"There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years"
About this Quote
The specific intent is legacy-building, but not the chest-thumping kind. “Together” does the heavy lifting. A double play is the sport’s most satisfying act of collaboration: one out becomes two through timing, proximity, and faith that the other person will be exactly where the play demands. Sandberg is pointing to something bigger than talent: continuity. Ten years is an eternity in roster churn terms, and he knows it. He’s not saying “we were great.” He’s saying “we lasted,” which implies professionalism, durability, and a shared standard.
The subtext is also gently corrective to how fans remember teams: through bats, not gloves. The Cubs of that era weren’t defined by championships, so Sandberg leans into what can’t be taken away - competence, chemistry, a daily craft performed in plain sight. It’s an athlete’s version of romance, minus the sentimentality: two men on either side, one in the middle, turning routine into identity.
Quote Details
| Topic | Teamwork |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite | Cite this Quote |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Sandberg, Ryne. (2026, January 15). There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-was-shawon-dunston-and-mark-grace-and-154774/
Chicago Style
Sandberg, Ryne. "There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years." FixQuotes. January 15, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-was-shawon-dunston-and-mark-grace-and-154774/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"There was Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace, and together we were a double play combination for ten years." FixQuotes, 15 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/there-was-shawon-dunston-and-mark-grace-and-154774/. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.



