August 6, 2025 • 10 mins
Ron looks back on MLB Superstar Ryne Sandberg.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Ron Barr, and this is today's edition of
Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast on the eight Side Network.
In our continuing series we Remember, We Remember Hall of
Fame third baseman Ryan Sandberg, who passed away recently. Sandberg
was a legend of the Chicago Cubs and beloved throughout
Major League Baseball. He was a five tool player who
(00:21):
excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed,
and work ethic. Ryan earned ten consecutive All Stars selections,
nine straight Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, and the nineteen
eighty four National League MVP. He and Philly's third baseman
Mike Schmidt were the gold standard for great players. Sandberg
and I talked about the similarities between the two last
(00:43):
time Ryan Sandberg joined us on Sports Byline we were
down spring training and I had so many comments afterwards
about the way he talked so emotionally and so honestly
and openly about his career in baseball and the way
he looked at baseball.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Ryan, Nice to have you back with us.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
How you doing wrong?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Good? You know after you were with this, you don't
know how many people came up to me and said
you know, I never would think that i'd hear somebody
talk that passionately about the game. And when I had
Mike Schmidt on with us, he also talked the same way.
And I asked him whether he saw himself in a
sense a little bit like you, and he said yes. Indeed,
he said, off of the comment you made about I
could have enjoyed playing the game a little bit more,
(01:19):
he said, Ron, I could have been the same way.
What was it about you two? Did you all approach
the game you think in the same way?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Well, I think, well, when I came up, I was
around guys like Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose and Larry
Baa Ron say, these type of players that were gamers.
They took the game very seriously and and that's that's
(01:46):
kind of how they went around about their business and
and that's that's kind of where I learned to play
the game. And that was coming up through the late
seventies and early eighties. That was a style of play,
and and there were rivalries back then, and it was intense.
And I think in some aspects, I think that the
(02:07):
game has changed a little bit as far as that goes,
But I think that's just the way that I learned
to play the game coming up to the minor leagues
in my early years in the majors. Ran.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Do you think that there are those type of mentors
around today for today's young players and also the role
models as to how to play this game right?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Well? I think so. A lot of guys that I
played against and respected are now coaches and managers, some
are in the front office. I think that's that's very
good for the game. And I think that there are
are some guys, quite a few guys playing in the
major leagues today that still play the game the way
(02:45):
it's supposed to be played, doing the little things to
help a team win, and team oriented players, and I
think that's good also for the game.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
You know, you bring up a very good point about
the little things trying to help the team win. When
we're seeing balls fly out of stadiums by guys that
have never hit that many home runs in their life,
I mean, are these guys giving up those little things
in exchange for trying to hit the long ball, the
one that's going to get them a lot of notoriety?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Well, I think the game has changed as far as
that goes, And whether it's the baseball being harder and juiced,
like a lot of people talk about or whatever. When
I look at the box scores in the morning, I
see fifteen to twelve and fourteen to eleven. There weren't
too many games like that when I played, especially in
(03:38):
the eighties. Pitching was was much more dominant, and there
were teams that I would go in to their place,
their home stadium, and try and scrap and give one,
maybe two hits a game and get out of there
and go on to the next city. And you know, now,
(03:59):
if you're not hitting hitting the home run in the game,
or hitting two home runs, I mean they're almost calling
it off night. So things have really changed offensively in
the game.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
One of the other things I thought about this afternoon
thinking about the home runs Ryan was and I wonder
if it cheapens the meaning of a home run today
when you see so many of them flying out, it's
almost like anybody can do it almost any time. Do
you think it has lost a little bit of its mystique?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Well maybe I think yeah. I think the scoring is
getting out of hand. And you know, you don't see
the fine pitched ballgames and the low scoring games with
the great defensive plays out there to save runs. You know,
so many of the games are slugfests. It's just incredible.
And I don't know, you know, to sit back and
(04:48):
watch a three and a half for four hour ball game,
I can't. I can't sit there that long and watched
some of these games. But I don't know if that's
what the game wants or not. But you know what
happened to some good pitching and good defense and three
to one game when.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You started back in nineteen eighty one. That was also
during a period of time where a player would stay
down in the minors and be brought along and as
they kind of polished their skills rynd, they would go
up to the next level. And yet we're seeing players
rush to the major leagues today. Is there that kind
of seasoning aspect of baseball today that we found when
you broke in?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Well, like you said, I think a lot of the seasons,
the guys that are getting seasoning are doing it at
the major league level, And you know, I think that's
too bad. That's what we're talking about. Guys that can't
do the little things, move a runner over, hit the
right field, lay a bunt down, make some defensive plays.
