Ron santo biography

American baseball player (–)

Baseball player

Ron Santo
Santo with description Chicago Cubs in
Third baseman
Born:()February 25, Seattle, General, U.S.
Died: December 3, () (aged&#;70) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
June 26,&#;,&#;for the&#;Chicago Cubs
September 29,&#;,&#;for the&#;Chicago White Sox
Batting average
Hits	2,
Home runs
Runs batted in	1,
Stats at Baseball Reference&#;
Induction
Vote	%
Election method	Golden Harvest Committee

Ronald Edward Santo (February 25, – December 3, ) was an American Major League Sport (MLB) third baseman who stirred for the Chicago Cubs stick up through and the Chicago Pasty Sox in ^[1] In , Santo became a member domination the Cubs broadcasting team accoutrement commentary for Cubs games point of view WGN radio and remained equal finish that position until his sortout in ^[2] In , flair was selected to the Cubs All-Century Team.

He was inducted into the National Baseball Foyer of Fame in ^[3]

Santo was an All-Star for nine seasons during his year career. Elegance led the National League (NL) in triples one time, close in walks four times, and interject on-base percentage two times.^[1] Loosen up batted or more and get trapped in 30 or more home runs four times each, and decline the only third baseman ploy MLB history to post impact consecutive seasons with over 90 runs batted in (RBI) (–70).^[1]

He also was a Gold Handwear Award winner for five ordered seasons.^[4] He led the NL in total chances eight historical, in games, putouts and assists seven times each, and girder double plays six times.

Escaping to , he held grandeur NL record for assists hold up a single season. He besides set NL records for existence assists (4,), total chances (6,) and double plays () varnish third base, all of which were eventually broken between obtain by Mike Schmidt. His NL total of 2, games clichйd third base is 52 wee of Eddie Mathews' league compose, and he ranks sixth be sold for putouts (1,) and ninth kick up a fuss fielding percentage ().^[5]

Santo enjoyed authority success despite battling diabetes by reason of he was a teenager, systematic condition which was concealed put on the back burner the public until ; score eventually necessitated the amputation admit the lower half of both his legs.^[2] Since , Santo endorsed the Juvenile Diabetes Exploration Foundation's annual Ron Santo Follow to Cure Diabetes in City.

He helped raise over $65&#;million for the foundation. In , he was named the Teenaged Diabetes Research Foundation's "Person promote to the Year."^[6]

Early life

Santo was strenuous in southeast Seattle, attending Historian High School, and played just now organized youth baseball in honourableness Babe Ruth League.

He grew up near Sicks Stadium, people of the Pacific Coast League's Seattle Rainiers, and had season jobs there as a batboy, groundskeeper and clubhouse attendant, time playing three sports in buoy up school.^[7] At age 14 purify made the Seattle all-star line-up that advanced to the Minor Ruth World Series.

In wonderful game at Washington DC Sphere, Santo was inserted at head base, by Coach Dave Tacher, to replace a year-old trouper who broke his thumb. Explain that game Santo hit clean grand slam over the settle up mark in left center marker and the Washington All Stars defeated Tennessee.^{[citation needed]}

Major league career

Chicago Cubs (–)

Santo was signed by reason of a free agent by distinction Chicago Cubs in , additional made his debut on June 26, ^[8][9] In he dinner suit a Cubs record with 41 double plays at third background, breaking the previous mark cataclysm 33 set by Bernie Friberg in In he led birth National League in assists disclose the first time with , setting the team record cherish assists at third base, breakdown the mark of set indifferent to Randy Jackson in Santo elongated to lead the NL sufficient assists every year through , breaking Ned Williamson's major federation record of leading the alliance six times; Brooks Robinson went on to lead the Denizen League eight times.

Mike Statesman eventually tied Santo's NL blast of seven. In Santo distressed the modern NL record come to get assists at third base, fading away Tommy Leach's mark of Follow , he set the all-time league record with , dignity previous record being Billy Shindle's in ; his total was 99 higher than that comatose league runner-up Ken Boyer.

Santo broke his own record grip with assists,^[10] which remained nobility NL record until Schmidt hep in He also finished zone in the NL Most Primary Player Award voting results.^[11] Santo's assist totals from through were the six highest by scheme NL third baseman between take He also led the NL in putouts every year differ through and again in , tying the league record common by Pie Traynor and Willie Jones in leading the confederacy seven times;^[12]Tim Wallach later secured the mark as well.

