CHICAGO— Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg says he is cancer-free.
The Chicago Cubs great made the announcement on Instagram on Thursday, nearly seven months after he announced he had metastatic prostate cancer.
“Rang the Bell this morning!” he wrote. “WE did it, WE won! What a Dream Team, family, doctors, friends, nurses, fans who supported myself and [wife] Margaret through the last 8 months! We feel so blessed from all the love, prayers, and thoughts and positive words that have come our way! Modern medicine has come a long way, so once again, early detection is important. Annual doctor visits! Time to celebrate! #godisgood.”
The 64-year-old Sandberg has kept well-wishers updated on his progress through an Instagram account and said last month that scans showed no signs of cancer.
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs, and 344 stolen bases in 16 seasons in the major leagues. He made his big-league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and appeared in 13 games with the Phillies before being traded to the Cubs in January 1982.
Sandberg developed into one of the majors’ best all-around performers in Chicago. He made 10 All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves. He also was the National League most valuable player in 1984. He was inducted into baseball’s shrine in Cooperstown, N.Y., 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 after Sandberg hit two late homers in a nationally televised win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The statue depicting him crouched and waiting for a ground ball is next to bronze tributes to fellow Cubs Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Ernie Banks.
