Ron Santo for the Hall of Fame
Ron Santo became a member of the Chicago National League ball club, known to many as “the Cubs” on June 26, 1960. He had three hits in seven at-bats including a double and five runs-batted-in. It was a good day for the twenty-year-old from Seattle, Washington.
His first major league home run came on July 3, 1960. That year he was fourth in the Rookie of the Year balloting, losing to Frank Howard overall. Pancho Herrera and Art Mahaffey both received more votes. Howard went on to have a distinguished career but Herrera and Mahaffey both faded away.
Over the course of his career, Santo his 342 home runs and gathered 2,254 hits. Neither statistic was monumental. There are lots of statistics we could discuss, none of which mean a hill of beans.
Ron Santo was a fantastic baseball player. I was young when he was nearing the end of his playing days. I preferred Billy Williams at the time, but Santo always was there. He always made the game fun.
Here was a guy who could field his position and was a long-ball threat. At times he could carry the team, although he recognized the stars were Banks and Williams.
After ending his baseball career (after an unfortunate year with the Chicago White Sox), he stayed away from the limelight for sixteen years, returning as a broadcaster for WGN radio.
The great story of Ron Santo cannot be contained in a blog such as this. Find a copy of his book “For Love of Ivy” at your local bookstore. He talks about his playing days, Durocher, and his fight with diabetes. The documentary “This Old Cub” is fantastic as well.
Ron Santo belongs in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, for more reasons than I have touched on here. He was an inspiring baseball player who continues to contribute to the game.
There are at least two meaningless online petitions (I signed one). There are also several stories about Santo that can be found at http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/. They are well written and tell his story so much better than I can.
This week the veterans committee votes for ballplayers missed by the writers. It is my hope they do the right thing and bring Ronnie into the Hall. If they do, it will be the best start the 2007 season could have.
His first major league home run came on July 3, 1960. That year he was fourth in the Rookie of the Year balloting, losing to Frank Howard overall. Pancho Herrera and Art Mahaffey both received more votes. Howard went on to have a distinguished career but Herrera and Mahaffey both faded away.
Over the course of his career, Santo his 342 home runs and gathered 2,254 hits. Neither statistic was monumental. There are lots of statistics we could discuss, none of which mean a hill of beans.
Ron Santo was a fantastic baseball player. I was young when he was nearing the end of his playing days. I preferred Billy Williams at the time, but Santo always was there. He always made the game fun.
Here was a guy who could field his position and was a long-ball threat. At times he could carry the team, although he recognized the stars were Banks and Williams.
After ending his baseball career (after an unfortunate year with the Chicago White Sox), he stayed away from the limelight for sixteen years, returning as a broadcaster for WGN radio.
The great story of Ron Santo cannot be contained in a blog such as this. Find a copy of his book “For Love of Ivy” at your local bookstore. He talks about his playing days, Durocher, and his fight with diabetes. The documentary “This Old Cub” is fantastic as well.
Ron Santo belongs in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, for more reasons than I have touched on here. He was an inspiring baseball player who continues to contribute to the game.
There are at least two meaningless online petitions (I signed one). There are also several stories about Santo that can be found at http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/. They are well written and tell his story so much better than I can.
This week the veterans committee votes for ballplayers missed by the writers. It is my hope they do the right thing and bring Ronnie into the Hall. If they do, it will be the best start the 2007 season could have.
Labels: Sports
posted by Alexander Dimm | 6:26 AM
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