Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg announced Tuesday that the prostate cancer he battled earlier this year has returned.
The Chicago Cubs legend wrote in an Instagram post that the cancer he thought had been eliminated by radiation had spread.
“Unfortunately, we recently learned that the cancer has returned and has spread to other organs,” he wrote on Tuesday. “This means I will be returning to more intensive treatment. We will continue to stay positive, strong, and continue to fight to overcome this situation. My thoughts are with me and my family. Thank you for your prayers.”
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Former Chicago Cubs player Ryne Sandberg waves before the team unveils a statue of him before a game against the New York Mets on June 23, 2024 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Hua, File)
“Rhein is an inspiration to cancer survivors around the world,” Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said in a statement Tuesday. “I know that all Cubs fans join me and my family in sending positive thoughts to Rhyne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he undergoes the next stages of treatment to overcome cancer. Rhyne is a champion. He has a heart and a soul and that will continue to serve him well in this challenge. ”
Sandberg batted .285 with 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs and 344 stolen bases in 16 seasons in the majors. He made his major league debut in philadelphia phillies He played in 13 games for the Phillies in 1981 and was traded to the Cubs in January 1982.
Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs handles the ball during a game against the San Francisco Giants on August 13, 1997 at 3Com Park in San Francisco. (Otto Grule Jr./Getty Images)
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Sandberg developed into one of the top players in the majors with the Cubs. he made 10 MLB All Star He formed the team that won nine Gold Glove Awards. He was also named National League MVP in 1984.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Former Chicago Cubs player waves to the crowd and throws out the first pitch before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series between the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field in Chicago on October 18, 2017. Ryne Sandberg. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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Over the summer, the Cubs immortalized his name by erecting a statue depicting Sandberg crouched down waiting for a grounder. Adjacent to this monument are bronze statues of Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Ernie Banks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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