Ryne Sandberg is cancer-free, the Baseball Hall of Fame member announced on Instagram on Thursday.
Sandberg, 64, announced in January that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. In July, he told fans that scans showed no signs of cancer.
This week, the longtime Chicago Cubs infielder was allowed to ring the bell, signaling that his body is now cancer-free after an eight-month battle.
“This morning the bell rang! WE did it, WE won! What a dream team, family, doctors, friends, nurses, fans who have supported me and Margaret over the last 8 months! We feel so blessed by all the love, prayers and thoughts and positive words that have been given to us! Modern medicine has made great strides, so early diagnosis is important again this time. Annual doctor visits! Time to celebrate!”
Sandberg played in all but 13 games of his 16-year MLB career with the Cubs. He moved to the Major Leagues for a brief stint with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and was traded to the Cubs the following offseason. He became a full-time starter in his first season in Chicago in 1982 and made the first of ten consecutive All-Star appearances in 1984.
He was named the NL’s Most Valuable Player that season and led the league in triples and runs. In 1990, he led the NL with 40 home runs and won the Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field that same season. He won seven Silver Slugger Awards and nine Gold Gloves in his career.
Sandberg was a popular Cub known for his performance and reliability on the field. In 14 of his 15 seasons in Chicago, he played in at least 115 games. Only four times did he play in fewer than 150 games. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
In June, the Cubs unveiled a statue of Sandberg in front of Wrigley Field.
