Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg reveals his cancer has returned, spread
CHICAGO - Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg provided an update on his battle against cancer Tuesday morning.
The 65-year-old Hall of Famer broke the news on social media.
"To my Chicago Cubs, National Baseball Hall of Fame, the city of Chicago, and all my loyal fans, I want to share an update on my prostate cancer. Unfortunately we recently learned the cancer has relapsed, and it has spread to other organs. This means that I’m back to more intensive treatment. We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family," Sandberg wrote on Instagram.
Sandberg announced in January that he had metastatic prostate cancer and in August said he was cancer-free after chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Cubs owner Tom Ricketts released the following statement Tuesday after Sandberg announced he was in remission:
"Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere. I know all Cubs fans join my family and me in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces this next round of treatments to defeat cancer. Ryne has the heart and soul of a champion and that will serve him well in this challenge."
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1,061 RBIs and 344 steals in 16 seasons in the majors. He made his big league debut with Philadelphia in 1981 and appeared in 13 games with the Phillies before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs in January 1982.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 12: Former Major League Baseball player and manager Ryne Sandberg is introduced prior to throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for game three of the National League Division Series between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Ca
Sandberg turned into one of the majors’ best all-around performers with the Cubs. He made 10 All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves. He also was the NL MVP in 1984.
He was inducted into Cooperstown in 2005. In June, the Cubs unveiled a statue of Sandberg outside Wrigley Field in a ceremony emceed by Bob Costas, 40 years to the day he hit a pair of late homers in a nationally televised win over St. Louis. The statue depicting him crouched and waiting for a grounder is next to bronze tributes to fellow Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ernie Banks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.