Be an Everyday Hero
Last week, Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg passed away after a battle with cancer. Though I only met Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg twice in my life at Cubs autograph sessions, his passing felt like a very personal loss. Losing him meant saying goodbye to yet another piece of my childhood.
I grew up watching Ryno play second base day after day all summer long, tuning into the games on WGN Superstation Channel 9 with my Dad and brother. Somewhere in the 4th or 5th inning my Dad would say “I am just going to rest my eyes” and then somehow, he’d wake up in just enough time for the 7th inning stretch—a true talent in his own right!
To say I idolized Ryne Sandberg as a child would be an understatement. There was so much hope and excitement seeing him play and the quiet leadership he brought to the diamond. He was my hero and solidified my lifelong love of the game. I wanted to play second base (turns out I was better suited to catch), I wore number 23, and one of my most prized possessions was (and still is, now it’s signed) a Ryne Sandberg 1984 Tops baseball card. Little did I know the lessons I’d learned from Mr. Sandberg and all that baseball. Here are two of the most important:
Show up and do the work
Ryno was a GREAT baseball player. He was a Hall of Famer who played all but a fraction of a season of his big-league career for the Cubs. During his 16-seasons in the majors, he was a 10-time all-star, nine-time golden glove award winner, seven-time silver slugger receipt and the National League MVP in 1984 for helping the team win the division and leading the Cubs to the post-season for the first time since 1945.
Perhaps the most remarkable things about his career were his consistency and integrity. He was an everyday player. He averaged 155 games per season between 1982 and 1986. He showed up day in and day out, and was for many of his 15 seasons one of a few bright spots for the Cubs. He was great, but he never stopped working at it. He amassed a 123 error-free game streak between June 1989 and May 1990.
One criticism of Ryno was that he was a bad interview. He was known for being a silent superstar. His Hall of Fame speech alluded to his respect for the game and criticized those who played more for show. He said, “Turning two is more important than knowing where to find the little red light on the dugout camera.”
Simply put, he showed up, put in the work and gave it his all every day.
Be nicer than you have to be
They say never meet your heroes; it will only end in disappointment as they can never live up to the standards you have set for them. This did not hold true for Ryno. I did meet him twice and I can tell you that he was wonderful. He was engaging and kind to me (I was a star-struck mess), to my adorable nieces, to my brother who once interrupted his meal at Harry Caray’s to get an autograph and to countless other Cub fans whom he met each day after his playing and managing days ended. And it wasn’t just the fans. He was thoughtful to colleagues, broadcasters, and widely respected by his opponents. He took his role as hero to a generation of Cubs fans seriously. He was a big dang deal and yet, he was nicer than he had to be.
Hero status should not be bequeathed; it should be earned. Even if you didn’t ask for it, chances are you are an everyday hero to someone. Maybe a colleague, a friend, your son, daughter, niece or nephew. We all have tough days, setbacks and challenges. You win some and lose some, but along the way, remember that how we act, our character, and what we say matter to someone. Let’s all strive to be worthy of being an everyday hero—to show up, to do the work and to be nicer than you have to be.
Thanks for the lessons, the memories and the magic, Mr. Sandberg. RIP. #for23ever.