Latest news with #HarryCaray
New York Times
29-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cubs icon, Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg dies at 65 years old
Ryne Sandberg, an iconic player for generations of Chicago Cubs fans and a distinguished member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, died Monday at the age of 65 from metastatic prostate cancer, the team announced. Sandberg passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, the Cubs shared. The loss will be felt deeply around Wrigley Field, where Sandberg's No. 23 jersey is retired and his image is immortalized with a statue outside the legendary ballpark. With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today. — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 29, 2025 Often called 'Ryno,' Sandberg turned himself into one of the best second basemen the game has ever seen. With an unassuming demeanor and a consistent work ethic, he earned seven Silver Sluggers and nine Gold Gloves. His all-around skills and steady production led to 10 consecutive All-Star selections, every season between 1984 and 1993. Advertisement In Chicago, a city obsessed with sports, Sandberg approached a level of superstardom that at the time placed him among luminaries such as Michael Jordan and Walter Payton. Though Sandberg was never part of the kind of dynasty that Jordan built for the Bulls, or a team as dominant as the '85 Bears surrounding Payton, Sandberg elevated the Wrigleyville experience to new heights. Sandberg became a face of the franchise as Harry Caray vividly described the scene for the WGN superstation and the organization installed lights for night games at Wrigley Field. That momentum helped transform the neighborhood and preserve the classic ballpark, cementing it as a destination for both tourists and baseball aficionados. The spotlight found Sandberg, who preferred to do his job quietly and focus on the team rather than individual achievements. He carried the Cubs during his National League MVP campaign in 1984 and remained a constant during some lean years. The franchise's championship drought, which would last for more than a century, limited Sandberg to only two postseason appearances in 1984 and 1989. In those 10 playoff games combined, he batted .385 with a 1.098 OPS, showing the sense of calm and competitiveness that endeared him to longtime teammates. 'We know he's getting called up to the real big leagues,' said Bob Dernier, who with Sandberg once formed what Caray dubbed the 'Daily Double' at the top of Chicago's lineup. 'I love him like a brother.' Born and raised in Spokane, Washington, Sandberg developed into an outstanding multisport athlete. Recruited by several major college football programs, he signed a letter of intent to stay close to home and play quarterback at Washington State before choosing baseball as his professional pursuit. The Philadelphia Phillies selected Sandberg out of high school in the 20th round of the 1978 draft. He rose steadily through Philadelphia's farm system, but he didn't do much as a September call-up in 1981. Dallas Green, the ex-Phillies manager hired by Tribune Co. to run the Cubs' front office, saw an opportunity. Advertisement Green, a World Series-winning manager in Philadelphia, insisted that Sandberg be included in the Iván de Jesús-for-Larry Bowa trade. That deal went down in January 1982, changing the trajectory of a franchise that would watch Sandberg put up nearly all of his career statistics in a Cubs uniform. That impressive body of work — 2,386 hits, 282 home runs, a .285 career batting average, seven seasons with at least 100 runs scored, 12 seasons with double-digit stolen bases — made Sandberg part of the Hall of Fame's 2005 class. 'If I had ever allowed myself to think this was possible, if I had ever taken one day in pro ball for granted, I'm sure I would not be here today,' Sandberg said during his Cooperstown induction speech. 'The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played. I don't know about that, but I do know this: I had too much respect for the game to play it any other way. 'I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager — and never, ever your uniform. Make a great play, act like you've done it before. Get a big hit, look for the third-base coach and get ready to run the bases. Hit a home run, put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases. Because the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back.' Sandberg's speech resonated so much that the Hall of Fame chairman, Jane Forbes Clark, quoted it during this summer's induction ceremony, when word of his condition had already begun to spread within the baseball community. 'There is not a man seated behind me this afternoon who didn't play the game the same way Ryno did,' Clark said July 27. 'It is that respect, character, sportsmanship, integrity and excellence that leads to just 1 percent of those who have ever played Major League Baseball to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.' Advertisement That attitude fueled Sandberg's desire to become a major-league manager and help shape the next generation of players. When Cubs officials did not immediately embrace this idea, he made an unheard-of career move. He began managing the club's Class-A Peoria affiliate in 2007, climbing the ladder to Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa over the next three years. Sensing the next opportunity would not come in Chicago, Sandberg made the lateral move to manage Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate in 2011. By 2013, the Phillies had installed him as a third-base coach and then the interim manager. His understated style as a player and an instructor in the minors did not translate well in Philadelphia. That rocky tenure ended when he resigned in the middle of the 2015 season with an overall 119-159 record. That timing pulled Sandberg back into the Cubs' orbit as a team determined to make history marched toward the 2016 World Series. Being around that epic celebration mattered to Sandberg and other former players who envisioned what it would be like when the Cubs finally won it all. A devoted