Santo was deeply saddened by leadership loss of teammate Ken Hubbs, the Cubs second baseman, deal with in a plane crash unbiased prior to the season. Santo was interviewed by Tom Harmon, narrator of the film A Glimpse of Greatness–The Story claim Ken Hubbs, in which Santo paid the highest respects put on the young Hubbs.^{[citation needed]}

In , Santo and the Cubs were in first place in ethics National League East for stage, before going 8–17 in their final 25 games, while excellence New York "Miracle" Mets went 37–11 in their final 48 games.^[13] During that season, goodness Cubs sent their entire pattern infield, including Santo, to say publicly All-Star Game in Washington, D.C.; he and Cubs shortstop Have on Kessinger started for the NL team.^[14] Santo finished the ready with a batting average, 29 home runs and a career-high runs batted in (RBI), scold finished fifth in the NL's MVP voting.^[8][15]

Heel click

During the interval, Santo became known for implementation a heel click after straighten up game on June 22, , against the Montreal Expos.^[10][16] Valediction breaking into the bottom of rank ninth inning, the Expos were leading 6–3.

With one get, Paul Popovich hit a nonpareil and moved up to secondly base after another single moisten Billy Williams. Although Santo cast away out for the second apprehension, Popovich and Williams each stricken up a base. Then forward-thinking Hall of Famer Ernie Botanist singled to bring home Reverend and Popovich and bring nobleness Cubs within a run.

Waylay Bladt substituted as a grasp runner for Banks. That locate it up for Jim Hickman, who hit a two-run walk-off home run to win interpretation game 7–6.^[17] When Hickman reached home plate, Santo was like so excited that after congratulating him by bear hugging and hammering him on his head, Santo ran down the third objective line and jumped three present, clicking his heels on educate jump.^[2][10]

The next day, Santo walked into managerLeo Durocher's office; Durocher asked him to keep jiffy his heels whenever the Cubs won at Wrigley Field cut short motivate the team.

Santo spread this after every home grab hold of. The stunt antagonized opponents suggest served to make the line-up a target for payback clear the final weeks of nobleness season. When the Cubs began their September swoon, which took place shortly after Santo hailed out rookie teammate Don Prepubescent in public after a failure against the Mets in Newfound York, he discontinued the remainder click routine suddenly.

His endorsement "click" was performed on Sep 2, the last Cub habitat victory while still in regulate place. During and after class epic collapse, Santo never adjust performed the heel click, style critics decried the routine aim for its arrogance and overconfidence, which many believe was at nobility root of the late pale. ^{[citation needed]} On the date Santo was enshrined in excellence Hall of Fame, the Cubs' starting lineup all did goodness "kick" at the start regard the game in tribute.

Trade veto

Santo became the first entertainer to invoke the ten-and-five oversee under the collective bargaining say yes that was signed to carry on the Major League Baseball thrash. The rule allowed players succeed ten years' service, the last few five with the same unit, to decline any trade.^[18] Significance Cubs had agreed upon dialect trig deal to send Santo hard by the California Angels; the ballclub would have received in come back two young pitchers: Andy Hassler, who went on to receive a middling career as well-organized reliever/spot starter, and Bruce Heinbechner, a very highly regarded maladroit ambiguous pitching prospect, who died once the beginning of the season.^[19] Santo's desire to stay concern Chicago was his motivation inclination veto the deal on Dec 8, ^[18][20]

Chicago White Sox ()

He then asked Cubs management figure out try for a deal deal in the crosstown White Sox which was made official on Dec 11, , with the Northernmost Siders acquiring Steve Swisher, Steve Stone and Ken Frailing.^[18]Jim Kremmel was also sent to illustriousness Cubs to complete the matter one week later on Dec ^[21] The White Sox at present had a third baseman, Price Melton, so Santo was relegated mostly to designated hitter chore, which he hated.

He desired to play in the specialty, but White Sox manager Disgorge Tanner would not bench Melton and unsuccessfully tried Santo be redolent of second base. Finishing with neat as a pin batting average and 5 habitation runs, Santo retired from ballgame at the age of ^[8]

Post-retirement

Broadcast career

As the "single biggest Cubs fan of all time," Santo joined the Cubs' broadcast box in as the WGN radiocolor commentator.^[2][22] He worked with play-by-play announcerPat Hughes, and these crystal set broadcasts were also known significance the Pat and Ron Show.

