Philadelphia Phillies

Emotional Sandberg grateful for opportunity as he gracefully exits as Phillies manager

Published Jun. 26, 2015 4:42 p.m. ET

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As change sweeps a rebuilding franchise, Ryne Sandberg has stepped down as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, gracious for the opportunity to manage the team he made his major-league debut with in 1981.

On what Sandberg referred to as a challenging day for himself during a press conference on Friday, the 55-year-old Hall of Famer announced his resignation from the club amid a historically awful season for the Phillies, who are currently 26-48 on the season.

"It was a dream opportunity for me to put on a Phillies major-league uniform, and that's where it really hits hard today," Sandberg said alongside team president Pat Gillick and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

While both Gillick and Amaro have backed Sandberg during the Phillies' struggles, Sandberg was not foreseen to be the team's manager in 2016 with impending changes in the franchise's front office, which he addressed during his resignation press conference.

"With some leadership roles coming up, I think it was important for me not to be in the way with the way things have gone this year, but allow the organization to go forward and really get this thing going," Sandberg said.

As he reflected on his three years as Phillies manager, Sandberg held back tears while discussing his appreciation for Philadelphia's passionate fan base.

"In the last three years here in Philadelphia, I have met some of the most passionate baseball fans on a daily basis that always gave me encouragement," he said. "They love their baseball team, and that was something I'll never forget."

Read the full transcript of Sandberg's opening statement below:

Well, this is a difficult day and a challenging day and a tough day for myself, but I am stepping down as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies

It's not an easy decision. In a lot of ways, I'm old-school, and I'm very much dissatisfied with the record and not pleased at all with that, and I think that goes hand-in-hand with being a manager.

So, it's been a difficult thing to swallow. But I have thought about it for some time, and we've come to this day.

But I do want to thank the Phillies and Ruben Amaro for giving me this opportunity to do this with the club that originally drafted me in 1978. It was a dream opportunity for me to put on a Phillies major-league uniform, and that's where it really hits hard today as far as making a difficult decision.

With some leadership roles coming up, I think it was important for me not to be in the way, with the way things have gone this year, but allow the organization to go forward and really get this thing going.

In the last three years here in Philadelphia, I have met some of the most passionate baseball fans on a daily basis that always gave me encouragement. They love their baseball team, and that was something I'll never forget.

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