With the college football season coming to a close and the NFL playoffs kicking off this weekend, I figured this was a good time to discuss Ryne Sandberg, the football player. Sandberg die-hards know that he was a three-sport star at North Central High School in Spokane, Washington. In fact, he was recruited by Division I schools to play quarterback and even signed a letter of intent with Washington State University. However, when the Philadelphia Phillies came calling, he chose the route of hardball, and we know where that took him.

A couple of months ago, I picked up a magazine about the history of North Central football (1908-1981). There is an article inside about the 1977 team led by quarterback Ryne Sandberg. Sandberg directed the team to its first undefeated season since 1928. All-City in 1976 and 1977, he was North Central's first All-American high school player. At the time the magazine was published, Sandberg held many school football records: total yards in a game, season, and career; attempts in a career; completions in a game, season, and career; and passing touchdowns in a season and career.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much else on Sandberg in the magazine. Even so, it was fun reading what I could about the team and Ryne, the football player.