grandfather, Sandberg maintained a home on Chicago's suburban North Shore, so that he could stay close to family and be a regular presence at Wrigley Field as an ambassador for the Cubs. He disclosed publicly in January 2024 that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. That reveal coincided with the team's statue plans and the 40th anniversary of 'The Sandberg Game.' Those moments on national TV catapulted Sandberg, who went 5-for-6 with two late home runs off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in a wild 12-11 comeback victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. That performance put him on the map. A post shared by Ryne Sandberg (@rynesandberg23) While guarded as a player, Sandberg opened up more during that cancer scare, sharing health updates on Instagram and welcoming the support. He had a different perspective than the second baseman with flip sunglasses and a pullover V-neck jersey, frozen in a defensive crouch. 'I've learned about the people in my life,' Sandberg said the day the Cubs unveiled his statue. 'From my family to my friends to my neighbors to my teammates to the Cubs fans, it's all about the relationships that I have with people. And there's a lot of them, so it's just a reflection on that. To see everybody here today, that's kind of what I'm talking about – how special it is. I've felt it.' Advertisement Sandberg's condition recently seemed to worsen. During the All-Star break in mid-July, his Instagram account shared an ominous message that thanked fans for their support. 'It's been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis,' Sandberg posted. 'While I am continuing to fight, I'm looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends. 'I haven't been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I'm watching every game and am excited for the second half and to see Wrigley rocking like 1984!' Cubs legends Jon Lester and Kerry Wood wore throwback Sandberg jerseys during that first series out of the All-Star break. Lester and Wood were part of the festivities for a marquee series featuring the Boston Red Sox at the Friendly Confines. During the July 20 game against the Red Sox, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer joined the Marquee Sports Network broadcast. Sitting in the TV booth at Wrigley Field's highest level, Hoyer looked out at the picturesque scene and gave a shout-out to Sandberg. The energetic crowd of 40,433, the modern trappings of a classically renovated ballpark and the parties on rooftop buildings don't just automatically happen. 'I know Ryno watches our games,' Hoyer said. 'On behalf of everyone, I just want to say a really heartfelt thank you. This atmosphere is so incredible right now. You look out on all these people and all this excitement. I think the '84 Cubs and Ryne Sandberg started all of that. Day baseball, WGN and Ryne Sandberg. That's how this fervor got going. That's how this national fan base got going. He was a superhero in this city. 'I can't imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did. All of us just owe him a debt of gratitude for creating this, and creating all those memories.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alex Cooper Savagely Booed At Wrigley Field For Desecrating Long Tradition
Alex Cooper has millions of fans of her 'Call Her Daddy' podcast ― and it sounded like none of them were at Chicago's Wrigley Field on Sunday when she performed 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame.' She was booed. Lustily. Savagely. Brutally. Pick your adverb. It was bad. 'You've never seen something like this before,' Cooper said. And she might have been right. Click to watch it right here. It probably didn't help that at first she appeared to attempt a bad impression of late and beloved Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray, who was famous for leading the Wrigley faithful in the 'Take Me Out' chant during the seventh inning stretch. Cooper's sorta backup dancers and giggle-pocked delivery were perhaps errors as well. Hey, at least she has more subject matter for her next show. And her heavily despised take didn't hurt the home team's performance. The Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-0. Please note the ESPN-televised version, which you can watch below, isn't as boo-heavy because the sound is focused on her singing. If that's what you want to call it. Alex Cooper Drops Bombshell Claim That Makes Tribeca Festival Audience Gasp Youth Baseball Coaches Caught On Video Apparently Running Naked In Front Of Kids Orioles Minor League Baseball Player Dies At 19
Chicago Tribune
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Chalk up another ‘L' for Chicago Cubs with a brutal 7th-inning stretch performance
It's a rare occasion when fans of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals agree on anything. But the longtime rival fan bases found some common ground Sunday night at Wrigley Field when almost everyone in the crowd of 40,319 booed the performance of seventh-inning stretch singer Alex Cooper, a prominent podcaster. Cooper's attempt at a humorous rendition of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' — singing it in an exaggerated, off-key manner — immediately fell flat, and the booing began almost instantly and picked up as she continued. Cooper was accompanied by two other women who performed some choreographed moves and lifted her up at the end of the performance, as Cubs Hall of Fame radio broadcaster Pat Hughes braced himself in case she fell on him. Because the game was televised on ESPN, viewers weren't treated to the stretch performance, which Marquee Sports Network always televises. The video of Cooper's performance quickly went viral on social media, leading to even more criticism of Cooper and the usual debate over whether the Cubs should just retire the 'celebrity performer' routine, which began as a tribute to Harry Caray after the legendary Cubs broadcaster died in 1998. Over the years the growing celebrity deficit in America has led to the proliferation of TikTok stars, podcasters and social media influencers as modern-day celebs. And that has led the Cubs to invite more people like Cooper, who is popular with her legion of followers but doesn't have the same mass appeal with Cubs fans — or, apparently, Cardinals fans. Earlier this year the Cubs invited podcaster/comedian Theo Von, who similarly used a weird voice while singing in an apparent attempt at being funny. The 'D-list' movie and TV stars who once dominated the list of stretch singers at Wrigley typically weren't booed for being bad singers. Cooper's performance Monday was being compared to the worst ever at Wrigley, a list that includes Mike Ditka, Ozzy Osbourne and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, though many fans enjoyed Ditka's rushed performance and Osbourne's obliviousness. The Cubs have been sensitive to criticism of their definition of 'celebrity.' Before the 2013 season they said they would try to upgrade the guest list. 