Ron Santo has anxiously awaited a most deserving induction into Baseball's Hall of Fame for many years. One of baseball history's greatest 3rd basemen, Santo played his entire career while suffering with diabetes. He kept this fact secret from the public until very late in his career. Santo is the subject of a recent independent film produced by his son Jeff, entitled "This Old Cub."
Santo fell just a few votes shy of induction by the Veterans' Committee. He received 57 of 82 votes cast, or 69.5%. 75% is required for induction. Santo led the voting by the Veterans' Committee - and the result is that there were no additional inductions from this committee in 2007. Cal Ripken, Jr. and Tony Gwynn will comprise the Hall of Fame Class of 2007.
As a Cub fan, it pains me to see this honor evade someone as deserving as Ron Santo. He received 8 gold gloves at 3rd base, hit 342 home runs and batted .277 over a 15-year career with the Cubs, the last year with the White Sox. Santo hit for power like few 3rd basemen of his era. While Mike Schmidt changed the power dynamic of the position in the 70s and 80s, Santo was the gold standard in the 60s. He was also the best-fielding 3rd baseman of his era not named Brooks Robinson.
Santo is now beloved by Cub fans as a radio announcer for Cub games with Pat Hughes on WGN Radio - 720 AM in Chicago. If you are fortunate enough to hear Pat and Ron call a Cubs game, consider yourself lucky. It is pure Americana - a love for the game, good-natured ribbing, and a superb pacing of the calling of the game by Pat and Ron. Ron Santo wears his heart on his sleeve where the Cubs are concerned. When they are playing well, his voice crackles with excitement. When they are not, the heavy sighs and exasperation come through the radio unfiltered. Ron Santo is comtinuing to suffer the effects of diabetes. He has lost both his legs and wears prostheses to get around. But his spirit is undimmed and his enthusiasm does not wane through such horrible losing seasons as the Cubs suffered in 2006.
It saddens me that Ron Santo will have to wait another two years for another vote by the Veterans' Committee. My hope is that he will be elected to the Hall and be here with us to accept a most deserving honor.