SOUTH BEND, IN - Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and Chicago Cubs All-Star Ryne Sandberg will be the special guest at the 2019 Midwest League All-Star Game and will be the keynote speaker at the All-Star Luncheon. The luncheon, presented by Four Winds Casino, will take place Tuesday, June 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Century Center.

"It is going to be a great honor to have Ryne play an integral part in our luncheon and All-Star pre-game festivities," said South Bend Cubs President Joe Hart. "He is one of the greats of the game and has always been a favorite for Cubs fans. Having the opportunity to hear him speak is going to be exciting for the All-Star players and the fans who attend the luncheon. It is not every day you have the opportunity to be a part of an event with a Major League Hall of Famer. I would like to thank Ryne and the Chicago Cubs for helping us with our event."



Sandberg was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005 after a 16-year MLB career, with 15 of those years spent in the Windy City. Known as one of the greatest second basemen to ever play the game, Sandberg retired with a resume featuring a National League MVP Award, nine Gold Gloves, ten All-Star appearances and 282 home runs. Sandberg's number 23 also is retired by the Chicago Cubs.



As well as a Hall-of-Fame playing career, Sandberg also has managed at both the Minor League and Major League levels. With the Cubs Minor League System, he managed in the Midwest League with Single-A Peoria from 2007-2010. In 2013, Sandberg became the Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Finally, starting in 2016, "Ryno" came back to the Cubs organization as an Ambassador for the team.



Tickets to the All-Star Luncheon will go on sale Thursday, February 28, at 10 a.m. and include a meal along with a special gift. Prices range from $85 for individual tickets to $600 for a full table of eight people. Proceeds from the event will benefit Beacon Children's Hospital. To purchase tickets, visit the South Bend Cubs Box Office or call (574) 235-9988. Tickets will not be available online.

About the South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs are the Class A minor league affiliate of the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. Over the past 31 seasons, the team has won five Midwest League titles, most recently in 2005, and has captured 12 division titles. In 2019, the South Bend Cubs will host the Midwest League All-Star Game. In June 2017, Four Winds Field, home of the South Bend Cubs, was voted Best Class A ballpark in the country by Ballpark Digest. In 2015 the team was named Ballpark Digest's Team of the Year and received the John H. Johnson President's Award, the highest award in minor league baseball. The team is owned and operated by Swing-Batter-Swing, LLC whose principal shareholder is Andrew T. Berlin of Chicago, Ill.