player he would become. He made his first All-Star team, a feat he would accomplish for the next ten seasons.

“Ryno” finished the season batting .314 with 200 hits, 19 home runs, scored 114 runs, and had 84 runs batted in on his way to winning the National League Most Valuable Player award. He was the first Cub to win this honor since Ernie Banks won in 1958 and 1959, and the first second baseman since Joe Morgan in 1976. 

The 1985 season marked another milestone in Sandberg’s career. He showcased his speed by nabbing a career-high 54 stolen bases, in addition to slamming 26 home runs. With his 26 homers and 54 Steals, he became the fourth player in MLB history to join the 20/50 Club and the first National League player to record this honor. 

In 1990, Sandberg fielded 123 straight games without scoring an error. He would also display his power at the plate, leading the National League with 40 home runs. He would play in the midseason classic, the MLB All-Star Game, hosted by his Chicago Cubs. He would put on a show for his hometown crowd by becoming the first person to win the Home Run Derby in their home stadium.

In the spring of 1992, the Cubs signed Sandberg to a four-year contract extension worth $28.4 million, becoming the highest-paid player in baseball. Sandberg had his worst statistical season in 1994, batting a career low, .238, notching only 53 hits through 57 games. He hung up his cleats on June 13, 1994, and announced his retirement from the game he loves.

After a season-and-a-half hiatus from baseball, Sandberg rejoined the Cubs for the 1996 and 1997 seasons. He played his final game at Wrigley and recorded his final hit on September 21, 1997. His storied playing career ends with a .285 batting average and 277 home runs. 

Post Playing Career

In his third year of eligibility, Sandberg was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. Later that year, on August 28th, his number 23 was retired by the Cubs, joining Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo. With his playing career behind him, Sandberg never really left baseball. He eventually transitioned into coaching and, after seven years coaching in the minors, mostly in the Cubs organization, he won the Pacific Coast League’s Manager of the Year award in 2010.

After being turned down for the vacant Cubs manager position, Sandberg left to coach the Phillies’ minor league team, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, leading them to the International League championship series. In 2012, he was promoted to third base coach for the Phillies. Midway through the 2013 season, he became the manager of the Phillies. The team would finish 4th and 5th in their division over the next two seasons, before stepping down before the 2015 All-Star break. 

After he departed from the Phillies, Sandberg accepted a role with the Cubs as a goodwill ambassador, making public appearances and meet-and-greets with fans. He would also join local television broadcasts as a color commentator. 

Due to his numerous charitable contributions in the Chicago area, Sandberg was awarded the Order of Lincoln award by the governor of Illinois in 2017. Last year, a bronze statue was erected in his honor outside Wrigley Field, allowing fans to pay homage to Chicago’s other number 23.

Health Issues

In January 2024, Sandberg announced that he had prostate cancer. After enduring months of intensive treatments, he announced that he was cancer-free in August. Unfortunately, by December, the cancer had returned and spread throughout his body. On July 28th, 2025, Sandberg succumbed to the illness at the age of 65.

To fans, Sandberg will always be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time. He is a Chicago icon. He is in the top five all-time in games, hits, home runs, doubles, stolen bases, runs, extra-base hits, and total bases. He gave Cubs fans something to cheer for, and besides Michael Jordan, Sandberg was the face of Chicago sports for the last 40-plus years. So, whenever you hear the number 23, don’t forget about the “Ryno.”