Note: Just before the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, the world lost a Cubs Ambassador and legendary baseball player. At that time, I published a Spotlight Column about Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg, and as a die-hard fan, I couldn’t miss his funeral. Even if it meant watching from home on a local news stream. Today’s piece is a summary of the eulogies from those closest to him.
Today was not a simple Friday in August, Chicago said its final farewell to a quiet legend. Ryne Dee Sandberg, the Hall of Fame second baseman who had so elegantly defined a generation of Chicago Cubs baseball, was laid to rest after his battle with cancer. The day was marked by a poignant duality: a private funeral mass for family and friends at Old St. Patrick’s Church, and a public, communal viewing at Gallagher Way, the bustling plaza adjacent to Wrigley Field. This tale of two tributes perfectly encapsulated Sandberg’s life — a man who was inherently private yet whose brilliance and dignity commanded an ineluctable public admiration.
At Gallagher Way, hundreds of fans, some having taken the day off from work, gathered under the summer sun, unified by their shared connection to “Ryno” just 13 months after his statue was unveiled to immortalize him. They weren’t there for a game, but to witness a livestream of a service they could not attend, a testament to the unshakeable bond between Sandberg and the city he had helped define for more than a decade. Attendees also viewed a selection of his personal memorabilia.
This was not merely a funeral; it was a profound cultural event for Chicago, highlighting Sandberg’s inherent reluctance for the spotlight which showed the sheer public outpouring of grief. His persona was built on humility and dignity, not showmanship. The family’s decision to broadcast the funeral was a final, graceful act that honored this paradox, allowing fans to participate in a deeply private moment and transforming his funeral into a final, communal acknowledgment of his greatness.
Bob Costas delivered a eulogy that framed Sandberg’s playing style as a direct reflection of his personal integrity. Costas noted that Sandberg made history without histrionics and changed the team’s cultural identity, transforming them from a beloved but perpetually struggling franchise into a cool and formidable one. Costas also recited a line from Sandberg’s 2005 Hall of Fame induction speech that served as a cornerstone of his philosophy: Make a great play, act like you’ve done it before. Get a base hit, look for the coach and get ready to run the bases. Hit a home run, put your head down, drop the bat and run around the bases. Because the name on the front is more important than the name on the back. That’s respect. At the end of his eulogy he mentioned last years statue unveiling saying, I looked behind me as I was introducing Ryne, and I saw, up on the catwalk overlooking Gallagher Way, the entire Cubs team — led out there by Craig Counsell in uniform — just looking on. A sign of true respect, a grace note. Just as Ryne, a man who made history without histrionics, would have wanted it.
Following Costas, Ryne’s longtime agent and friend, Jim Turner, offered a more personal and intimate tribute. Turner began telling a story about a phrase which he thought of in relation to Ryne’s battle with cancer, 2 3 Too Soon. He later shared a story about Ryne’s first at bat on April 1, 1996 when he had returned after retiring unexpectedly retiring nearly two years earlier. He also shared a story from 1998 when his errant golf shot from over 180 yards away struck Sandberg in the head. Sandberg insisted he was fine, only for Turner to notice a strange substance dripping down Ryne’s face at dinner later that night explaining that It turned out to be a combination of mascara and ink. Also calling it, a Margaret and Ryne production that caused the couple to burst out laughing. This moment of vintage Sandberg humor revealed a self-deprecating, fun-loving friend who wasn’t afraid to laugh at his own expense.
Turner closed out his eulogy by saying, Ryno, although you took some mighty swings and fought off the count, you ultimately couldn’t hit this curveball. As always, you competed with humility, dignity, and grace, and another game awaits you on your field of dreams. Harry, Yosh, Dallas, and Jim will be there to greet you on the other side of the corn, and you will be truly elated… He was the kindest, most gentle compassionate man I have ever known. I loved him and he will always be alive in me and everyone here today. 2, 3… too soon.
These two speeches revealed the full person: Costas, the broadcaster, spoke to the public-facing legend, while Turner, the agent and friend, spoke to the man behind the uniform.
The eulogies from Sandberg’s family further underscored this theme of a life dedicated to love and family.
His daughter, Lindsey Newton, shared a story about playing a competitive game of pickleball with her father within three months before he passed, even as he was undergoing cancer treatment. She recalled, It was a good day. Of course, you had to win, adding a few minutes later that, These last two years were precious, a testament to his fierce competitiveness and his enduring love for his family. She wrapped up a few minutes later, saying, But above all, thank you for just being my dad. I love you always and will miss you forever — your daughter, your heart, your Linds.
His son, Justin, delivered the most poignant farewell. He shared countless memories, including a humorous anecdote recalling how his father, when choosing a movie for his nine-year-old daughter, felt the selection of Rambo 1 and 2 was appropriate — and she loved them. This story humanized “Ryno”, showing his persona as a lighthearted father committed to his family’s happiness. The most moving part of the eulogy came at the end when Justin said, The stories from our adventures are endless, and for that I am forever grateful. I will miss having him. He told me, ‘When we laugh — when you laugh, just when we all laugh — I’ll be there laughing with you.’
This narrative of Sandberg’s life is not a simple rise-and-fall arc; it’s a more complex hero’s journey. Having gone public with his battle with metastatic prostate cancer, the ordeal gave him a renewed perspective. He told an adoring crowd at his statue dedication, My thoughts today are instead about love, life, family and friends. The eulogies given at his funeral serve as statements of his final perspective, demonstrating that his legacy is not just about baseball; it is a testament to the power of humility and the human capacity for grace, even in the face of death.
Closing note: For those who would like to watch all four eulogy speeches here is the video from the funeral Courtesy NBC5 Chicago, the video starts at the beginning of Bob Costas’ speech.
Rest In Peace, Ryne.
September 18, 1959 to July 28, 2025