Ron Santo Dies

Former Chicago Cubs third baseman and longtime radio broadcaster, Ron Santo passed away Thursday night at the age of  70 in an Arizona hospital. He had bladder cancer. He went into a coma on Wednesday and passed away on Thursday night.

 

Ron Santo  played for the Cubs from 1960 through 1973 before a final season in 1974 with the cross-town White Sox. He played baseball with passion and skill; he was the best third baseman of his era and in 1966 and 1967, arguably was among the top players in the game at any position.

 

He made the National League All-Star team in nine seasons and finished with 342 home runs, 1,331 RBI and a .277 batting average. He also lead the NL in walks four times and won five Gold Gloves for his work at third.

 

He did all of this while suffering the effects of juvenile diabetes. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he was barely 18 and battled a myriad of medical problems after retiring as a player. He lost both his legs to diabetes.

 

There is absolutely no question that Ron Santo should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame a very long time ago. He is one of the five or six best third basemen in baseball history. Santo himself  mentioned many times that he did not want to go into the Hall posthumously. They ought to be ashamed, every one of them, for not giving  great player this well deserved honor while he was still among us.

 

Hope the Hall voters now respect his wishes.