I remember back when I was in the minor leagues.
(05:50):
You know, the major league teams were stacked, and they
were teams that were put together, and guys played eight
or ten years together, and it was tough to break
into a major league team or a lineup. You know,
I'm talking about the late seventies, early eighties, and now
(06:11):
you're talking about guys coming out of college and getting
the three year deals before they played a major league game.
You know, I think that's too bad for the game.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Another thing that I think is too bad for the game,
and you know this is that if you happen to
be signed on with the Phillies organization or the Dodgers
organization or the Yankees organization, you were kind of tutored
as to how the organization played baseball, what they expected
of their players at every level and when they got
to the major league level. And now with players moving
(06:39):
around so much, with free agency and everything, I think
that some of the personality of the organizations have been
lost over the years. Would you agree with that, Ryan, I'd.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Have to agree. And not only do you miss that
in the game, but I think you miss a lot
of the rivalries the teams that are together battling against
players for some years. Uh, you don't see that. You
see players jumping around so much that that one time,
you know they'll be on this team one year, the
(07:08):
next year they're on their the rivals team, and it's
it's really hard to keep track of the players. I
don't know how the fans do it, but you know,
it's almost like like playing Nintendo out there. They picked
their own teams and and uh, and guys are jumping
around and and it's something else.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
How did the rivalries manifest themselves within the clubhouse? I mean,
what was the difference between you all taking as a
Cubs taking on one team as compared to another if
that team happened to be a rival.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well rivals. Back when I came up and played after
spring training, for instance, if we were going to Chase
Stadium and play the Mets, we knew who the Mets
were gonna be. We had a history with them. Maybe
we battled with them the year before, battled the pitch
and had some great series, or like facing the Cardinals
(08:05):
trying to knock each other out of the race. Being
in the same division and battling against the same guys
you're in and year out, you don't see that because
guys are jumping around so much that that you really
don't have that rivalry. I think, like when I came up.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Also, I think respect is so important to the professional athlete,
not so much for the media, maybe not so much
from the fan, but really it's kind of peer respect,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Yes, yes, you know, definitely, just to be respected on
the field how you go about your business, whether it's
from the fans or your or your peers. I think
that's very important. And whether that's happening today or not,
I don't know, but there are some very good players
out there, and those players I think it's important to
(08:57):
show the way for the younger players.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
What was the most different call part Ryan about you
being able to maintain the consistency that you showed, particularly
from the defensive standpoint. I mentioned that you won nine
gold gloves and you had four straight seasons without making
a throwing era Because I know what it's like in
August and September when your body and your mind gets
worn down and maybe your club is not in the
thick of things for the playoffs. I mean, it's easy
(09:19):
to lose one's concentration. How were you able to maintain
the consistency.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Well, I think that's just just a self discipline and
uh and pride, pride in being a major league major
league player and not taking that for granted. Trying to
have good years a year after year was a difficult
thing and I had to work very hard to try
and do that. It didn't matter to me what I
(09:46):
did the year before or whatever. I always took each
year of the new year and wanted to try and
improve any way that I could. And you know that
meant working hard in the off season, working hardest spring training,
taking ground balls every day. I really really had a
routine and that I would follow, and it meant of
(10:11):
being dedicated and working hard at every single day.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Ryan Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in
two thousand and five, saying, I don't have the words
to describe cub fans who welcomed me as a rookie,
who were patient with me through my one four thirty
two start, and took me into their homes and into
their hearts and treated me like a member of their family.
You picked me up when I was down, You lifted
me to heights that I didn't know I could reach.
(10:38):
You expected a certain level of play from me, and
you made me play at that level for a long time.
Ryan Sandberg gone but never forgotten on Sports Pilot. You
have been listening to Ron Bars Sports Byline USA podcast
on the eight Side Network.
Hi, I'm Ron Barr, and this is today's edition of
Ron Barr's Sports Byline USA podcast on the eight Side Network.
