Cindy had filed a divorce petition in December 1993, six months before Ryne quit, that claimed the marriage was irretrievably broken.
Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg announced Tuesday, December 10, 2024, that the prostate cancer he defeated earlier this year has returned.
Highlights
- Ryne Sandberg announced that the prostate cancer which he defeated earlier this year has returned.
- Sandberg had two children, Lindsay and Justin Sandberg, with his first wife, Cindy White.
- He married Margaret Koehnemann after finalizing the divorce with Cindy.
The Chicago Cubs legend wrote in an Instagram post that the cancer, which he thought had been eliminated by radiation, had spread. He wrote,
“Unfortunately, we recently learned the cancer has relapsed, and it has spread to other organs,” “This means that I’m back to more intensive treatment. We will continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for me and my family.”
Ryne Sandberg
In a statement, Cubs owner Ricketts wrote,
“Ryne is an inspiration to cancer survivors everywhere,” “I know all Cubs fans join my family and me in sending positive thoughts to Ryne and keeping him and his family in our prayers as he faces this next round of treatments to defeat cancer. Ryne has the heart and soul of a champion and that will serve him well in this challenge.”
Tom Ricketts
Sandberg hit .285 with 282 homers, 1061 RBIs, and 344 steals in 16 seasons in the majors.
He made his big league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1981 and appeared in 13 games before he was traded to the Cubs in January 1982.
Ryne turned into one of the majors’ top players with the Cubs. He made 10 MLB All-Star teams and won nine Gold Gloves.
In 2005, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Over the summer, the Cubs immortalized Sandberg with a statue that depicts him crouched and waiting for a grounder.
It stands next to bronze tributes to fellow Hall of Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Ernie Banks.
Ryne Sandberg Tied The Knot With Margaret Koehnemann After Separating With Cindy White
Ryne Sandberg married Cindy White, his high school sweetheart, in 1979. They were married in a civil ceremony attended by some teammates and their manager, Billy Dancy.
They were blessed with one daughter, Lindsay, and one son, Justin Sandberg.
It was reported that Cindy had filed for divorce on December 17, 1993. After a brief reconciliation over Christmas, Cindy renewed the filing one week after Ryne’s retirement.
On July 5, 1995, the divorce became official as the couple agreed to joint custody of their children.
Cindy said she and Ryne divorced as amicably as possible under the circumstances, and she will always cherish the good times in their 16-year marriage.
In the same year, Ryne married Margaret Koehnemann on August 19, 1995. Margaret and her family were Ryne’s neighbors in the Phoenix area.
Margaret had three children from her previous marriage: B.R., Adriane, and Steven. He also has eight grandchildren.
Late in 1995, Ryne and Margaret attended a gem at Wrigley Field as Cubs guests. Margaret later reported that Ryne had that look in his eyes and asked him if he wanted to play again.
Knowing that his new bride would approve of his return to the Cubs, Ryne held a press conference on October 31, 1995, announcing his return for the 1996 season.
The couple lives with their five children in the Chicago Suburb of Lake Bluff, Illinois. They are Chicago-area homeowners, paying $1.1 million for a four-bedroom, 4,482-square-foot French country-style house.
Sandberg and his wife, Margaret, founded Ryno Kids Care to help children with serious illnesses. The organization provided everything from Big Brothers to a home-cooked meal.
Ryno Kid Care’s mission was to enhance the lives of children with severe medical conditions and their families. However, the organization is no longer in operation.
On May 12, 2024, Ryne wished Margaret a happy Mother’s Day through his Instagram handle and mentioned that they will celebrate their 30th marriage anniversary in 2025. He wrote,
Happy Mothers Day to my wife Margaret and life partner! We will be celebrating 30 years together next year, the experiences, events, and memories are endless. I wouldn’t have wanted to been with anyone else and she has made my life fun and has made me a better person and continues to do so. These past 6 months have been a journey and test for both of us but she has taken complete control of my battle with cancer like a Team Captain and I’ve managed to be as comfortable as possible and do all the doctors have ordered because of her. It has been a lot for her to take on but she has been the one I credit a lot for my successful winning of the battle! I love her more than ever! She is my Rock and with her by my side I can conquer anything! Thank you for your support and prayers to both of us!
Ryne Sandberg
Margaret and their children support Ryne Sandberg in providing the best medical care team for his treatment.
Additional Information
- Ryne Sandberg was born on September 18, 1959, to his father, Derwent D. Sandberg, and his mother, Elizabeth Sandberg.
- Sandberg has an estimated net worth of around $16 million as of 2024.
- On December 5, 2006, Ryne Sandberg was named manager of the Cubs’ Class-A Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League. In his first season as a manager, he led his team to the championship game.
