Longtime Chicago Cubs star and Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg died Monday, the team announced. He was 65.

Thousands gather in Rosemont for the National Sports Collectors Convention, with over 600 vendors showcasing rare cards and memorabilia. Fans and dealers reflect on the passing of Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg, a beloved fixture at past conventions.

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died. He was 65.

Like so many stars before him and after, Ryne Sandberg’s connection with Philadelphia is a tale of what might have been, both as a player and as a manager. In 1982, former Phillies manager Dallas Green was the Chicago Cubs’ general manager.

Green, who managed the Phillies to a World Series title in 1980, was the Cubs general manager on Jan. 27, 1982, when he traded shortstop Ivan de Jesus to Philadelphia for shortstop Larry Bowa and Sandberg, who played his first 13 games in the majors in ’81.

Arizona Republic columnist Bob McManaman revisits a conversation he had with Cubs star Ryne Sandberg in 1995. Sandberg died on July 28, 2025.

Ryne Sandberg, who died Monday, led the life of a quiet athlete who preferred to let his performance speak for itself. Every athlete can follow his lead.