by Kent Sterling
Ron Santo loved baseball. There was no other reason for him to spend so much of his life tethered to it despite living with Type 1 diabetes. No one craved enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame more than Santo, and he died this morning without that honor. For that slight, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the veteran’s committee ignored him should feel tremendous shame.
For the decade of the 1960s, Santo was the best third baseman in baseball. He won Gold Gloves, hit home runs (342 in his career), and hit for average (.277). He led National League third basemen in every relevant defensive statistic throughout the 1960s. He made nine all-star games, and always played with great hustle and passion. Santo’s career stats are borderline for the hall of fame when compared with the other ten third basemen already enshrined.
What carries him past borderline is that he did it all before his health robbed of another four or five productive seasons. If he had been healthy and able to continue playing, there is almost no doubt he would have finished his career with 400+ home runs and 1,500+ RBI. That would make him one of two third basemen in the history of baseball to reach those plateaus. Add that to his defensive excellence, durability (11 consecutive seasons with 150+ games played), and unbridled enthusiasm, and Santo is a no-brainer.
All the guy wanted was for the phone to ring inviting him to Cooperstown for induction, but the veteran’s committee never made that happen. It’s hard to even guess why. Maybe four hall of famers from one team that never made it to the postseason seems excessive to them. Maybe his consistent excellence was overshadowed by that of both Billy Williams and Ernie Banks. Maybe they have something against diabetics. Who knows.
The Baseball Writers Association of America (where the hell else who a baseball writers association be from?) who cast ballots for the hall during the 15 years of a players eligibility were never any smarter. The threshold for election is for a player to receive votes on 75% of the ballots. Santo received for that 40% only in 1998, his final year on the ballot.
Ron Santo will be enshrined one day, but he won’t be there to experience the thrill of joining that brotherhood. No one wanted it more. And as the best third baseman in the game for a decade, he deserved that recognition. As a man fought bad health to first play and then describe games for the Cubs and who worked tirelessly to raise money and recognition for diabetes, he deserved more than that tiny cabal of men on the veteran’s committee denied him.
Santo’s was a career well played, and a life well lived. Shame on people who don’t wish to honor him.
Said very, very well. Thank you.
There’s one thing that needs to be done…name the Cubs Spring Training site as Ron Santo Stadium…end of story!
I am soooo sad….I do not know what makes me feel worse–Ron Santo not being inducted into the Hall of Fame in his lifetime or never seeing his Cubbies go all the way. At least the Cubs got it right when they retired his number…
The thing that kills me is that Santo was such a good guy. Try to find someone in baseball of Chicago who ever had a bad experience with Santo. He was endlessly cheerful and kind.
Couldn’t agree more. The man is certainly a legend in many respects and a quality individual. He gave his all to the team and the sport. It’s too bad he wasn’t treated better with regard tot he Hall. He deserved it (and still does).
Screw the Hall and screw the petty Veteran’s Committee. Ron wanted a World Series champs Chicago Cubs more than anything else. If I have to take up baseball again and work my way onto the team the hard way to make that happen I’ll do it. Ronnie wanted a WS first and foremost for all of us, now we have to make it happen for Ronnie.
We miss you Ron, and the game will never be the same without you.
Cooperstown is becoming a fraud. I predict Pete Rose will get in, while he is alive. The steroid users will get in. Santo may have been the most courageous player since Gehrig. If that is too strong, I also think of Andre Dawson, who performed in pain so much of his career. Even if as they say his stats are only very good, not great. Cooperstown seems to think there are only 7 positions in baseball. Third base and catchers are under represented. If you look at all the lists of greatest third basemen in history. Santo is always in the top ten. Different names come up, but his name always does. Of the top ten, consistently, only about five of the top ten are in the hall of fame. Even if he gets in now, Baseball writers, and the veterans committee are losing credibility. Greatness is stats, yes, it is also about something larger. Santo’s number was #10 and oddly that is about where he places in most evaluations of all men who manned the hot corner. Some people say that is only good, not great. We will have to bear some less deserving people making speeches. In recent decades we have had to have some discussions with our kids about things outside of performance on he field that makes a person a hero. That discussion was never necessary with Ron Santo. I think he should be in. I am no expert. The Wright brothers were amateurs. The people who built the Titanic were experts. I’ll leave it to the experts at Cooperstown.
