As we prepare to pay our respects to Chicago Cubs icon Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg, another team legend, Andre Dawson, speaks from the heart, leaving everyone choked up.

Sandberg, who spent his career with the Cubs and passed away on July 28, 2025 at the age of 65, left behind an everlasting legacy — not only through his incredible play, but also through the way he lived his life: humble, dedicated, and full of love for everyone around him.

Before the memorial service, held on Gallagher Way near Wrigley Field, where the Sandberg memorial stands, Andre Dawson said:

“I admired Ryne not only for his talent, but also for the way he lived and lived for the Cubs. He taught the team, the city, to live with passion, with pride — every day as if it were their last. I promised myself: I would be like him. Live for the Cubs, for the fans, for the spirit that ‘Ryno’ built throughout his life.”

The sharing was not only a declaration from one legend to another legend — but also a reminder of the indomitable spirit, of the unconditional love for a sports icon.

Also at the memorial service, friends, former teammates and fans gathered at the monument, laying flowers and letters, to remember “Ryno” — the inspiration for today’s generation of Cubs.

Every No. 23 jersey, every hug, every moment on Gallagher Way that day was filled with respect — with Ryne Sandberg still among us, still watching the Cubs’ heartbeat.

And now, Andre Dawson — who also topped every Cubs record, who represented a great generation — tells us: that spirit will continue. Even though football is yesterday’s game, the loyalty, the passion, the pride will continue:

“I will live for the Cubs, as he did — until my last breath.”