Wade Boggs: Hall of Fame 2005

Sandberg rips today's players who are 'disrespectful' of game

Former Cub says too few today play the game the right way, then makes pitch for former teammate Andre Dawson.

By DAVE SCHEIBER
Published August 1, 2005

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Ryne Sandberg began his Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday in the humble, self-effacing fashion that defined his stellar career with the Chicago Cubs.

Nobody saw what was coming next from the man who amassed five seasons batting .300-plus, had one 200-hit season and led National League second basemen in fielding percentage four times.

Before he was through, Sandberg became uncharacteristically outspoken in his views of the modern game, drawing loud ovations from the crowd of 28,000 - the third largest for a Hall induction.

Sandberg knocked modern ballplayers who place individual glory and attention above the team, lobbied for the induction of ex-teammate Andre Dawson and took a slap at players who have relied on steroids to gain an edge.

Not long into a speech of some 23 minutes - 10 more than the one given by Wade Boggs - Sandberg was talking about how he developed his respect and reverence for the game.

"People like Harry Caray and Don Zimmer used to compare me to Jackie Robinson. Can you think of a better tribute than that? But Harry ... used to say how nice it is that a guy who can hit 40 homers or steal 50 bases and drive in a hundred runs is the best bunter on the team. Nice? That was my job. When did it become okay for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?"

Sandberg was on a roll, drawing plenty of support from the large and boisterous contingent of Chicago fans - including actor Bill Murray, an avid Cubs lover.

Sandberg said players in his day never would report to camp overweight without risking their jobs. With 48 Hall of Famers at his back, he added, "These guys sitting up here did not pave the way for the rest of us so that players could swing for the fences every time up and forget how to move a runner over to third. It's disrespectful to them, to you and to the game of baseball we all played growing up."

Then came this jab: "A lot of people say this honor validates my career, but I didn't work hard for validation. I didn't play the game right because I saw a reward at the end of the tunnel. I played it right because that's what you're supposed to do, play it right and with respect. If this validates anything, it's just 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 dugout camera."

Cubs fans cheered wildly when Sandberg got to former Chicago star and teammate Dawson, seated several rows from the stage. Dawson has a shot at the hall, but his chances seem to be fading. Sandberg asked Dawson to stand up, then said, "No player in baseball history worked harder, suffered more or did it better than Andre Dawson.

"He's the best I've ever seen. ... The Hawk. I watched him win an MVP for a last-place team in 1987 and it was the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen in baseball. He did it the right way, the natural way, and he did it in the field and on the bases and in every way. And I hope he will stand up here someday."

Sandberg's said his only regret is that "we didn't get to a World Series for Cub fans." But on this day, all that lingered was a deep affection from those fans - and a very pointed message about the game.

[Last modified August 1, 2005, 01:10:08]