Kent Sterling, i totally agree with everything you have said. This is a sad day for MLB and Chicago Baseball. Ron Santo was so deserving of getting that phone call from the Committee, it is a travesty and a disgrace that he passed away and has not gotten this honor. RIP Ron Santo, give Harry a huge hug from us Cubbie fans, who miss you both so very much. Great Column Mr. Sterling. Thank You for writing it.
If Pete Rose is kept out of the hall for things he did outside of baseball, Ronnie should be in for the he did outside of baseball.
That is a great comment. I never thought of it that way, but you are exactly right.
What Pete Rose did wasn’t outside of baseball. HE GAMBLED ON BASEBALL AND HIS OWN TEAM WHILE HE WAS A PLAYER/MANAGER!!! Which was against the rules of the game for 60+ years at the time and that rule is posted in EVERY MAJOR LEAGUE CLUBHOUSE!!!
Not only a great player,but a better man. A Hall of Famer for sure. Shame on cooperstown.
Ronnie was a humble man. He was once asked if he had his choice, would he rather have been inducted into the HOF or see the cubs win a world series. As much as Ron wanted induction, he answered “I want the town of Chicago to see a World Series victory. Shame on the HOF for failing to recognize a man who loved the game, and dedicated his entire life to it. If and when it finally happens, I will go to Cooperstown to honor Mr Santo. Godspeed Ronnie !!
Well written article.
Ron Santo will always be a HOF in Cubbieland.
A true Gentlemen & Ambassador of the game!!!
I will miss the “Oh No” on the radio.
RIP Ronnie!! #10 will always be LIVE!!
I will never stop wanting a World Series for the Cubbies, but honestly, it won’t mean nearly as much knowing that Ronnie isn’t around any longer to see it. I love Pat Hughes but it might be time for me to change my radio preset – I can’t imagine listening to radio games without Mr Santo.
RIP Ron. You are as true a Cubbie as there’s ever been.
Ron Santo is the reason I became a Cubs fan. When I was ten years old he became my hero. I saw Wrigley Field and Ronnie on TV and was hooked. I watched this man play this wonderful game as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen it play then, or since. I listened to his broadcasts and no one loved the Cubs or their fans more. It’s a travesty that Ronnie has never been inducted into the hall. Ron – we love you and will miss you greatly!
Ken,
Thank you a an article well written. I hope everyone of them can’t look themselves in the mirror this morning and all the mornings to come. I had the privilege of meeting Ron at a Cubs Convention and he was visiably honored that I had waited 4 hrs in line for his autograph. He made the personnel who would have “hustled” him off to another appearance wait while he gave me and another lady from Iowa who had waited with me his full attention. We talked and took pictures and gave us both a kiss before he left. He is and always be a class act. I don’t know how we will get thru the next season.
Linda
I have no respect for the Hall of Fame committee that refused Ron’s induction. Ron Santo was the best thing that happened to baseball in a long time. To play with diabetes and continue to broadcast for as long as he has is unbelievable. I will not visit the Hall of Fame.
Col.Paul Malarik III
I agree with you, it`s too late to make a difference to Ron
if they couldn`t honor him when it meant something now the
HALL OF SHAME DOESN`T DESERVE RON SANTO
A True Friend,
Sandra
It is a sad unbelieveable day for Cubs fans and for Major League Baseball. I have been angry with the Vets Committee for some time because the head of Vets Committee puts who HE wants in the Hall of Fame i.e Ted Williams keeping Hodges out and Joe Morgan getting Joe Gordon in. Gil Hodges and Ron Santo should have been in the Hall years ago. Santo should have been voted in while he was still with us. His cheerfulness, his exuberance and love for the game and the Cubbies will never be forgotten. Shame on the cliquish Vets Committee for not putting Santo in the HOF.
Like poster Kevin, I too became a Santo fan and a Cubs fan as a ten- year-old during that magical and ultimately tragic (for Cubbie’s fans) 1969 season. Maybe if we had won, this story would be less painful. To all of us who have loved, admired, and treasured Ronnie Santo for his unbridled enthusiasum and unwavering competitiveness, he will always be a Hall-of-Famer. To those whose short-sightedness cost him the living memory of having been awarded this much-desrved honor, a pox on all of your houses. RIP Ronnie, I’ll bet God ws clicking his heals when he saw you coming through the gate..
