Why was Ryne Sandberg called Ryno? Cubs Icon’s Nickname trends on X as fans pay tribute

Tributes are inundating X in the wake of the Phillies' 52nd manager, Ryne Sandberg, better known as Ryno's demise.

The Hall of Famer and Chicago Cubs legend succumbed to his lengthy struggle with cancer at the age of 65, Fox News reported. MLB confirmed his demise in a statement on social media, paired with a photo of him:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. The beloved Cubs second baseman was a five-tool model of consistency in the 1980s and early ‘90s, making 10 consecutive All-Star teams and winning 9 straight Gold Glove awards. With great sadness, we share that Ryne Sandberg has passed away today."

The Phillies Files Blog reported back in September 2013 that Ryne Sandberg was named after Ryne Duren, who played with the Kansas City Athletics, the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Angels, the Cincinnati Reds, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Washington Senators. He first got the nickname from the famous Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray, and it stuck.

“I was called Ryan for about 20 years. It was wrong,” Sandberg said per the outlet. “So Ryno worked.”

At the time, he was known as Sandy, so when Ryno came around, he was all too glad to adopt it:

“Kind of worked. Then went to Ryno, which I was happy with because it wasn’t Ryan,” he added.

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Ryne Sandberg's life and legacy explored as tributes come pouring in:

The executive chairman of the Chicago Cubs, Tom Ricketts, has also issued a statement mourning the loss of talent of the 2005 Hall of Famer:

"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," he said. "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."

The New York Post has reported that Ryne Sandberg was diagnosed with cancer in January 2024, though seven months in, he declared himself cancer-free. However, come December, he had relapsed and the cancer had metastasised to other parts of his body.

Jim Palmer, a heavyweight of the Orioles, took to X to acknowledge Ryno's passing:

“For all of us who love the game of baseball, we lost one of the best to ever play second base. Ryne Sandberg. #23. Tremendous player and all around great guy. RIP Ryne. You fought courageously,” he penned.

Frank Thomas, a fellow Chicago icon, referred to Sandberg as a “class act.”

“RIP Ryno! I just don’t know what to say about this,” Thomas wrote in his tribute. “Getting to know you and Margaret on our flights to Cooperstown was always amazing. You teasing me about being my wife’s favorite player ever. You were always a class act. You will be missed by my family and so many others!”

The MLB has reported that towards the end of his 16-year career, Sandberg held the record for home runs as a second baseman (277 of his 282 shots) in the MLB. He was also a 10-time All-Star with nine Gold Glove Awards and seven Silver Slugger trophies to his name, in addition to the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player Award.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement:

“Ryne remained active in the game he loved as an ambassador for the Cubs, a manager for the Phillies and in the Minor Leagues, and a frequent participant at the Hall of Fame. His many friends across the game were in his corner as he courageously fought cancer in recent years. We will continue to support the important work of Stand Up To Cancer in Ryne’s memory."

Fox News has reported that Ryne Sandberg made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies, which drafted him right out of high school in 1981. The following season, he was traded to the Cubs, though he would later return as manager of the Phillies for chunks of three seasons.

The New York Post has reported that a single rose had been placed on Sandberg's statue, located in Chicago, just outside Wrigley Field. The statue was reportedly unveiled in 2024, on the 40th anniversary of what is now lovingly known as “The Ryne Sandberg Game.”

In the 1984 match, Sandberg made headlines when he scored five hits, drove in seven runs, and also launched two home runs off Bruce Sutter.

“My life changed a lot in 1984,” he said during the unveiling last year, per MLB.

According to CBS News, he said back in 1984, following his match:

"This is something that might be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Besides being in shock right now, it was a lot of fun."

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