Ron Santo
February 25, 1940 – December 2, 2010
While I wasn't alive for the majority of Ron Santo's life that only means one thing. It means that I wasn't fortunate enough see his desire and passion for the game on the field. However Mr. Santo didn't ever let that passion escape him, as you could tell if you listened to him broadcast. You hear people talk about players with a great baseball mind and that is really what Ronny had. Year after year he gave his heart and soul to a Cubs team that hasn't won the World Series in over 100 years. I've watched and cheered for these pitiful Cubs year after year partly because one man could always give you hope, yes Ron Santo.
The statistics for Ron Santo are impressive as well. While I share a few in this tid-bit here the rest of them will be lower in the article. A career .277 hitter, with over 300 homer runs and over 1,300 RBIs over a 14 year career. He had various decorated achievements during his time as well with nine all-star games appearances and five gold-glove awards. His statistics qualify him to be a Hall of Famer, the sad thing is he is not one One can only hope that it will happen after he has passed on. While often times the players affect on winning a championship is always important in the Hall of Fame's decision, do not punish a player for being loyal to an organization. Ron Santo was on a winning team only seven years and did not go to the playoffs ever. But he wanted to stay and try and give the Cubs fans his heart and soul in an effort for a championship, which cannot replace a championship but it can ease some pain. Ron Santo played the game right and his stats show it, below are the third basemen in the Hall of Fame and under it are the stats Ronny had in those categories. (They are rather comparable, and wouldn't rank him last in any category.)
| Third Basemen BOLD Indicates Statistical Leader For HOF Third Basemen | |||||||
| Name [Link To Full Stats] | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | RUNS | SB |
.307 | .363 | .442 | 96 | 987 | 887 | 235 | |
.328 | .415 | .443 | 118 | 1,014 | 1,513 | 24 | |
.305 | .373 | .487 | 317 | 1,595 | 1,583 | 201 | |
.294 | .344 | .409 | 65 | 983 | 1,055 | 194 | |
.306 | .368 | .414 | 78 | 870 | 881 | 51 | |
.311 | .351 | .449 | 103 | 779 | 895 | 84 | |
.271 | .378 | .509 | 512 | 1,453 | 1,509 | 68 | |
.267 | .325 | .401 | 268 | 1,357 | 1,232 | 28 | |
.267 | .384 | .527 | 548 | 1,595 | 1,506 | 174 | |
.320 | .362 | .435 | 58 | 1,273 | 1,183 | 158 | |
| Name [Link To Full Stats] | AVG | OBP | SLG | HR | RBI | RUNS | SB |
| Hall of Fame Third Basemen | |||||||
Ron Santo .277 .362 .464 342 1,331 1,138 35
I know that being a good person doesn't qualify anyone for the Hall of Fame, but that is what Ronny was to this Cubs organization. As a fan I felt like Ronny was a friend talking to me personally through the radio; also I know him and the players shared a mutual respect. Ernie Banks will always be 'Mr. Cub' and deservedly so, but if there is a brother to 'Mr. Cub' and the Cubs organization it is Ron Santo. Everyone plays the game to be the best that they can in hopes be immortalized as a Hall of Famer, and Ronny will get there (hopefully). It is just a shame that 'The Hall' couldn't have called before he passed on. This is a quote from Ronny not getting inducted into 'The Hall', "I know getting inducted into the Hall of Fame had to be something, but that flag is going to be hanging there after everybody is gone."(Talking about his jersey number being retired by the Cubs.) To Ronny being honored by the Cubs was more important than voters from the Hall of Fame. Today we are reminded of a man who was above the Hall of Fame, but when 'The Hall' does call Ronny and 'the baseball Gods' will be smile down on us Cubs fans and his family.
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