Latest news with #Spokane
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Baseball legend dies at 65 after battling cancer
Ryne Sandberg, the esteemed Hall of Fame second baseman and beloved Chicago Cubs star, has died at the age of 65. The baseball legend passed away at his home on Monday, surrounded by his family, the team confirmed. Sandberg was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January 2024. Following chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he announced in August 2024 that he was cancer-free. However, in an Instagram post on 10 December, he revealed the cancer had returned and spread to other organs. In July, he shared a message of resilience, stating he was still fighting and "looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends." Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said Sandberg 'will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.' 'His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career," Ricketts said in the team's statement. Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus. It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history. Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams — winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 — and took home nine Gold Gloves. 'Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.' Even with Sandberg's stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago. He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field. The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call 'The Sandberg Game,' when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on June 23. Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024. 'He was a superhero in this city,' Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team's game on July 20. 'You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can't imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.' Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games. Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season. 'When you examine the offense and defense, you'll find some years where he was the best player you've ever seen in your life,' former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said. Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No. 23 that same year. 'Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook," Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark said. 'With it, he inspired all those who knew him.' Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Shelby Lambdin appointed to four-month stint on Spokane City Council
Jul. 28—Shelby Lambdin was appointed to a four-month stint on the Spokane City Council Monday, filling a seat representing south Spokane vacated by former Councilwoman Lili Navarrete, who was herself appointed to the seat in early 2024 and resigned effective July 1 citing health concerns. Lambdin is the population health director at the Community Health Association of Spokane, more commonly known as CHAS Health. She was appointed with a 4-2 vote; Councilmen Jonathan Bingle and Michael Cathcart opposed her appointment. Though voters will have an opportunity in November to choose a successor for a full four-year term — Kate Telis and Alejandro Barrientos are currently vying for the seat — the City Council is responsible for appointing a temporary replacement when a seat is vacated early. Bingle and Cathcart had advocated to appoint Ryan Oelrich, who served on the City Council during a roughly two-month stint in 2023, arguing that the experience would make it easier for Oelrich to hit the ground running as the council prepares to balance the city's budget in the coming months. Ahead of the vote, Councilman Paul Dillon thanked the applicants for the position but said he and Council President Betsy Wilkerson had wanted to bring on a new voice to the council. Lambdin has no political, elected or government experience. During her public interview, Lambdin argued her experience in public health would bring expertise to the council on addressing relevant issues. She advocated for reducing the city's costs by using technology and artificial intelligence to replace personnel and streamline operations. Lambdin also argued in favor of programs to make the city's outdoor recreation more accessible to marginalized communities and for advancing the council's work on making various services available in other languages. Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Cubs hall of famer Ryne Sandberg dies at age 65
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball's best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65. Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday, according to the team. Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free. But he posted on Instagram on 10 December that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while 'looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.' Cubs chair Tom Ricketts said Sandberg 'will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.' 'His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,' Ricketts said in the team's statement. Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus. It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history. Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams – winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 – and took home nine Gold Gloves. 'Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,' MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.' Even with Sandberg's stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago. He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field. The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call 'The Sandberg Game,' when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on 23 June. Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024. 'He was a superhero in this city,' Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team's game on 20 July. 'You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can't imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.' Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games. Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season. 'When you examine the offense and defense, you'll find some years where he was the best player you've ever seen in your life,' former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said. Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No 23 that same year. 'Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook,' Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark said. 'With it, he inspired all those who knew him.' Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs Second Base Legend, Dies at 65
Ryne Sandberg has died. The baseball Hall of Famer, who spent most of his career with the Chicago Cubs playing second base, was 65. He later managed the Philadelphia Phillies. Sandberg died on Monday, July 28, the Cubs and Major League Baseball announced. "Ryne Sandberg was a hero to a generation of Chicago Cubs fans and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise,' Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement on behalf of the Cubs and Sandberg's family. 