Ryne Sandberg Quotes

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

Never, Uniform, Ever, Opponent

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

Love, Play, Always, Baseball Player

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

Learning, Run, Two, Bunt

I didn't play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Play, Reward, End Of The Tunnel

No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more, or did it better than Andre Dawson. He's the best I've ever seen.

- Ryne Sandberg

Andre, Baseball History, Dawson

For me, the game starts with starting pitching.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Me, Pitching, Starting

I let the players use their abilities and what they're capable of doing. If they're capable of stealing bases, I'm going to give them the green light. I'm going to teach them to pick their spots and to get a base when they can get a base.

- Ryne Sandberg

Green, Doing, Give, Green Light

When we went home every winter, they warned us not to lift heavy weights because they didn't want us to lose flexibility. They wanted us to be baseball players, not only home run hitters.

- Ryne Sandberg

Want, Home Run, Players, Hitters

If a hitter gets hot, I wouldn't take a hot hitter out of the lineup.

- Ryne Sandberg

Hot, Hitter, Take, Lineup

In other ways, one way to be in a lineup or stay in a lineup or stay in a spot is to produce.

- Ryne Sandberg

Other, Ways, One Way, Lineup

I'm not thinking about records. Just winning the pennant would be exciting.

- Ryne Sandberg

Winning, Records, Would, Pennant

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

Think, Level, I Think, Suited

It was everyone going up there to swing for the fences, because the home runs were what would get them on 'SportsCenter.' That really changed the mindset of the players.

- Ryne Sandberg

Mindset, Everyone, Going, Fences

Time and time again, I see former teammates, and we talk about it. It feels like we are all on the same page: We enjoyed the regular season, but we were disappointed in not making the World Series.

- Ryne Sandberg

I See, Feels, About, Regular Season

I had to prepare physically every day, and I didn't leave many scraps for the writers.

- Ryne Sandberg

Prepare, Leave, Physically, Scraps

I do my homework. I come to the ballpark, and I relay any message that I need to relay to the players. I get that off my chest.

- Ryne Sandberg

Homework, Need, Chest, Relay

All it takes to play baseball is a strong arm, good speed, and the coordination to hit the ball. That's it.

- Ryne Sandberg

Strong, Play, Play Baseball, Arm

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

Rest, Play, Okay, Runs

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Right, Happen, Right Way

I came up under the wing of Larry Bowa, and one thing I did not do was ever take a day off from taking pregame groundballs or batting practice. Then the games were just having fun.

- Ryne Sandberg

Practice, Batting, Came, Wing

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Time, Field, Walked, Every Time

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

Think, Always, Been, Cubs

I just appreciated so much the contract they gave me, and I wanted to give something back to the Cubs' organization.

- Ryne Sandberg

Give, Back, Contract, Cubs

The Phillies liked the work I had done with the Cubs, and really wanted me there. They were on the phone as soon as my contract was up in Chicago, and it was just a great feeling to be wanted, to be appreciated for the work you do.

- Ryne Sandberg

Work, Great Feeling, Had, Cubs

I've spent 34 years associated with the Cubs, and part of the reason I've stayed in baseball is because I want to be part of a World Series winner.

- Ryne Sandberg

Reason, Part, Spent, Cubs

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

Shame, Go, Happen, Cub

I have great memories of being a Cub, and I'm happy building new ones with the Phillies.

- Ryne Sandberg

Happy, New, Being, Cub

As great a public speaker as I am, I don't know have - I don't - I don't have the words to describe Cub fans who welcomed me as a rookie, were patient through my 1-for-32 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.

- Ryne Sandberg

Down, Through, Public, Cub

When I was a minor league player, my goal was to be a major leaguer. It's no different as a minor league manager.

- Ryne Sandberg

Goal, Manager, Minor, Minor League

Football, I thought, would be a tough sport to make a living in. There is no minor league. You either make it to the NFL or you don't.

- Ryne Sandberg

Thought, Living, Minor, Minor League

One of the first benchmarks in a season are far as at-bats is 100.

- Ryne Sandberg

First, Far, Season

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

Career, Think, Very, Blessing

My wife Margaret is the best thing that's ever happened to me.

- Ryne Sandberg

Wife, Me, Ever, Margaret

I know I'm appreciated by how fans treat me, and the best way to treat them is play every day, hard. I sign autographs, but if I'm with someone I don't know who doesn't start the conversation, there won't be a conversation. That's just me, living my life. But I'll loosen up after baseball.

- Ryne Sandberg

My Life, Play, Best Way, Conversation

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

Play, Though, North, Washington State

I'm not a sportswriter. I don't get to vote. I don't get the ballot in the mail, so it's out of my hands either way. I can say that in the history of the Hall of Fame, there are no suspicions about guys who are in the Hall of Fame.

- Ryne Sandberg

Hands, Mail, About, Suspicions

It's an elite group. And once you're in the Hall, you're in the Hall. Up until now, I think the voting system has handled things very well. And like I said before, there are no suspicions in the Hall of Fame.

- Ryne Sandberg

Think, I Think, Very, Suspicions

I talk to the players, either individually or as a group, what I'm feeling, and I think the players appreciate that. And I think they respond to that.

- Ryne Sandberg

Think, I Think, Either, Individually

You don't get hits if you're depressed.

- Ryne Sandberg

You, Get, Hits, Depressed

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

Game, Six, Minor, Facets

I thought I was a pretty good shortstop, but I also wanted to play in the major leagues.

- Ryne Sandberg

Play, Pretty, Major Leagues, Shortstop

Any time you're in the coaching business or managing in the minor leagues, when you see a player who has made it to the major leagues, you get a thrill out of that.

