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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ryne Greets Opening Day With Rookie’s Enthusiasm

Bill Jauss Chicago Tribune

Ryne Sandberg said the feeling struck him when he awoke Monday.

“I felt, ‘It’s Opening Day! Game day! It’s what I’ve waited for for six months,”’ Sandberg said of his return to baseball.

Rather than abate, Sandberg’s emotions intensified as the Cubs edged the San Diego Padres 5-4 before a capacity crowd of 38,734 fans in Wrigley Field.

“I was nervous, excited, pumped up, all combined,” said the Cubs’ 36-year-old second baseman. “It was hard to relax. I almost had to fight myself to calm down.”

The huge Opening Day crowd didn’t help Sandberg relax.

Fans saluted him with a standing ovation when he was announced in the starting lineup for the first time since May 1994. They screamed even louder in the home half of the first inning when he drove a deep fly into a fierce wind to Rickey Henderson on the warning track in front of the wall in left.

Then, with the score tied at 4 and two men on base in the last of the 10th, hearty Sandberg-watchers, bundled up in sub-40-degree temperature, yelled for their man to stroke the game-winning hit. Instead, Sandberg walked, loading the bases and setting the stage for Mark Grace’s game-winner.

“It was outstanding the way the crowd got into it and behind us,” Sandberg said. “It was a special day for the Cubs and for myself. Cubs fans are awesome. They’ve always been the best … always will be.”

On Day 1 in his second stint with the Cubs, Sandberg flied deep to left, twice grounded out, walked the last two times, and flawlessly fielded seven chances. Manager Jim Riggleman said the greatest challenge facing Sandberg simply will be competing again against big-league players.

“But I have no doubt Ryno will make it. He had a fine spring, and he’s not too old.”