Earlier this week, baseball fans were dealt a huge blow when it was announced that Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies legend (and MLB Hall of Famer) Ryne Sandberg had passed away at age 65 following a long battle with prostate cancer. Immediately following the news, the baseball world at large had an outpouring of support for Sandberg. And now, MLB The Show 25 is following suit.
To celebrate the life and career of Sandberg, San Diego Studio announced today that it would be allowing players to earn a Hall of Fame version of his card. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Hall of Fame Ryne Sandberg card and how you can unlock it.
Hall Of Fame Ryne Sandberg Is A Phenomenal Infielder And Hitter
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Ryne Sandberg’s Hall of Fame card in MLB The Show 25 is incredible in virtually all areas. Against both righties and lefties, Ryno has no less than 111 Contact. His 90 and 87 Power against righties and lefties, respectively, might not wow anyone at first glance, but given his sweet swing, I think these numbers will play up, especially after a few parallels. On top of that, he’s got high Clutch and hitting Quirks such as Dead Red and First-Pitch Hitter.
Beyond his excellent bat, Sandberg is an absolute god in the field! The numbers are as follows: 92 Fielding, 80 Arm Power, 86 Arm Accuracy, and 90 Reactions. As a primary second baseman, these numbers are practically ideal. He also has third base as a secondary position, but honestly, I feel like he’s wasted there. Especially when we start looking at the speed.
As one would expect, Sandberg flies down the basepaths. He’s got 90 Speed and 99 Stealing, meaning getting on base with him will be a great tool to plating runs. It’ll also boost his already stellar defense.
Overall, I love this card. At this stage of the game, where endgame content has begun to trickle out, I do think Ryno can stand out as an elite second base option. Heck, with his fielding and speed being where they are, you might even be able to eat the out-of-position penalty he’ll get at shortstop. I’d also like to emphasize that this card serves as more than just a piece of content — it’s a tribute to one of the all-time greats.
So, how do you unlock him? Easy, simply by completing his Player program. In total, it only requires 23 Stars to complete, which in and of itself is a tribute to his jersey number. To achieve those 23 Stars, you’ll need to complete every Moment and Stat Mission available. Honestly, I see that as being the only downside, especially with options such as Chase Utley available. Still, great card, and I’ll definitely be giving him a try.
Rest in peace, Ryno. Thank you for the memories.
