Ryne Sandberg

Ryne Sandberg, born on September 18, 1959, is a celebrated former professional baseball player known for his exceptional skills as a second baseman. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 before making a significant impact with the Chicago Cubs from 1982 to 1994 and again in 1996 to 1997.

Sandberg's career took a remarkable turn on June 23, 1984, during a game that would later be dubbed the 'Sandberg Game.' In this standout performance, he hit two home runs, marking the beginning of his ascent as a perennial All-Star and a Gold Glove contender. Over his illustrious career, he earned ten consecutive All-Star selections and won nine consecutive Gold Gloves from 1983 to 1991.

With a career fielding percentage of .989, Sandberg set a major-league record for second basemen upon his retirement in 1997. He is also tied with Jose Altuve for the most Silver Slugger Awards for a second baseman, having received seven throughout his career. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport, Sandberg was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.

Following his playing days, Sandberg transitioned into coaching within the minor leagues for both the Cubs and Phillies organizations. He briefly served as a base coach for the Phillies before taking on the role of manager in the middle of the 2013 season, a position he held until his resignation in 2015.