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Ron Santo Dead at 70

metirish Dec 03 2010 05:32 AM

Per various Tweets http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ba ... 9814.story

Valadius Dec 03 2010 06:00 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

A pox on every moron on the Veterans' Committee who didn't see the light. RIP Ron Santo.

seawolf17 Dec 03 2010 07:16 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

A very good baseball player, a legendary Cub... and one of the many players who are just good enough not to be a Hall of Famer.

TransMonk Dec 03 2010 07:36 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

True Cub through and through...RIP.

Frayed Knot Dec 03 2010 07:42 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

Dude went through a whole helluva lot just to get to age 70. Diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager in an age where you didn't want to tell your team about it lest they use it as a reason to toss you aside. For a while he only told one teammate (I think it was 2B Glenn Beckert*) who he instructed to look for signs of his blood sugar getting out of whack one way or the other so he could then sneak down the tunnel and either take a shot or eat a candy bar. The disease eventually cost him both lower legs (prompting a trivia segment during Cubs broadcasts where listeners were invited to 'Stump' Ron Santo) and almost his life many years ago when he passed out behind the wheel of his car turing the vehicle into, in the words of sportswriter Rick Reilly, a large chunk of 'modern art'. Hope they bury him with his hairpiece - if for no other reason than to just re-tell the story about the time it caught on fire when he stood up during a cold day and it got too close to the ceiling mounted space heater in the booth. * I can still rattle off most of that late '60s Chicago team: Banks, Beckert, Kessinger & Santo around the infield Williams & Hickman at the corner OF, plus a revolving set of CFs the most famous of which (at least in NYC) was Jimmy Qualls Randy Hundley catching a strong starting staff with the likes of Hands, Jenkins, and Holtzman

MFS62 Dec 03 2010 08:02 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

Frayed Knot wrote: * I can still rattle off most of that late '60s Chicago team: Banks, Beckert, Kessinger & Santo around the infield Williams & Hickman at the corner OF, plus a revolving set of CFs the most famous of which (at least in NYC) was Jimmy Qualls Randy Hundley catching a strong starting staff with the likes of Hands, Jenkins, and Holtzman He was a shameless homer in the broadcast booth. I remember those Cub teams, too, including manager Leo Durocher. One of those centerfielders was a kid named Adolfo Phillips. He never had reached his potential, so Leo had to drop him to #8 the lineup. He didn't want to break his spirit, so Leo told him "Kid, you're my second cleanup hitter". The kid responded with his best year. I liked a lot of those Cubs players. Santo never made that list. But, I know what it is to fight Diabetes. RIP, Ron Later

Edgy DC Dec 03 2010 09:25 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

Nothing absolutely wrong with being a homer when you've spent (almost) your whole career playing for the team you're covering. It's just a different style, and not my cuppa, to be shure. But just be honest about it and be gracious enough to the other guys to acknowledge that, you know, they're trying too. Rest well, Saint Ronald.

themetfairy Dec 03 2010 09:38 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

RIP

metsguyinmichigan Dec 03 2010 03:49 PM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

Valadius wrote: A pox on every moron on the Veterans' Committee who didn't see the light. RIP Ron Santo. I agree. Third base is under-represented, and he was an an All-Star 9 of his 15 years, playing in a pitching-dominated era.

Chad Ochoseis Dec 03 2010 03:57 PM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

I lived in Chicago for ten years, and I really enjoyed his broadcasts. He was Chicago's Keith Hernandez. Knew the game well, was fun to listen to, and you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth next. I had no problem with him being a homer. I don't need my sportscasters to be objective, just fair. Yes, he was a fine player too. But if the idea is to get a 3B from that era into the Hall of Fame, my first thought - without looking at the numbers - is that Joe Torre would be a better choice. And I'd much rather see Torre go in as a player picked by the Veterans Committee than as a manager picked by the BBWAA (yeah, I know...not gonna happen). RIP.

TheOldMole Dec 03 2010 06:10 PM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

Fine man, fine ballplayer. RIP.

G-Fafif Dec 04 2010 05:08 AM Re: Ron Santo Dead at 70

Ken Levine with a nice tribute. How can someone have heart problems, diabetes, several amputations, bladder cancer, and worse, be a lifelong Cubs fan, and still be the cheeriest person you’ve ever met? That was Ron Santo, and that was his gift. Ron passed away on Thursday. He was 70. The man who lived under the darkest cloud provided the most sunshine for everyone else. Older readers remember Santo as a Hall of Fame-worthy Cubs’ third baseman. The fact that he’s not in the Hall-of-Fame is yet another injustice he endured with dignity and good cheer. But more people know him as the Chicago Cubs radio analyst on WGN along with superb partner, Pat Hughes. Ron’s analysis was unique to say the least. Some examples: Ron: “Ohhhhh no!!!!!” Ron: “Yeah, baby… yeah baby… YEAH!!!!” He broke down the game with his heart, as well as his eyes. And the genuine passion he had for the game and the team and the fans made his broadcasts not just informative but special. He mangled the language but so what? I was listening a couple of months ago and he described a certain catcher as having a “mind like a cannon”. The point is, you knew what he meant. Most of the time.