Ryne Sandberg announced his resignation as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
"I didn't feel as though I had too many legs to stand on," Sandberg said during the press conference.
Sandberg was named manager of the Phillies in 2013 and led the team to a 119-159 record in parts of three seasons with the team. The Phils were 26-48 under Sandberg in 2015 entering Friday's contest.
"The wins and losses was a big thing that took a toll on me," Sandberg added. "I do not like to lose, I hate to lose. That's the biggest thing that weighed on me."
"With some changes at the top looming, I felt that I did not want to be in the way."
Former third base coach Pete Mackanin will take over as interim manager, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Most other coaches will remain in their respective positions.
"When we all found out, we were surprised by it," Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard said. "I think it's all still settling in. There's still a little bit of that shock value."
Howard declined to comment on exactly how Sandberg announced his resignation to the team.
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"I do want to thank the Phillies and Ruben Amaro for giving me this opportunity. It was a dream opportunity for me to put on a Phillies major league uniform," Sandberg said.
Sandberg said he has not decided on whether he will look to manage again in the future.
Eddie Sawyer was the last Phillies manager to resign midseason. He did so after one game in 1960, and famously noted, "I'm 49 years old, and I want to live to be 50."
The Phillies took Sandberg in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft and spent four years in the team's minor league system before debuting with a short 13-game stint at the major league level in 1981.
Sandberg then spent the rest of his 16-year MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Phillies will face the Washington Nationals and Max Scherzer at Citizens Bank Park tonight at 7:05.