There are those who say Ronnie was tough to deal with after games and that his grit while playing, rubbed people the wrong way. I have heqard this from players who played with and againsy him. That may be but the man was a diabetic and to be perfectly honest, he was crabby because of it. How do we all feel when our own sugar levels get tweaked? Somehow, this got passed down through time and Santo never made the Hall. Diabeties research has progressed alot since Santo played and Santo would have had an easier time of it if he played in today’s leagues. I stopped watching baseball in 2003 and the lack of respect for Santo was the reason. I went to 30-40 games a year. I posted another comment in the Chicago Tribune while I said to myself, “I’m not gonna make this about Joe Morgan and Bob Gibson (and others over the years) who didn’t like Santo and voted against him. Frankly, it pisses me off and I have no respect for the petty individuals who voted against Santo. We sure see alot of that these days in every genre. Ron Santo lived life the way he played baseball and if I had one small bit of his integrity and lust for life, I’d be a better person. Shame shame shame shame shame on the Veterans Committee and every single voter who omitted Ronnie from the Hall. Now I’ve vented and it’s not about me…it’s about the family and friend’s of Ronnie. I hope they find acceptance and hope and comfort as fast as possible. Thanks for writing this article sir.
Having practically grown up at Wrigley Field, it’s a very sad day for me today. I actually cried when I heard the news this morning. I have to admit though, just hearing his name brought back a lot of wonderful memories. I remember when they sold the Ron Santo pizzas. Bases were loaded, Santo was at bat, and I thought to myself, if you hit a home run I’ll buy one of your pizzas. HE DID! And my Dad bought me a pizza.
RIP Mr Santo………………
My Uncle Johnny worked for Pro’s Pizza and knew Santo. Always said great things about him.
He pissed off local/regional/national sportswriters during his career with his attitude and arrogance and had moaned too often to the HOF since he was first denied entry to the HOF.
He is partly to blame….
I never heard any sportswriters or broadcasters say a bad thing about Santo. Kingman and McGwire? I never heard any say a nice thing about either of them.
Like I said, he was crabby after games and that is the direct result of the mood swings that affect every diabetic, especially back then when treatment wasn’t what it was in today’s medical world. I cut him some slack because of that. Everyone else enjoyed a barley pop to wind down. If grown men can’t put aside the pettiness and focus on what Santo did on the field, then that says more about them than it does Ron Santo. RIP Bro..
Marty, who exactly did he piss off? You make this statement without backing it up; you are going off of hearsay. The attitude he had was “hard nosed” on the field. How can you question his freedom of speech for stating disappointment with not getting into the HOF?
I am a lifelong Cubs fan, born in the late 60′s. I have cheered many Cubs players over the years, and admired their accomplishments on the field. I was too young to truly know Ron’s playing days, but I have admired his passion for the Cubs, and for JDRF, and for life off the field, for many many years. I have many photos of Cubs players in my basement, and other memorabilia, but I only have ONE Cubs Player Jersey. RIP #10. Love you and Miss You already.
Feel better now, Joe Morgan? It was the obscene political lobbying of the Joe Morgan led Veterans committee that made this happen. The idea that no one was as good as them.
But like he did with everything else, Ron rose above it and, as he said when they raised the #10 Flag over Wrigley Field, “This is better than the Hall of Fame.”
God bless a true hero. When pitchers and catcher report next year, Ron’s presence will be felt by all.
Thank you Ron.
At least we don’t have to listen to Morgan’s inane comments on this and many other subjects on Sunday Night Baseball next year.
Joe Morgan needs to be sent to the retirement home. he truly has lost his mine.
Morgan may make inane comments every now and then but at least he has always voted for Santo on the Veteran’s Committee.
Ron Santo was one of my heroes when I was a young boy growing up in the 1960′s. For me, the era of the mid-50′s to late 60′s was a time when baseball was great. And Ron Santo was truly one of the greats. I’m sure that if it were possible to ask some of the players who competed against him, such as Eddie Matthews, that they would agree that Santo deserves to be in the HOF.
I only hope that the HOF will someday correct this injustice and Ron Santo will be able to take his rightful place alongside the greats who played the game.
As a Seattle native (still live here) and Franklin High grad (as was Ron), I was always cognizant and proud of his legend. Although “Ronnie” was just a few years ahead of our bunch in school, back in the 60s, without the lightening quick instant ESPN reports, each morning we would open the paper to see how our hometown hero fared the previous night(or day in Chicago). We would vicariously share his success in school the next day. When he came home, it was like the President of the USA was in town. Invariably, our local radio stations would invite him on the air for “hot stove” talks. Always a gentleman, like another home-grown guy, Fred Hutchinson, Ron Santo has and will always be a Hall of Famer here in Seattle.