- Ryne Sandberg

Business, Minor, Leagues, Major Leagues

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

Think, Big, Big Leagues, Red Carpet

Even if we're in fifth place in September, I get butterflies before a game. I'm nervous.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Butterflies, Before, Fifth

You never forget the feeling of not getting to the World Series. Yes, it sticks with you.

- Ryne Sandberg

Forget, Never, Getting, Sticks

I played high school football at a hundred and eighty-five pounds and played big league baseball at a hundred and eighty-two. I'd get up to maybe 188 in the off-season because every summer I'd lose eight to ten pounds.

- Ryne Sandberg

Big, Maybe, Hundred, Pounds

There's nothing I would do differently, no wishing I had done this or done that.

- Ryne Sandberg

Nothing, Differently, Would, Wishing

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

Big, Spent, League, September

You want to see energy, and you want to see guys on the same page. You want guys to work together and have that energy come out onto the field. That's a good place to start.

- Ryne Sandberg

Work, Want, Good Place, Work Together

I defend my players and coaches.

- Ryne Sandberg

Defend, Players, Coaches

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Play, Double, Were, Mark

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Uniform, Ever, Fourth

I'm not interested in on-the-job learning or on-the-job training.

- Ryne Sandberg

Learning, Training, Not Interested

'The Sandberg Game' comes up all the time. Fans tell me where they were. They were driving down the highway, they were in the bleachers, they were downtown listening on the radio, they were on the farm on a tractor. I've heard all the stories where people have been. They're just amazed by the ending of the game and the thrill of it.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Tell, Been, Farm

I'd rather play a double-header than speak at a banquet, and if I went to Wrigley Field knowing I had to be somewhere two hours after the game, it would bother me all day.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Play, Rather, Wrigley

Typically, a position change is more for instructional league and winter time. It's just a more relaxed situation. A player can make some mistakes and learn from them. That's the proper way to go about a position change, for me.

- Ryne Sandberg

Winter, Some, About, Relaxed

I am not the type of person who can leave my game at the ballpark and feel comfortable that my future is set regardless of my performance.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Ballpark, Set, Regardless

If you're in the minor leagues, you want to get to the majors.

- Ryne Sandberg

Want, Minor, Leagues, Majors

Your first responsibility is to the organization, to teach and prepare players to get to the big leagues and have them ready when they get there, but everyone in the minors wants to be in the majors.

- Ryne Sandberg

Big, Prepare, Big Leagues, Majors

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Work Hard, Like, Maybe, Struggling

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

Drop, Home Run, More, Bases

I knew nothing about managing when I started.

- Ryne Sandberg

Nothing, Knew, About, Managing

There is a lot to managing, and with almost four years under my belt, I believe I'm ready.

- Ryne Sandberg

Believe, Belt, Almost, Managing

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Old, Minor, Leagues, Philadelphia

I was a hard worker.

- Ryne Sandberg

Hard, Worker, Hard Worker

They use the word 'integrity' in describing a Hall of Famer in the logo of the Hall of Fame, and I think there are gonna be quite a few players that are not going to get in.

- Ryne Sandberg

Think, Going, I Think, Describing

Tainted numbers, I believe, do not belong in the Hall of Fame.

- Ryne Sandberg

Numbers, Belong, Hall, Tainted

I have to do what I have to do, and you have to go where the opportunities are.

- Ryne Sandberg

You, Go, Where, Opportunities

I've always had that attitude that things happen for a reason.

- Ryne Sandberg

Reason, Happen, Always, Things Happen

There were a lot of players who worked just as hard as I did, and if you didn't, you didn't stay in the big leagues.

- Ryne Sandberg

Big, Players, Leagues, Big Leagues

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Rain, Game, Single, Played

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

Like, Players, Mike, None

Get your work in. Work hard at it. Give it your best effort. And if you get an opportunity, be ready for it. That's respect for the game.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Work Hard, Give, Ready

It's hard for me to answer questions I haven't thought about.

- Ryne Sandberg

Questions, Me, Thought, Answer

In baseball, there's always the next day.

- Ryne Sandberg

Day, Next, Always, Baseball

Baseball wasn't easy for me.

- Ryne Sandberg

Me, Easy, Baseball

I've been in baseball my whole life, so I understand there's a lot in baseball that is out of your control, and you have to focus on the things you can control.

- Ryne Sandberg

Focus, Understand, Been, Baseball

Baseball is all about relationships, and in some ways, what know you and who knows you.

- Ryne Sandberg

Relationships, Some, Ways, Baseball

Steve Bartman was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

- Ryne Sandberg

Time, Place, Wrong Place, Steve

When I'm arguing, I'm competing. I'm trying to win a game. And if that's what's called for, it's just a reaction.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Reaction, Competing, Arguing

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

College, Game, Behind, Sport

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Ball, Non-Stop, Almost, Pro

My Hall of Fame speech was about respect for the game.

- Ryne Sandberg

Game, Speech, About, Fame

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

Game, Reason, Here, Certain Way

Am I impressed by myself? Nah, not really.

- Ryne Sandberg

Myself, Am, Really, Impressed

I'm optimistic about the future.

- Ryne Sandberg

Future, About, Optimistic

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

- Ryne Sandberg

Work, Work Hard, Career, People Say

I was in the postseason twice and I'm thankful for that.

- Ryne Sandberg

Thankful, Twice

My style is I work hard at it. I feel like I'm prepared every day.

- Ryne Sandberg

Work, Work Hard, Like, Prepared

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