Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg shared the heartbreaking news on Tuesday, revealing via Instagram that his cancer has returned and spread to other organs, requiring more intensive treatment.
Sandberg, 65, was initially diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2023. After months of treatment, he announced in August 2024 that he was cancer-free. Tuesday’s update came as a shock to fans and supporters.
“Unfortunately, we recently learned the cancer has relapsed and it has spread to other organs,” Sandberg wrote in his statement. “This means that I’m back to more intensive treatment. We will continue to be positive, and strong, and fight to beat this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family.”
Sandberg is one of the most celebrated players in Cubs history. After being traded to Chicago from the Phillies in 1982, he spent 16 remarkable seasons with the team. Sandberg’s accolades include the 1984 National League MVP award when he hit .314 with 19 home runs, 19 triples, and 32 stolen bases. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, having hit 282 home runs—an extraordinary feat for a second baseman.
Following his announcement of being cancer-free last season, the Cubs honored Sandberg by unveiling a statue of him outside Wrigley Field. A constant figure around the team, Sandberg serves as an analyst and ambassador, maintaining a strong connection with the Cubs and their fanbase.
“Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere,” Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said in a statement. “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.”
As Sandberg confronts this renewed battle, the Cubs community and baseball fans across the nation rally behind him, inspired by his resilience and enduring legacy.