In our continuing series we Remember, We Remember Hall of
Fame third baseman Ryan Sandberg, who passed away recently. Sandberg
was a legend of the Chicago Cubs and beloved throughout
Major League Baseball. He was a five tool player who
(00:21):
excelled in every facet of the game thanks to his power, speed,
and work ethic. Ryan earned ten consecutive All Stars selections,
nine straight Gold Gloves, seven Silver Sluggers, and the nineteen
eighty four National League MVP. He and Philly's third baseman
Mike Schmidt were the gold standard for great players. Sandberg
and I talked about the similarities between the two last
(00:43):
time Ryan Sandberg joined us on Sports Byline we were
down spring training and I had so many comments afterwards
about the way he talked so emotionally and so honestly
and openly about his career in baseball and the way
he looked at baseball.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Ryan, Nice to have you back with us.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
How you doing wrong?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Good? You know after you were with this, you don't
know how many people came up to me and said
you know, I never would think that i'd hear somebody
talk that passionately about the game. And when I had
Mike Schmidt on with us, he also talked the same way.
And I asked him whether he saw himself in a
sense a little bit like you, and he said yes. Indeed,
he said, off of the comment you made about I
could have enjoyed playing the game a little bit more,
(01:19):
he said, Ron, I could have been the same way.
What was it about you two? Did you all approach
the game you think in the same way?
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Well, I think, well, when I came up, I was
around guys like Mike Schmidt and Pete Rose and Larry
Baa Ron say, these type of players that were gamers.
They took the game very seriously and and that's that's
(01:46):
kind of how they went around about their business and
and that's that's kind of where I learned to play
the game. And that was coming up through the late
seventies and early eighties. That was a style of play,
and and there were rivalries back then, and it was intense.
And I think in some aspects, I think that the
(02:07):
game has changed a little bit as far as that goes,
But I think that's just the way that I learned
to play the game coming up to the minor leagues
in my early years in the majors. Ran.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Do you think that there are those type of mentors
around today for today's young players and also the role
models as to how to play this game right?
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Well? I think so. A lot of guys that I
played against and respected are now coaches and managers, some
are in the front office. I think that's that's very
good for the game. And I think that there are
are some guys, quite a few guys playing in the
major leagues today that still play the game the way
(02:45):
it's supposed to be played, doing the little things to
help a team win, and team oriented players, and I
think that's good also for the game.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
You know, you bring up a very good point about
the little things trying to help the team win. When
we're seeing balls fly out of stadiums by guys that
have never hit that many home runs in their life,
I mean, are these guys giving up those little things
in exchange for trying to hit the long ball, the
one that's going to get them a lot of notoriety?
Speaker 3 (03:13):
Well, I think the game has changed as far as
that goes, And whether it's the baseball being harder and juiced,
like a lot of people talk about or whatever. When
I look at the box scores in the morning, I
see fifteen to twelve and fourteen to eleven. There weren't
too many games like that when I played, especially in
(03:38):
the eighties. Pitching was was much more dominant, and there
were teams that I would go in to their place,
their home stadium, and try and scrap and give one,
maybe two hits a game and get out of there
and go on to the next city. And you know, now,
(03:59):
if you're not hitting hitting the home run in the game,
or hitting two home runs, I mean they're almost calling
it off night. So things have really changed offensively in
the game.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
One of the other things I thought about this afternoon
thinking about the home runs Ryan was and I wonder
if it cheapens the meaning of a home run today
when you see so many of them flying out, it's
almost like anybody can do it almost any time. Do
you think it has lost a little bit of its mystique?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Well maybe I think yeah. I think the scoring is
getting out of hand. And you know, you don't see
the fine pitched ballgames and the low scoring games with
the great defensive plays out there to save runs. You know,
so many of the games are slugfests. It's just incredible.
