But if the team’s new owner, Tom Ricketts, picks Sandberg, Cubs fans will probably rejoice. The Cubs have been also-rans all season, and beyond his credentials as a player, Sandberg is roundly hailed for his professional approach. In his induction speech at Cooperstown, he used the word respect 19 times.

“He is so serious about getting to the big leagues and managing in the big leagues, and you’ve got to admire him for the way he’s going about it,” said Rick Sutcliffe, Sandberg’s former Cubs teammate. “He didn’t just walk into the Cubs and say, ‘Hey, I’m your guy, the fans want me to manage, give me the job.’ ”

Preparation is Sandberg’s hallmark, anyway. Baseball never came easily to him, he said, and when he had his career year at 23  winning the 1984 N.L. Most Valuable Player award and guiding the Cubs to their first postseason berth in 39 years  he worked tirelessly to maintain that level of play.

One of his mentors was John Vukovich, a hard-nosed coach who congratulated him on his M.V.P. by way of intimidation: “Ryno, great year, but don’t ever change  go about your business the same way. If you do start to change, I’m going to grab you by the neck and I’ll let you know.” Sandberg did as he was told.

Dallas Green brought Sand-berg, Vukovich and many others to the Cubs from the Philadelphia Phillies. Green had managed Philadelphia to the 1980 World Series title, and as the Cubs’ general manager two years later, he traded his younger shortstop, Ivan DeJesus, to the Phillies for their older shortstop, Larry Bowa.

Green insisted the Phillies throw in Sandberg, whom he had drafted in the 20th round in 1978. Sandberg, then a high school senior in Spokane, Wash., turned down a scholarship offer to be the quarterback at Washington State. Green craved a player with such athleticism, speed, work ethic and instincts, and though he works as a Phillies adviser now, he still looks out for Sandberg.