Chicago Cubs pay tribute to Ryne Sandberg with ceremonial jersey patch

The Chicago Cubs paid tribute to Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg with a commemorative patch on their uniforms, just a day after his passing at age 65. Sandberg, a 10-time All-Star who played 15 seasons with the Cubs and won the 1984 NL MVP, died Monday after a battle with cancer.

The tribute patch features a red number 23 - Sandberg’s jersey number - on a blue background, along with his signature in white. Positioned above the Cubs logo on the sleeve, the patch was highlighted in a video shared by the team, showing it being sewn onto the uniforms before Tuesday night’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Players also wore "FO23VER" T-shirts during warmups.



Cubs manager Craig Counsell reflected on Sandberg’s legacy, calling it a 'great life lived' and recalling the emotional statue unveiling at Wrigley Field in June 2024. "That’s my favorite day as a Chicago Cub," Counsell said. "Just seeing Ryno and his family, knowing what he was going through, and seeing the fans support him."


Sandberg, known for his defensive prowess at second base, retired in 1997 with a .285 batting average, 282 home runs, 1,061 RBIs, and 344 stolen bases. He briefly played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 before being traded to the Cubs in early 1982.


In other team news, the Cubs designated right-hander Chris Flexen for assignment after recent struggles. Flexen gave up 15 runs in 14 2/3 innings over his last five outings.


Right-hander Gavin Hollowell was recalled from Triple-A Iowa. "It wasn’t a fun conversation," Counsell admitted, praising Flexen’s earlier contributions despite the difficult decision.