Sad news and just another reminder to screen for a preventable cancer.
The HOF debate should be at another time - but I’ll say I thought he was a bit overhyped overall - similar to Dale Murphy. Playing on a “national” regional tv network helped get him exposure to the public and name recognition. He was the standard for the 80s at 2b - but the guys who came along in the 90s/early 2000s redefined the position offensively.
Yea - for 5 years he was far and away the best at the position - but I’m not sure I’d take him over say Joe Morgan and Morgan is close enough to a contemporary to compare - between Morgan and Alomar stands Sandberg and while he was good - he’s bookended by better players in my opinion. Obviously Alomar had some help with Steroids - but playing in Wrigley aided Sandberg. Ultimately - I think he belongs, but wouldn’t say he was as great as some Cubs fan feel he was - like Banks, he just had the “good” fortune of being a star on some mediocre teams.
Anyway - RIP to a great ambassador of the game who remained engaged with fans even after the prognosis was clear. Baseball needs more players like him and his loss will be felt.