Future hall of famer will be guest manager

Arizona Daily Wildcat photo courtesy of the Ryne Sandberg Farewell Page at http:/www.geocities.com/collosseum/arena/ Former Chicago Cubs first baseman Ryne Sandberg will be a guest manager at the annual All-Pro Alumni game, Feb. 7 at Frank Sancet Field.

Sandberg will be the guest manager at the annual All-Pro Alumni game, set for Feb. 7 at Frank Sancet Field.

"It is nice to get invited to come down there. I live in the state and I am a big Arizona fan as far as the state goes," Sandberg said. "It is a great opportunity to be a part of the alumni game. It is my managerial debut down there and it should be a lot of fun."

Sandberg will manage a team that consists of San Francisco Giants' first baseman J.T. Snow, San Diego Padres' closer Trevor Hoffman and third baseman George Arias and Baltimore Orioles' starting pitcher Scott Erickson.

The former Cub will follow an all-star list of past guest managers, including Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Paul Molitor, Tommy Lasorda, Don Zimmer, Don Baylor, Mike Hargrove and Buck Showalter.

Sandberg said he was honored by the invitation.

"I got a call from (UA head) Coach (Jerry) Stitt and a call from St. Mary's coach (John Babtista) where my stepson is playing. I was invited by both coaches and was all for it," he said. "It is a great honor because Arizona has put out quite a few players professionally, which is impressive."

Babtista was a graduate assistant at the UA in 1989.

UA sophomore shortstop Keoni DeRenne, who was a 1998 Freshman All-American, said he looked forward to meeting Sandberg.

"I have never met him, but I have seen him play many times on TV," he said. "Hopefully I can learn a lot from him about his character not just being on the field. He is tall and I am short, so we are two different types of fielders. But it will be nice to meet him."

As for the game itself, DeRenne said it will be friendly competition.

"We want to beat them, but I am sure they want to beat us, too," he said. "It is good, friendly competition because we are all Wildcats past and present. It should be a fun day."

Since retiring as the all-time home run leader for second basemen in 1997, Sandberg has been residing in Phoenix and this season will rejoin the Cubs' as an infield and hitting specialist.

"I will be working two to three days a week putting on the uniform and helping at the minor and major league camps," Sandberg said. "I will also be making appearances in Chicago in the summer. It is nice to be able to be out on the field in a smaller capacity where I can be in both Arizona and Chicago."

As for managing, Sandberg said it won't happen until his children have grown up and moved out, but it is a possibility.

"We'll see what it turns into, what kind of job I do. If I get into that capacity it would be four to five years down the road when the kids are out the door," he said. "I have no thoughts about it now, but I will leave the doors open."

Sandberg spent all but six at-bats of his 16-year major league career with the Cubs and ranks as their career leader in games, at-bats, runs, hits, total bases, doubles, home-runs, extra-base hits and stolen bases. He also collected nine Gold Glove Awards in his career.

In 1984 he was named National League MVP and in 1990 he hit a career-best 40 homers and drove in 100 runs. He also set second base records for errorless games and total fielding chances without an error.