And I don't know, you know, to sit back and
(04:48):
watch a three and a half for four hour ball game,
I can't. I can't sit there that long and watched
some of these games. But I don't know if that's
what the game wants or not. But you know what
happened to some good pitching and good defense and three
to one game when.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
You started back in nineteen eighty one. That was also
during a period of time where a player would stay
down in the minors and be brought along and as
they kind of polished their skills rynd, they would go
up to the next level. And yet we're seeing players
rush to the major leagues today. Is there that kind
of seasoning aspect of baseball today that we found when
you broke in?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Well, like you said, I think a lot of the seasons,
the guys that are getting seasoning are doing it at
the major league level, And you know, I think that's
too bad. That's what we're talking about. Guys that can't
do the little things, move a runner over, hit the
right field, lay a bunt down, make some defensive plays.
I remember back when I was in the minor leagues.
(05:50):
You know, the major league teams were stacked, and they
were teams that were put together, and guys played eight
or ten years together, and it was tough to break
into a major league team or a lineup. You know,
I'm talking about the late seventies, early eighties, and now
(06:11):
you're talking about guys coming out of college and getting
the three year deals before they played a major league game.
You know, I think that's too bad for the game.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Another thing that I think is too bad for the game,
and you know this is that if you happen to
be signed on with the Phillies organization or the Dodgers
organization or the Yankees organization, you were kind of tutored
as to how the organization played baseball, what they expected
of their players at every level and when they got
to the major league level. And now with players moving
(06:39):
around so much, with free agency and everything, I think
that some of the personality of the organizations have been
lost over the years. Would you agree with that, Ryan, I'd.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Have to agree. And not only do you miss that
in the game, but I think you miss a lot
of the rivalries the teams that are together battling against
players for some years. Uh, you don't see that. You
see players jumping around so much that that one time,
you know they'll be on this team one year, the
(07:08):
next year they're on their the rivals team, and it's
it's really hard to keep track of the players. I
don't know how the fans do it, but you know,
it's almost like like playing Nintendo out there. They picked
their own teams and and uh, and guys are jumping
around and and it's something else.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
How did the rivalries manifest themselves within the clubhouse? I mean,
what was the difference between you all taking as a
Cubs taking on one team as compared to another if
that team happened to be a rival.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Well rivals. Back when I came up and played after
spring training, for instance, if we were going to Chase
Stadium and play the Mets, we knew who the Mets
were gonna be. We had a history with them. Maybe
we battled with them the year before, battled the pitch
and had some great series, or like facing the Cardinals
(08:05):
trying to knock each other out of the race. Being
in the same division and battling against the same guys
you're in and year out, you don't see that because
guys are jumping around so much that that you really
don't have that rivalry. I think, like when I came up.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Also, I think respect is so important to the professional athlete,
not so much for the media, maybe not so much
from the fan, but really it's kind of peer respect,
isn't it.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
Yes, yes, you know, definitely, just to be respected on
the field how you go about your business, whether it's
from the fans or your or your peers. I think
that's very important. And whether that's happening today or not,
I don't know, but there are some very good players
out there, and those players I think it's important to
(08:57):
show the way for the younger players.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
What was the most different call part Ryan about you
being able to maintain the consistency that you showed, particularly
from the defensive standpoint. I mentioned that you won nine
gold gloves and you had four straight seasons without making
a throwing era Because I know what it's like in
August and September when your body and your mind gets
worn down and maybe your club is not in the
thick of things for the playoffs. I mean, it's easy
(09:19):
to lose one's concentration. How were you able to maintain
the consistency.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Well, I think that's just just a self discipline and
uh and pride, pride in being a major league major
league player and not taking that for granted. Trying to
have good years a year after year was a difficult
thing and I had to work very hard to try
and do that. It didn't matter to me what I
(09:46):
did the year before or whatever. I always took each
year of the new year and wanted to try and
improve any way that I could. And you know that
meant working hard in the off season, working hardest spring training,
taking ground balls every day. I really really had a
routine and that I would follow, and it meant of
(10:11):
being dedicated and working hard at every single day.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
Ryan Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in
two thousand and five, saying, I don't have the words
to describe cub fans who welcomed me as a rookie,
who were patient with me through my one four thirty
two start, and took me into their homes and into
their hearts and treated me like a member of their family.
You picked me up when I was down, You lifted
me to heights that I didn't know I could reach.
(10:38):
You expected a certain level of play from me, and
you made me play at that level for a long time.
Ryan Sandberg gone but never forgotten on Sports Pilot. You
have been listening to Ron Bars Sports Byline USA podcast
on the eight Side Network.
Host
Ron Barr
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