'I do think we want to get A-listers,' a Cubs spokesperson said at the time. 'So if there is a celebrity in a movie … 'But we want them to understand what they're coming to do — not just come into the broadcast booth and to (promote something). They should know something about the Cubs. They should know the background of Harry Caray and what we're doing.' The Cubs eventually stopped letting the guests stay in the TV booth to talk about themselves after it became apparent many had no interest in the Cubs or baseball in general. When Caray died during spring training in 1998, it stirred much debate over how the Cubs should handle the stretch. Pitcher Kevin Foster said at the time: 'Everybody should just keep singing the song with the organ playing and without any tape. I don't think it should be stopped. We should keep the legacy going for Harry.' The Cubs decided to continue the stretch with guest performers. Shortly after Caray's funeral, they asked his widow, Dutchie Caray, what she thought of the idea. 'I said, 'Whatever,'' she told the Tribune. Dutchie was the first performer to replace her husband on an emotional day at the '98 opener. Caray's close friend Pete Vonachen followed, and an invitation to pay tribute to Harry quickly became a hot ticket. Former Cubs marketing boss John McDonough promised at the start of the '98 season the stretch singer would 'not be used as a forum to hype (WGN) programming,' which then included the WB Network and its newscasts. But that edict eventually was ignored as the stretch became a prominent part of Cubs telecasts and more celebrities wanted to be a part of it. Marquee, which the Cubs own, now televises the games and sometimes turns to its stable of reporters, analysts and studio hosts to perform during the stretch, along with personalities from WSCR-AM 670, the team's flagship radio station. The Cubs seemingly would rather promote team-approved employees than someone like popular former broadcaster Steve Stone, the White Sox analyst who has never been invited to perform at Wrigley since leaving the WGN-TV booth after the acrimonious 2004 season. Many performers have done it multiple times. Vin Scully, the late Hall of Fame broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was an early guest of the Cubs but turned down a second invitation to perform. 'I did it once for Harry,' Scully explained to me. 'If I did it twice, it would be doing it for me, and that wouldn't be right.' What a quaint notion: doing the stretch as a tribute to Caray instead of doing it to promote your brand. Twenty-seven years after Caray's death, you wonder if some of the recent stretch singers even knew who he was. Cooper likely will receive more publicity whenever she discusses the booing on her podcast, and the moment will be considered a big success. And the Cubs will continue to give the new-age celebrities with no connection to the team a chance to promote their brand. Oh, well. As Dutchie Caray might say, 'Whatever.'
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Alex Cooper Savagely Booed At Wrigley Field For Desecrating Long Tradition
Alex Cooper has millions of fans of her 'Call Her Daddy' podcast ― and it sounded like none of them were at Chicago's Wrigley Field on Sunday when she performed 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame.' She was booed. Lustily. Savagely. Brutally. Pick your adverb. It was bad. 'You've never seen something like this before,' Cooper said. And she might have been right. Click to watch it right here. It probably didn't help that at first she appeared to attempt a bad impression of late and beloved Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray, who was famous for leading the Wrigley faithful in the 'Take Me Out' chant during the seventh inning stretch. Cooper's sorta backup dancers and giggle-pocked delivery were perhaps errors as well. Hey, at least she has more subject matter for her next show. And her heavily despised take didn't hurt the home team's performance. The Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 11-0. Please note the ESPN-televised version, which you can watch below, isn't as boo-heavy because the sound is focused on her singing. If that's what you want to call it. .@alexandracooper brought the energy for Sunday Night Baseball 😂 📺 Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN — espnW (@espnW) July 7, 2025 Alex Cooper Drops Bombshell Claim That Makes Tribeca Festival Audience Gasp Youth Baseball Coaches Caught On Video Apparently Running Naked In Front Of Kids Orioles Minor League Baseball Player Dies At 19
Washington Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
6 Catholics and advocates on their hopes for Pope Leo XIV
It will take time to get used to the idea of the leader of the Catholic Church having grown up on Chicago's South Side. A pope who grew up with deep dish, with Harry Caray broadcasting White Sox games on the radio? The mind boggles. But Leo XIV's biography — he is the first American-born pope and has deep roots in his adopted home of Peru — might help him smooth some of the church waters roiled during Francis's pontificate. When the late Holy Father would offer off-the-cuff remarks during in-flight news conferences, he often gave conservative Catholics headaches, even if his changes to church practice ended up more limited than progressive factions wanted.
