WATCH: Rick Sutcliffe honors his friend Ryne Sandberg |
Tony Crumpton
· · 1 day ago
1984 NL Cy Young award winner Rick Sutcliffe talks about the passing of his long time friend and teammate Ryne Sandberg, discussing his memories of driving to games together, interacting with fans and so much more.
Watch the video below:
Video summary/cliff notes:
(00:01–00:56) Sutcliffe’s reaction to Sandberg’s passing was relief—knowing that Sandberg was no longer in pain. He described how Rhino was confused and slept a lot in his final days, despite having fought hard to overcome his illness, even seeking treatment in Europe.
(01:14–02:10) Sandberg was completely committed to the game—“all in,” just like on the field. Sutcliffe praised Rhino's unmatched skills and compared his selfless mindset to that of Derek Jeter—focused only on wins, not personal stats.
(02:30–03:41) Sutcliffe reminisced about car rides, autograph sessions, and even random acts of kindness like stopping at little league games and lemonade stands. Rhino insisted they pull over to engage with kids, sign autographs, and even pitch to them.
(04:11–04:41) He likened Sandberg to a torchbearer for Cubs culture—passing the baton from himself to Grace, Sosa, Dempster, Rizzo, Bryant, and now to players like Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong.
(05:00–06:06) Sutcliffe reflected on iconic memories: Sandberg’s two-hit game in Sutcliffe’s debut, the Wrigley home opener shutout, and Rhino’s clutch performances—including a home run in the first night game at Wrigley (before rain canceled it!).
(07:00–07:56) Rhino’s legendary work ethic set the tone for everyone—he did all the little things daily, which inspired teammates. He even helped mentor Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner during spring training this year while battling cancer.
(08:19–08:56) Sutcliffe grew closer to Sandberg in his final 16 months—they prayed together, said “I love you,” and grew more vulnerable and faithful. Rhino leaned on Sutcliffe for encouragement and advice on staying positive and setting goals.
(09:20) Sutcliffe asked Sandberg to catch his first pitch on August 4th. Rhino, with classic dry humor, replied, “Are you going to bounce it?” 🥲 Sutcliffe hoped it would bring back memories for older Cubs fans of their iconic 1984 season.
