Ryne Sandberg's Emotional Words to Wife Margaret Amid Cancer Diagnosis
Baseball legend Ryne Sandberg called his wife Margaret "my rock" after his cancer diagnosis and noted, "With her by my side, I can conquer anything!"
The former Chicago Cub died on July 28, the Cubs confirmed in a post on X. The Hall of Fame second baseman was only 65.
What was the cause of death? According to the Associated Press, Sandberg "had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer," a diagnosis that came in 2024.
That same year, Sandberg opened up about his loving and long-term marriage to his wife Margaret Sandberg, sharing a photo of his spouse.
"Happy Mothers Day to my wife Margaret and life partner! We will be celebrating 30 years together next year, the experiences, events, and memories are endless," he wrote.
"I wouldn’t have wanted to been with anyone else and she has made my life fun and has made me a better person and continues to do so," he added.
According to People, Margaret was Sandberg's second wife.
Sandberg "was married to his first wife, Cindy, from 1979 to July 1995, when they divorced," People reported, noting that Sandberg and Cindy had two kids together named Justin and Lindsey. He married Margaret in August 1995 and was a stepfather to her three kids, BR, Adriane and Steven, People reported.
Ryne Sandberg said his wife, Margaret, was his 'team captain' during his cancer battle
In the lengthy post, Sandberg described how his wife had helped him after the cancer diagnosis.
"These past 6 months have been a journey and test for both of us but she has taken complete control of my battle with cancer like a Team Captain and I’ve managed to be as comfortable as possible and do all the doctors have ordered because of her," he added.
"It has been a lot for her to take on but she has been the one I credit a lot for my successful winning of the battle! I love her more than ever! She is my Rock and with her by my side I can conquer anything! ???? Thank you for your support and prayers to both of us! ???? #godisgood," the post continued.
On July 16, Sandberg posted a health update. "I wanted to share an update regarding my health. It’s been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis," he wrote.
"While I am continuing to fight, I’m looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends. I haven’t been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I’m watching every game and am excited for the second half and to see Wrigley rocking like 1984!" he added, concluding the post, "Go Cubs!"
Ryne Sandberg's family released a statement after his death
Sandberg's family posted a statement to his Instagram page after his death.
"To Ryne’s Fans, Friends, and Baseball Family - It is with heavy hearts, we announce that Ryne passed away tonight in the comfort of his home," it reads.
"Ryne was surrounded by his loving wife Margaret, their children, and grandchildren. We thank you for all of the kind words, support, and love during this difficult time. Ryne will forever be in our hearts."
Ryne Sandberg, 1st Wife Cindy White Sandberg dealt with custody issues
A 1996 story in Sports Illustrated described a court hearing in which Sandberg's new wife, Margaret, and his first wife, Cindy, were in the same room together as the couple dealt with custody issues.
As a part of the divorce, "which became final on July 5, 1995, Ryne and Cindy agreed to remain in the same Phoenix neighborhood and entered into a 20-page 'parenting plan' that gave them equal time with their children, who alternate weeks in homes a short distance apart," that article reported.
He walked away from a multi-million dollar contract to spend more time with his kids, that story reported.
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