Baumgartner Honors Spokane Native and MLB Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg

WASHINGTON – Congressman Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) issued the following statement on the passing of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Spokane native Ryne Sandberg:

“Ryne Sandberg wasn’t just a Hall of Famer—he was Spokane’s pride," said Congressman Baumgartner. “From the ballfields of North Central High School to the ivy-covered walls of Wrigley Field, Sandberg brought class, consistency, and quiet excellence to the game of baseball. His legacy will live on in the countless young athletes he inspired—proof that you can go from Spokane to Cooperstown with grit, discipline, and heart.”

Sandberg earned 10 All-Star selections, 9 Gold Gloves, and a National League MVP award—not by chasing headlines, but by doing the hard things right every single day. That work ethic is familiar to every Eastern Washingtonian. He was inducted into the Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Fame in 2005. 

Sandberg passed away surrounded by family after fighting a battle with cancer at age 65.