The Cubs lost a legend this season
On the first day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
An Anthony Rizzo retirement for the ages,
On the second day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A $2 scorecard
On the third day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Three Schwarbombs in the first All-Star Game Home Run Swing-Off
On the fourth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Four playoff wins
On the fifth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A five game winning streak
On the sixth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
A six (and a half) game lead
On the seventh day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Seven walk-off wins
On the eighth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Eight home runs on the Fourth of July
On the ninth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Nine incredible Dansby Swanson plays in the Postseason
On the tenth day of Cubsmas
My true love gave to me
Ten All Star selections for Ryne Sandberg
Nine incredible Dansby Swanson 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
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. He was 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. Honestly, we could probably do a whole 12 Days of Cubsmas just with Sandberg facts alone.
The outpouring of love in Chicagowas immediateand 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, which he defined in his induction speech in Cooperstown as showing up every day, doing the little things right and a recognition 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.
Category: General Sports
