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Cubs' Lose 'Natural' To Retirement
15 June 1994
By Ross Newhan
LOS ANGELES -- Unhappy with his performance and devoid of motivation, second baseman Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs, a 10-time All-Star nicknamed "The Natural," has retired. "I am not the type of person who can be satisfied with anything less than my very best effort and my very top performance," he said during an emotional news conference on Monday at Chicago's Wrigley Field. "I am not the type of person who can leave my game at the ballpark and feel comfortable that my future is set regardless of my performance. And I am certainly not the type person who can ask the Cubs organization and Chicago Cubs fans to pay my salary when I am not happy with my mental approach and my performance." The 34-year-old Sandberg, batting .238 with five home runs and 24 RBI, signed a four-year, $28 million contract before the 1993 season. He received a $3.5 million signing bonus and a 1993 salary of $5.1 million. His 1994 salary of $5.1 million will be prorated through Sunday. He is giving up $10.2 million in salary for 1995 and 1996 and a $5.9 million option for 1997. Sandberg's announcement was not a total surprise. Generally considered the best second baseman of his era, he had said in spring training that this would be his last season. He had criticized the club's lack of stability and direction. The Cubs are last in the National League Central and have struggled from the start. Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, was 1984 National League MVP.
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