The Southern League announced today that former Smokies manager and current Philadelphia Phillies skipper Ryne Sandberg was inducted into the league’s inaugural Hall of Fame. Sandberg was named the manager for Tennessee in 2009 as the team went 71-69 and made it to the Southern League Championship. He was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2005 as well as having his number 23 retired by the Chicago Cubs.
Sandberg started his career in 1981 playing at shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies before being acquired in a trade by the Chicago Cubs with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa in exchange for Ivan DeJesus. He was installed at third base the next season and from that moment on he would become a legend at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
Sandberg would win the Gold Glove Award in 1983, and then would break out the next season, hitting .314 with 19 home runs, 19 triples, 36 doubles, 84 RBI, while swiping 32 bases and collecting 200 hits. That year he received All-Star, Silver Slugger and Gold Glove honors, and would also be named the National League’s Most Valuable Player. In total, he would win nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Slugger Awards, and be named to ten All-Star Games throughout his 16-year career.
His career stat line was impressive in those 16 seasons, compiling a .285 average with 282 home runs, 403 doubles, 76 triples, 344 stolen bases and 2386 hits in 2,184 contests.
Sandberg joins former Southern League presidents Billy Hitchcock, Jimmy Bragan, and Don Mincher, all of whom were unanimously selected in July 2013, as well as representatives from each of the other circuit’s clubs, including former players Reggie Jackson (Birmingham), Bo Jackson (Jackson), Dale Murphy (Mississippi), and Alan Trammel (Montgomery), as well as executives J. Frank Burke (Chattanooga) and Peter Bragan Sr. (Jacksonville) in the initial class. Beginning in 2015, the league will induct three new members each year, with a plaque placed in the Southern League office listing the inductees from each year. The initial class of 13 will be honored at the 2014 Southern League All-Star Game at AT&T Field in Chattanooga, Tennessee on June 17.
Andrew Green
smokiesradio
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