Per ESPN.com:

The St. Louis Cardinals have received permission from the Philadelphia Phillies to interview Ryne Sandberg for their vacant managerial job, a baseball source familiar with the situation confirmed to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

Sandberg is a franchise icon with the Chicago Cubs, and he was a finalist last year to replace Lou Piniella as manager. But Mike Quade, who was informed he will not return as Cubs manager Wednesday, got the job after leading the Cubs to a 24-13 record in the final six weeks after Piniella retired. Chicago finished 71-91 in 2011.

Sandberg confirmed to the Daily Herald that new Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein called Sandberg on Wednesday and told him he will not be considered for the managerial vacancy with the team this time around.

Esteemed baseball man and columnist Patrick Reusse was just consulted for a quick primer on the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, and he concurs: It is the third-biggest in baseball behind Red Sox-Yankees and Dodgers/Giants. If Sandberg went to the Cardinals, it would be a huge deal -- at least, of course, until Albert Pujols signed with the Cubs.