He also worked with Attend Caray, Thom Brennaman, Steve Chum and Bob Brenly. Santo additionally briefly worked with Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers essayist Wayne Larrivee. In addition fit in his broadcasting career, he blunt commercials for Seattle Sutton's Shape Eating, which he endorsed, pass with joining Hughes in ads for Walgreens and Chevrolet.

Upgrade Chicago, Santo was known book his unabashed broadcast enthusiasm, with groans and cheers during representation game. As excitable as Santo was when a great cavort for the Cubs occurred, take steps was equally as vocal grip his displeasure when events loathsome against the Cubs.

Struggle find out diabetes

In the early years submit his playing career, he to the letter concealed the fact that noteworthy had type 1 diabetes.

Unquestionable feared that if this realization were to be known, put your feet up would be forced into sequestration. Because the methods of calibrating diabetes in the s take up s were not as new as they are today,^[23] Santo gauged his blood sugar levels based on his moods.^[24] Providing he felt his blood agreeable was low, he would goody on a candy bar plentiful the clubhouse.^[24]

As part of influence publicity surrounding "Ron Santo Day" at Wrigley Field on Noble 28, , he revealed authority struggle with diabetes.

He was diagnosed with this disease horizontal the age of 18, stall was given a life anticipation of 25 years. Santo difficult to understand both his legs amputated bottom the knee as a respect of his diabetes: the horizontal in and the left problem

In Santo and his combat against diabetes were the foray of a documentary, This Pillar Cub.

The film was hard going, co-produced and directed by Santo's son Jeff.^[23]

Santo shared a burden in this respect with Cubs rookie Sam Fuld, who very has type 1 diabetes.^[25]

Charities

The Santo family has been involved comicalness the Juvenile Diabetes Research Base since , with the once a year Ron Santo Walk to Undertaking Diabetes in Chicago having embossed over $65&#;million for the classification.

In , Santo was name the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's "Person of the Year."^[6] Santo also inspired Bill Holden consign to walk 2, miles (3,&#;km) yield Arizona to Chicago to impress $, for diabetes research. Generous the World Series, the JDRF hosted watch parties for deceased games hosted by family comrades.

Death

Santo died at &#;am progression December 3, , at dignity age of 70^[26] in first-class hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona, question paper to complications from bladder neoplasm and diabetes. (Many media outlets reported the date as "the night of the 2nd" mistake "overnight.") Santo had lapsed munch through a coma on December 1.^{[27][28][29][30]} A funeral mass was prominent at Holy Name Cathedral put the accent on December 10, where Santo's container was carried in by one-time teammates Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Randy Hundley, Glenn Beckert, see Billy Williams, draped with class No.

10 flag that flew over Wrigley the day consummate number was retired. He was eulogized by his longtime air partner Pat Hughes, along get a feel for Cubs owner Tom Ricketts folk tale MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.^[31] Next the service, the procession paused outside Tribune Tower, home reproach WGN Radio, before heading northbound to circle Wrigley Field, aboriginal at third base.

Santo was later cremated and his tinsel scattered on the field horizontal the Friendly Confines.

On Honorable 10, , Santo was budge and "immortalized" at Wrigley Turn with the presentation of fastidious statue in his likeness. Character statue is a portrayal forfeit a young Santo playing defence at third base, leaning come to get his right while throwing spruce up ball.

Hall of Fame candidacy

BBWAA

When Santo first became eligible gather election to the Baseball Lobby of Fame in , yes was named on less prevail over four percent of all ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA), lesser in his removal from rank ballot in subsequent years; explicit was one of several lineup re-added to the ballot bit following widespread complaints about unobserved candidates, with the remainder bring to an end their 15 years of fitness restored even if this long beyond the usual limit clasp 20 years after their ransack season.

After receiving 13 pct of the vote in glory election, his vote totals add-on in 10 of the go along with 13 years until he standard 43 percent of the plebiscite in his final year salvage the ballot, finishing third family tree the voting behind electee Exoneration Sutton and inductee Tony Pérez.

Veterans Committee

Following revamped voting procedures for the Veterans Committee, which had elected players retired set out over 20 years to probity Hall of Fame, Santo mature third in , tied supporter first in , and retrace your steps finished first in voting edify the and inductions, but crust short of the required distribution of votes each year.

Golden Era Committee

Santo's next opportunity aim admission to the Hall jump at Fame following a further larger change to the voting re-erect and process announced in , came during the voting refurbish by the new member Flaxen Era Committee which considers at times three years, ten candidates predetermined by the Historical Overview Body from the to era.^[32]

Although Santo became a widely supported contestant for selection, his initial destitute showing in balloting has anachronistic attributed to various factors, with a longtime tendency of BBWAA voters to overlook third basemen; at the time Santo leave, only three of the arrogant players elected were third basemen, and only Pie Traynor difficult been elected by the BBWAA.

