Bruce Leiter
Member
- Oct 12, 2024
- 555
- 156
I was saddened to hear about Ryne (Ryno) Sandberg’s death. He, of course, was the great second baseman of the Chicago Cubs, my favorite team.
My favorite memory happened this way. It was my 50th birthday and Ryne’s 33rd on September 18, 1992. I attended a Cubs-Cardinals game in Wrigley Field that Wednesday afternoon in a full house.
Ryne had his best birthday with a home run, a single, a double, and a walk.
I sat in the first row in the upper deck next to the press box and held my sign between innings that said, “Happy birthday, Ryno!” It also said in the corner, “I’m 50 today.” The Cub and Cardinal fans waved and smiled at my sign as they walked by going to the concession stand.
The Cubs won that game in come-from-behind fashion 9-7 on late home runs, but in the eighth inning I experienced an event that still gives goosebumps when I think of it.
The thousands of fans in the right-field upper deck, where I was, sang “Happy birthday” to ME twice! I knew the singing was for me because they had me stand up and bow each time! To my mind, it was creation singing God’s praises for his gift of life and human abilities.
After the game, I stood next to the players’ parking lot outside and held up my sign when Ryno came out. He came right over to me and signed my Major League baseball. Then, I pointed out a ten-year-old girl to Ryno and told him that her birthday was that same day.
He signed a picture she had drawn of him too. He was a great player but also a wonderful human being.
My favorite memory happened this way. It was my 50th birthday and Ryne’s 33rd on September 18, 1992. I attended a Cubs-Cardinals game in Wrigley Field that Wednesday afternoon in a full house.
Ryne had his best birthday with a home run, a single, a double, and a walk.
I sat in the first row in the upper deck next to the press box and held my sign between innings that said, “Happy birthday, Ryno!” It also said in the corner, “I’m 50 today.” The Cub and Cardinal fans waved and smiled at my sign as they walked by going to the concession stand.
The Cubs won that game in come-from-behind fashion 9-7 on late home runs, but in the eighth inning I experienced an event that still gives goosebumps when I think of it.
The thousands of fans in the right-field upper deck, where I was, sang “Happy birthday” to ME twice! I knew the singing was for me because they had me stand up and bow each time! To my mind, it was creation singing God’s praises for his gift of life and human abilities.
After the game, I stood next to the players’ parking lot outside and held up my sign when Ryno came out. He came right over to me and signed my Major League baseball. Then, I pointed out a ten-year-old girl to Ryno and told him that her birthday was that same day.
He signed a picture she had drawn of him too. He was a great player but also a wonderful human being.