Great article, RIP a true Cubs legend.
When I was young (not long ago) Ron met with a friend (14 yrs old) of mine who had just lost his leg due to cancer. He joked with him inside the park, toured Wrigley with him, and made him feel better about having his “bionic” leg etc it was a highlight for him after a few years of cancer/chemo and amputations…. a truly great human being.
He’s actually the boy in “this old Cub” who Ron is sitting with in the dugout.
Thanks for your article. I became a Cubs fan in 1962. Ronnie was the best third baseman in the NL during his era. He and Brooks Robinson stood out among all of the others. Shame on the HOF.
One other point about Santo: His best seasons were in the 1960s, probably the second most offensive inhibited era in baseball history (behind the Deadball Era). Given that historical context, Santo’s offensive output in his career is even more remarkable.
I believe that everybody in the Cubs’ organization should dedicate next season to Ronnie’s memory. They also should strive to get to, and win, the World Series for him. This ol’ Cub would’ve wanted it that way, right, gang? Election to the hall, though, would be the icin’ on the cake. God bless! Long live Ronnie’s #10!
Very saddened by the news…If Ronnie ever gets into the HOF, I hope his family boycotts the entire event…ALL he wanted was a CUBS world series victory, and enshrinement…doing it now is a slap in his face…
JOE MORGAN SUCKS !
I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago, and some of my favorite childhood memories are of watching Ron Santo and the Cubs play. What a sad day.. my childhood hero has died. He was a great competitor, but an even greater man. Thanks for the memories Ron! You will be missed.
Gee, even if a voter didn’t like him personally — and Kent’s right, virtually everybody LOVED him — statistically speaking, he’s GOT to be in the HOF. The Washington Post’s Dave Sheinin said today that in the 1960s, Santo’s stats (HR, RBI, walks and slugging percentage) were better “than any other third baseman — including Hall-of-Famers Eddie Mathews and Brooks Robinson.”
It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Rest in piece, Ronnie. God bless you.
I love the baseball hall of fame, but it is a hall of fame in name only until Santo is in. I agree, shame on them for not making this happen in his lifetime.
Ron Santo’s death is a heart-felt tragedy, while the disregard for his election into the HOF is a heart-felt travesty!
No. 10 was seven years my senior, and I remember when he came up in 1960 to join the club. As others mentioned, he played with passion and heart. Ernie and Billy may have overshadowed him, but he was undenyably the team leader. I remember when he was hit in the face on a high inside pitch, and he nearly lost his eye. He played hard, lived life fully. Our hearts were broken in 1969 when the Cubs lost out to the Mets, but we were always hopeful for the next season. I’ll miss No. 10 saying, things like, “What was he thinking?” And his lament of, “Oh man, Oh man.” And there’s the elongated, “YEEEEES,” and “Yes sir!” I too will miss Ron on the radio, and the Pat and Ron Show as the broadcast was called. For the sake of his memory and his family, I hope the Veterans Committee comes to their senses and grant him passage into the Hall. I just hope it won’t totally be too little too late. To Ronnie’s family, I say, we share in your loss, and thank you so much for sharing him with us. Blessings to you.
a friend told me at work this morning of the news. my eyes welled up with sorrow and also anger in that he didn’t make it to the podium in Cooperstown. we watched him on the field stepping into the batter’s box and covering his hands and powerful arms in dirt before the first pitch arrived. we did the same thing in our little league games just because he did it. for the last several years i counted the days until the hof elections by the veterans committee. no more will i do that. the man who deserved it most is elsewhere doing his work.
I am devastated today. Every true Cubs fan could relate to Ron on the radio – you lived and died with his, “Oh no…” and the, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” We all knew his health had been geting worse over the years. I think we all secretly prayed that he would hang on “One more year”, for him to get into the HoF and to see the Cubs win the Series. My thoughts and prayers go out today to his family and friends. The baseball communitty lost a great human being today, the calls on the radio will no longer be the same and I will miss that greatly. The HoF should be ashamed of themselves for not placing a great player and a great man where he has long belonged while he was still with us.
