Top 35 Ryne Sandberg Quotes (2024 Update)

1. “I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform.”

— Ryne Sandberg

2. “Hit a home run – put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases, because the name on the front is more – a lot more important than the name on the back.”

— Ryne Sandberg

3. “There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years.”

— Ryne Sandberg

4. “I was a baseball player at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington even though I was all-city in basketball, even when I signed a letter of intent to play quarterback at Washington State.”

— Ryne Sandberg

5. “In baseball, there’s always the next day.”

— Ryne Sandberg

6. “I didn’t play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel.”

— Ryne Sandberg

7. “Baseball wasn’t easy for me.”

— Ryne Sandberg

8. “My wife Margaret is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

— Ryne Sandberg

9. “I struggled many times when maybe it didn’t look like I was struggling, and I had to work hard every day.”

— Ryne Sandberg

10. “If you played the game the right way, played the game for the team, good things would happen.”

— Ryne Sandberg

11. “The reason I am here, they tell me, is that I played the game a certain way, that I played the game the way it was supposed to be played.”

— Ryne Sandberg

12. “My mom was at every single game I played as a kid, rain or shine.”

— Ryne Sandberg

13. “I played it right because that’s what you’re supposed to do – play it right and with respect.”

— Ryne Sandberg

14. “If you’re in the minor leagues, you want to get to the majors.”

— Ryne Sandberg

15. “I was taught coming up in the Phillies organization to be seen and not heard by people like Pete Rose, my hero growing up, and players like Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton and Manny Trillo.”

— Ryne Sandberg

16. “At my growing years of 18 to 21 years old in the Minor Leagues, I dreamed of being a Philadelphia Phillie.”

— Ryne Sandberg

17. “When did it – When did it become okay for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?”

— Ryne Sandberg

18. “I was in awe every time I walked on to the field.”

— Ryne Sandberg

19. “I love to play baseball. I’m a baseball player. I’ve always been a baseball player. I’m still a baseball player. That’s who I am.”

— Ryne Sandberg

20. “I never forgot the four years I spent with the Phillies, my September call-ups and my big league Spring Trainings. I never forgot that.”

— Ryne Sandberg

21. “I had to prepare physically every day, and I didn’t leave many scraps for the writers.”

— Ryne Sandberg

22. “If this validates anything, it’s that learning how to bunt and hit and run and turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light at the dug out camera.”

— Ryne Sandberg

23. “I don’t expect any red carpet to the big leagues. If the opportunity comes, then it comes. But I don’t think I’m owed anything.”

— Ryne Sandberg

24. “I had too much respect for the game to leave it behind or to make it my second or third sport in college.”

— Ryne Sandberg

25. “It didn’t happen, but I feel fortunate for the two chances we had and it’s just a shame we didn’t go to a World Series for Cub fans.”

— Ryne Sandberg

26. “There’s not too many guys that spend their whole career with one team and I think it’s very fortunate and a blessing for me.”

— Ryne Sandberg

27. “I have great memories of being a Cub, and I’m happy building new ones with the Phillies.”

— Ryne Sandberg

28. “In my day, if a guy came to spring training 20 pounds heavier than what he left, he was considered out of shape and was probably in trouble.”

— Ryne Sandberg

29. “I think sometimes Hall of Famers might get labeled as guys who aren’t suited for a coaching job or to be back at the Major League level.”

— Ryne Sandberg

30. “No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. Hes the best Ive ever seen.”

— Ryne Sandberg

31. “I learned a lot in the Minor Leagues, spending six years there. I honed my skills, as far as coaching goes. I was able to work with the players in a lot of facets of the game.”

— Ryne Sandberg

32. “I was in the postseason twice and I’m thankful for that.”

— Ryne Sandberg

33. “I’ve been proud to be a lifelong Chicago Cub and still be with the Cubs. That’s always been important to me and I think it’s always been special.”

— Ryne Sandberg

34. “A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn’t work hard for validation.”

— Ryne Sandberg

35. “I got into pro ball at 18 and played until I was almost 39, non-stop.”

— Ryne Sandberg

36. “The fourth major league game I ever saw in person, I was in uniform.”

— Ryne Sandberg