It’s official, Ryne Sandberg or “Ryan Sandburg” as some Chicago Cubs “fans” refer to him, is returning to the club in an official capacity. Sandberg will be re-introduced tomorrow night as the Cubs new community and sponsor “Ambassador” during the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Cubs Convention.
Ryne Sandberg assumes this post just seven months after resigning as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ryno was just a kite in the Philly hurricane, as the club has done a major house cleaning on all levels over these past few months. front office shakeup and roster purge. When he was a player, the Cubs acquired Ryne Sandberg from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Ivan DeJesus.
So it all comes full circle now, as #23 goes from the Phillies organization to the Cubs. He has no designs on being a part of the Cubs coaching staff, and/or trying to work his way towards managing the club.
“As we speak it’ll be nothing in uniform,” said Sandberg, who spent all or parts of the past three seasons as the Phillies’ manager (119-159).
“It’ll be off the field, and I’m very satisfied with that.”
Obviously, Sandberg has no qualms with the organization that didn’t give him a chance to manage at the big league level, despite his working his way through the farm system as a manager. So there you go- that is that.
Today’s news means that we must re-publish this rare, special photo from a few years ago.
It’s from when the greatest second baseman of all time visited Wrigley Field to manage the Peoria Chiefs in the 2008 “Road to Wrigley” game against the Kane County Cougars. Sandberg left this note for then Cubs manager Lou Piniella.
Two years later, Piniella suggested that Sandberg, then manager of the Cubs’ top minor-league affiliate the Iowa Cubs, should be in the mix to replace him when he retired after the 2010 season. However, the position was given to interim manager Mike Quade
As a bonus, here are some previously unpublished photos of Ryne Sandberg on the field that day.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. The website is also featured on News Now.
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