Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg relishes opportunity to manage with Triple-A Iowa

Cubs legend Sandberg to manage Triple-A Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa — Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg has never shied away from telling folks that his dream is to manage in the major leagues someday.

As the new skipper for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, the Baseball Hall of Famer is now just one step from that goal — and possibly just one step from the dugout at Wrigley Field.

Sandberg, 50, accepted the job with Iowa in December after two seasons with Single-A Peoria and one year with Double-A Tennessee, both also affiliates in the Chicago system.

“It’s a step in the right direction for what I’m doing,” Sandberg said at a Monday press conference in Des Moines, where he donned his familiar No. 23 jersey. “This is something I really have taken to, I really enjoy. My goal is to do this at the major league level, so this is obviously a real nice stepping stone.”

Sandberg’s promotion prompted speculation he’s being groomed to replace Chicago manger Lou Piniella, whose contract runs through 2010. The congenial Sandberg wasn’t about to touch that one Monday, preferring to keep the focus on Iowa.

“Things have kind of worked their way out where I’ve been able to move up the ladder in three years and now be at Triple-A,” Sandberg said. “I just know that I have a job to do. I want to focus on what I have to do here and do a nice job and then see what happens.”

Sandberg, who is 202-215 in three seasons as a minor league manager, was named Iowa’s skipper after Bobby Dickerson left for a job in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

Sandberg, 50, spent several seasons as a spring training instructor with the Cubs after retiring in 1997. He decided he wanted to give managing a try, so the Cubs gave him the Peoria job in 2007. The organization moved him up to Double-A Tennessee last season.

The Smokies went 71-69 under Sandberg in 2009 and advanced to the Southern League playoffs.

Sandberg said he likely could have hooked on with Chicago as a coach, but he always thought the best path to a managing job in the majors was by being a skipper in the minors.

In fact, Sandberg said Monday that he thinks many of his fellow Hall of Famers haven’t landed major league managerial jobs because they didn’t first manage in the minors.

No matter how Sandberg’s managing career ends up going, his place in Cubs lore is assured.

Sandberg joined the Cubs in 1982. Two years later he was named the National League’s MVP after leading Chicago to their first playoff berth since 1945, and in 15 seasons with the Cubs he racked up 10 straight All-Star game appearances, nine Gold Gloves and a .989 fielding percentage.

Sandberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame and had his No. 23 retired by the Cubs in 2005.

Iowa has been affiliated with Chicago since 1981 and plays its home games in Des Moines, long a stronghold for the Cubs. Even though the I-Cubs already draw well — finishing fourth in the Pacific Coast League in attendance in 2009, according to president and general manager Sam Bernabe — they believe Sandberg’s arrival will help both ticket sales and their record.

“This is a good natural progression for him. He’s proven he can manage … He’s proven that he knows what he’s doing, both in the locker room and on the field. So, the now is the next step, to see what he can do here,” Bernabe said.

Sandberg described his managerial style as a combination of the traits he displayed as a player and tips he picked up from former Cubs managers like Jim Frey and Don Zimmer.

Sandberg’s familiarity with the Cubs system should also be a plus. He estimates at least half the players that end up in Iowa in April will have played for him in either Peoria and Tennessee.

Sandberg said he’ll ask those players to represent the Cubs uniform with class and respect.

“It’s going to be a tremendous summer. I ask the guys to play hard, give it all they can, but also play the game and have fun,” Sandberg said. “It is a game. I like the guys to enjoy it, and I think that brings out the most in their abilities.”