On the tenth day of Cubsmas, my true love gave to me a treasure trove of memories and accolades for the legendary Ryne Sandberg. Ten All-Star selections, nine incredible plays in the postseason, eight home runs on the Fourth of July, seven walk-off wins, a six and a half game lead, a five game winning streak, four playoff wins, three Schwarbombs in the first All-Star Game Home Run Swing-Off, a $2 scorecard, and an Anthony Rizzo retirement for the ages. But here's where it gets controversial... One of the saddest days of the 2025 season was July 28, when Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg passed away. Sandberg was a 10-time All-Star at the keystone, selected to represent the Cubs at the Midsummer Classic every year from his MVP campaign in 1984 until his final All-Star selection in 1993. He also won nine gold gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, and even won the weirdest home run derby ever, hitting three long balls with the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field in 1990. The outpouring of love in Chicago was immediate and beautiful. Fans made their way to the corner of Clark and Addison to pay their respects to a man who built a Hall of Fame career on respect, defined in his induction speech in Cooperstown as showing up every day, doing the little things right, and recognizing that 'the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back.' Sandberg's statue in Gallagher Way became a shrine of sorts to a player who defined an era of Cubs baseball in the 1980s and 90s. Cubs fans left flowers, batting helmets, and all sorts of Cubs memorabilia to pay tribute to a legend of the game. The one piece of Cubs history that caught my eye and made me choke up as I visited the statue day after day was this scorecard from the day that started it all, the game we all know of as The Sandberg Game. A game that happened 40 years to the day before the dedication of the statue itself. Rest easy, Ryno. Thank you for your elite work ethic, steady glove, and, above all, respect.