'His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career." "He was immensely proud of his teammates and his role as a global ambassador of the game of baseball, but most of all, he was proud of Margaret, his children and his role as husband, father and grandfather," Ricketts continued. Sandberg was born in Spokane, Wash., in 1959. He was named after Yankees relief pitcher Ryne Duren; his older brother Del was also named after a baseball player. Del was also Sandberg's first coach. "It was kind of hard when he got a girlfriend in high school," Sandberg told PEOPLE in 1984. "I always would get mad because he would go out on a date and I wanted to play ball." Sandberg was all-state in baseball and basketball at North Central High School and was all-American as a high school quarterback, with multiple offers from colleges. He opted not to attend college and stick with baseball after being drafted by the Phillies. "Football, I thought, would be a tough sport to make a living in," he said in 1984. "There is no minor league. You either make it to the NFL or you don't." He made his MLB debut in 1981, as a shortstop, but the organization decided he wasn't a good fit and traded him to the Cubs (who had hired the Phillies' previous general manager who had drafted Sandberg) for the 1982 season. The Cubs initially wanted him to play in the outfield but eventually moved him to second base, where he shined. He won a Gold Glove (the league's top defensive honor) in 1983. Sandberg broke out in the 1984 season. He batted .314 and led the National League in runs and triples. In one game — dubbed the Sandberg Game — he hit two home runs to propel the Cubs to a 12-11 victory over the rival St. Louis Cardinals. His manager, Jim Frey, told PEOPLE that year, "I think he is probably in the top four or five in baseball right now in all-round ability." Sandberg helped lead the team to the National League's Eastern Division title, which was their first championship of any kind since 1945, though they lost the National League Championship Series. He was also named League MVP. But for all his skill, Sandberg was soft-spoken and didn't love the spotlight. His team nickname was 'Gabby' because of how quiet he was. He told PEOPLE that when he joined the team, "I was a little scared and I didn't talk at all." Of the passionate Cubs fans, he said, "They really know the game. They boo and cheer when they are supposed to." Sandberg was ultimately a nine-time Gold Glove winner, a 10-time All-Star and a seven-time Silver Slugger (the award for best offensive skill in a position). In 1990, he led the National League in home runs. In 1990, PEOPLE named him one of the world's 50 most beautiful people. In 1994, Sandberg struggled and announced his retirement mid-season. ''I am not the type of person who can be satisfied with anything less than my very best effort and my very top performance,' he said. But he returned to the Cubs for two more seasons, in 1996 and 1997. He ultimately retired with a .285 career batting average and 277 home runs, a record for a second baseman at the time. Sandberg's final home game at the Cubs' Wrigley Field was also the final home game for the team's legendary announcer Harry Caray, who died that winter. Sandberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. Shortly after, the Cubs retired his number, making him the team's fourth player to receive that honor. The Cubs unveiled a statue in his honor in 2024. In 2007, Sandberg began working as a manager in the Cubs' minor-league system. After he was not selected to manage the major-league club, he became a manager for the Phillies' minor-league teams. In 2012, he was promoted to the third-base coach of the major-league team, and when their manager was fired during the 2013 season, he became the manager. He ultimately resigned in the middle of the 2015 season. Sandberg was married to his first wife, Cindy, from 1979 to July 1995, when they divorced. They shared children Justin and Lindsey. In August 1995, he married his second wife, Margaret, and became step-father to her three children, BR, Adriane and Steven. Like many Cubs fans, Sandberg was desperate for them to win the World Series, which they hadn't done since 1908. 'I think the Cubs fans are wearing thin on the 'Lovable Losers' title. … I think it'd be the biggest party ever for a winning team, and the party would be all over the world,' he said in a 2011 interview. The Cubs finally won in 2016. That year, Sandberg had rejoined the team as an ambassador, and he also received a World Series ring. In January 2024, Sandberg announced he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer. In May, he declared he was cancer-free. In December, he shared news that the cancer had recurred and he was receiving treatment again. 'We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this,' he wrote on Instagram at the time. Sandberg is survived by his wife and children. Read the original article on People
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Cubs hall of famer Ryne Sandberg dies at age 65
Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball's best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65. Sandberg was surrounded by his family when he died at his home on Monday, according to the team. Sandberg announced in January 2024 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. He had chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and then said in August 2024 that he was cancer-free. But he posted on Instagram on 10 December that his cancer had returned and spread to other organs. He announced this month that he was still fighting, while 'looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.' Cubs chair Tom Ricketts said Sandberg 'will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in nearly 150 years of this historic franchise.' 'His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career,' Ricketts said in the team's statement. Sandberg was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. He was selected out of high school by Philadelphia in the 20th round of the 1978 amateur draft. He made his major league debut in 1981 and went 1 for 6 in 13 games with the Phillies. In January 1982, he was traded to Chicago along with Larry Bowa for veteran infielder Ivan De Jesus. It turned into one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history. Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 15 years with Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams – winning the Home Run Derby in 1990 – and took home nine Gold Gloves. 'Ryne Sandberg was a legend of the Chicago Cubs franchise and a beloved figure throughout Major League Baseball,' MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said. 'He was a five-tool player who excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed and work ethic.' Even with Sandberg's stellar play, the Cubs made just two postseason appearances while he was in Chicago. He was the NL MVP in 1984, batting .314 with 19 homers, 84 RBIs, 32 steals, 19 triples and 114 runs scored. Chicago won the NL East and Sandberg hit .368 (7 for 19) in the playoffs, but the Cubs were eliminated by San Diego after winning the first two games of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field. The 1984 season featured what Cubs fans still call 'The Sandberg Game,' when he homered twice and drove in seven runs in a 12-11 victory over St. Louis in 11 innings on 23 June. Chicago paid tribute to Sandberg and that game when it unveiled a statue of the infielder outside Wrigley Field on that date in 2024. 'He was a superhero in this city,' Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during a TV broadcast of the team's game on 20 July. 'You think about (Michael) Jordan, Walter Payton and Ryne Sandberg all here at the same time, and I can't imagine a person handling their fame better, their responsibility for a city better than he did.' Sandberg led Chicago back to the playoffs in 1989, hitting .290 with 30 homers as the Cubs won the NL East. He batted .400 (8 for 20) in the NLCS, but Chicago lost to San Francisco in five games. Sandberg set a career high with an NL-best 40 homers in 1990 and drove in a career-best 100 runs in 1990 and 1991, but he never made it back to the postseason. He retired after the 1997 season. 'When you examine the offense and defense, you'll find some years where he was the best player you've ever seen in your life,' former Cubs first baseman Mark Grace said. Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, receiving 76.2% of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in his third try on the ballot. The Cubs retired his No 23 that same year. 'Ryne Sandberg had a relentless work ethic and an unshakable positive outlook,' Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark said. 'With it, he inspired all those who knew him.' Sandberg also managed Philadelphia from August 2013 to June 2015, going 119-159. He got the interim job when Charlie Manuel was fired, and he resigned with the Phillies in the middle of a difficult 2015 season.
