Cubs great Ryne Sandberg is hopeful amid his prostate cancer battle: 'Light at the end of the tunnel'

CHICAGO (670 The Score) — Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg has stepped onto Wrigley Field countless times before, but Monday afternoon was a new experience for him.

Sandberg, 64, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Cubs’ home opener amid his ongoing battle with prostate cancer. He has been undergoing treatment since publicly revealing his diagnosis in January and reported last week that no cancerous activity was found in recent scans.

Sandberg’s 6-foot-1 frame is frail, his hair is gone and his stride is slow these days, but his spirit is strong and he’s full of hope.

“Things are going well,” Sandberg said. “It is. Medicine is working well. Modern medicine is amazing. I have a great team that’s working for me. It’s just about getting through the calendar and the dates and the treatment. Things have gone well. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s right there – right in front of me.

“This is energizing to come out and be in front of (the fans), to be a part of this. It always is.”

In the first pitch ceremony, Sandberg was accompanied by fellow Hall of Fame members Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins, Lee Smith and Andre Dawson, each Cubs legends in their own right. But they all turned the moment over to Sandberg by waiting at the Wrigley Field mound as Sandberg emerged from the Cubs’ dugout to a loud ovation from the crowd.

A beloved icon in Cubs history, Sandberg is no stranger to receiving support from fans. But he has needed it now more than ever during this fight with cancer.

“It has been overwhelming,” Sandberg said.

As Sandberg walked onto Wrigley Field, Cubs fan Erin Fitzgerald held up a sign from the front steps in section 13. She traveled to Chicago from downstate Morton to welcome Sandberg out to the mound.

When Fitzgerald received a kidney donation from her father, Patrick, in 1997, Sandberg visited her for a meeting she has never forgotten. As Sandberg endures his own struggles, she repaid the visit.

On Friday, Sandberg posted on Instagram a photo of himself in a hospital bed. He was wearing a medical gown and slippers, his head completely bald for the first time in the public eye, but he wore a smile on his face.

Sandberg was looking forward to this day at Wrigley Field for a home opener unlike any he has experienced before. He feels the support and is optimistic about his outlook.

“It’s just a process and a journey,” Sandberg said. “But I’m out here today.

“I’m feeling good. This is energizing to me.”

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 .