RON WAS A CLASS ACT.HE DID ALOT FOR THE KIDS.I WILL MISS HIM
VERY MUCH.LISTENING TO THE RADIO THIS SUMMER WILL NOT BE THE SAME.IF THEY PUT HIM IN THE HALL,ITS TOO DAM LATE.I HOPE THEY
ARE HAPPY NOW.NUMBER 10 WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART.
It is said character is what you do when no one is looking.
My wife worked with Ron at WGN for 20 years. She said he would do virtually anything for anyone anytime, quite often when no one was looking. Totally selfless, and no ego.
She adored the man.
We will break out our video of “This old Cub” tonight. What a wonderful person.
I hope when the committee finally comes to their senses the Santo family says them where to take a flying leap from. It is sad that Ron Santo never felt the joy of induction the way we enjoyed seeing him play and listening to him announce games. No one loved the Cubs more. We were blessed to have him as a part of the Cubs family.
Thursday night was a very interesting sports night. We saw a sure Hall of Famer LeBron James continue his classless assault on Cleveland. He sold out for money and a title (that he doesn’t deserve). Then we hear of the passing of Ron Santo. A man that lived and died with Chicago every step of the way. We would have never left town for a bought title. Now in the age of Bret Favre and LeBron I just hope and pray that loyalty and love for the fans did not die on Thursday night.
Here is too the statue of Ron Santo that some day will grace the grounds of Wrigley Field!
I CERTAINLY HOPE THE VOTING MEMBERS OF THE HALL OF FAME CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THEMSELVES IN THE MIRROR THIS MORNING!
THEY, MOST DEFINITELY, SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT VOTING RON SANTO INTO THE HALL.
JUST LIKE THAT RIDICULOUS “DANCING WITH THE STARS” TV SHOW, IN MOST CASES IT IS A POPULARITY CONTEST, HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH TRUE SKILL, WHICH RON SANTO DEMONSTRATED HIS ENTIRE CAREER!
VERY VERY SAD!!!!!!!!
With idiots like Joe Morgan and Mike Schmidt pretty much actively campaigning to keep Ronnie out of the HOF, it’s going to be a tough dragon to slay. I’ll give Schmidt his due as a player-he was awesome. As a person though, he’s a turd. And Joe Morgan just sucks. He still thinks he was superior to Sandberg (only in your own mind,Joe), Robbie Alomar, and several other 2B that were better than him. He was a good player on a great team but he was never great. And he is possibly the worst national broadcaster in the history of sports. What it comes down to is that the Reds of the 70s won and the Cubs of the 60s and early 70s always came up short and some idiots can’t see past that. Your team’s accomplishments do not dictate whether an individual should get his just due. Schmidt and Morgan are just egotistical jerks looking to rain on the parades of others and inflate their own balloon heads. RIP, Ronnie; you were the best and you alwayswill be.
Morgan has voted for Santo.
I had the pleasure and honor to meet and personally interact with Ron at Cubs Fantasy camp a few years back. It was shortly after his second amputation. What an inspiration! I idolized him growing up. In fact, the last fist fight of my life (at about age 9) came about because my next door neighbor (and Sox fan) tried to tell me that Bill Melton was a better third baseman than Santo. I had to kick his butt over that disrespect.
I moved away from Chicago 25 years ago and didn’t get to hear his broadcasts too often. I was entertained (if not informed)! A great tradition dies with Ronnie and it cannot ever be the same.
RIP Ron Santo. Cub extraordinaire!
The Hall may have thought they were impugning Ron Santo’s legitimacy as a great player. Instead, all they did was irrevocably destroy their own legitimacy as gatekeepers for greatness. Ron Santo wasn’t diminished by not being in the Hall; the Hall was diminished ny not having Ron Santo.
Now, finally, the Hall of Fame can be seen for what it is: a joke. It’s a creepy little institution in rural New York that has no more credibility than you or I to assess baseball careers. It’s just a muesum and gift shop curated by self-important clerks.
At the end of the day, Ron Santo brought down the Hall of Fame. His last favor to the game he loived and that loved him back.
Actually, Mark Edwards, the correct English is, ‘no more credibility than you or me…’. Just givin’ you a heads-up on the proper grammar. God bless!
Oh relax! There are 199 players in the hall of fame. that’s about 1 in every 80 players who have been in the majors. santo was a good player, but the hof is reserved for great players. get over it already!