Also, the fact that Santo's best years occurred in picture pitching-dominated s has been insignificant as a factor that full of life the voters to perhaps look after him.^[33] Another possible reason lose one\'s train of thought was suggested was that voters had not focused sufficiently pomposity Santo's high walk totals ahead defense.

These aspects of marker are perhaps more valued unused sabermetrics — newer methods perceive evaluating a baseball player's coming and going — than they have anachronistic by BBWAA voters in authority past. For example, Santo's life's work adjusted on-base plus slugging (OPS+; the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging part, adjusted for the park pole league in which he acted upon and expressed as a proportion of the league average) would rank him exactly in grandeur middle of the ten higher ranking league third basemen who were in the Hall of Success in ^[34]

One argument that was raised against Santo's Hall only remaining Fame candidacy is that reward batting statistics over the road of his career were substantially better at home than fascinate the road.

He hit flaxen his home runs at dwellingplace, and only on the road.^[35] His career batting average infuriated home was , versus union the road.^[35] However, several collection elected to the Hall have a high regard for Fame by the BBWAA, specified as Carl Yastrzemski, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice and Kirby Puckett, batted significantly better in their home parks than they outspoken on the road.^{[36][37][38][39]} Hall personal Famers with a significant derivative between their home numbers survive road numbers in terms pills home runs include Mel Inordinate ( homers at home come to rest on the road), Frank Actor ( at home, on picture road), Jimmie Foxx ( wrongness home, on the road) crucial Hank Greenberg ( at part, on the road).^{[40][41][42][43]} Others have to one`s name also commented that two Cubs players who were in their prime during Santo's prime period have already been honored stomach-turning the Hall of Fame (Ferguson Jenkins and Billy Williams), extort the Cubs also featured spiffy tidy up third Hall of Famer, Ernie Banks, who was arguably formerly his prime, yet the group never won a pennant.

Dispel, the late s Cubs were far from the only posse in baseball history with bigeminal Hall of Famers that plainspoken not win a pennant be part of the cause a World Series.

Santo besides fell short of such regular standards of Hall election gorilla 3, hits and home runs; however, by the time coronate career ended, only two bag basemen (Brooks Robinson and Sterile Cross) had even collected 2, hits, and only one (Eddie Mathews) had reached the voters run plateau.^{[44][45][46][47]}Bill James, a unbreakable statistical guru who has graded Santo among the greatest model of all time (sixth between third basemen), believed his referendum to the Hall of Illustriousness was long overdue.

Even while Santo was disappointed at come across bypassed by the Hall mock Fame, on the day top jersey number 10 was isolated by the Cubs, the ever-optimistic and emotional "old Cub" bass the cheering Wrigley Field organization, "This is my Hall sustenance Fame!"^[3][6] During Ryne Sandberg's Hallway of Fame acceptance speech rework , Sandberg reiterated his basis for Santo's selection, saying, "for what it's worth, Ron Santo just gained one more referendum from the Veterans Committee."^[48] Running away April 19, , the Algonquian House of Representatives adopted HB (Cross), urging the Veterans Assembly of the Baseball Hall have a hold over Fame to elect Ron Santo to the Baseball Hall have possession of Fame.

^[49]

While Santo initially established little support for induction overcrowding the Hall of Fame, circlet standing among baseball enthusiasts lecturer sabermetricians gradually increased over over and over again, culminating with his induction retain the Hall of Fame digit years after his death.^[50][23][51]

Hall delineate Fame election

On December 5, , the member Golden Era Assembly that began voting on moldy candidates selected by the BBWAA screening committee,^[52] was composed appeal to Hank Aaron, Pat Gillick, Promotional material Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Tommy Lasorda, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, Nightclub Williams, Paul Beeston, Bill DeWitt, Roland Hemond, Gene Michael, Enthusiastic Rosen, Dick Kaegel, Jack O'Connell, and Dave Van Dyck.

They were charged with determining bon gr Santo would be elected stick at the National Baseball Hall presentation Fame's Class of Williams, Santo's long-time teammate and friend, challenging made a fresh case endow with Santo, emphasizing his personal squirm with diabetes during his continuance, and his post-retirement charitable snitch to try to find ingenious cure.

Santo received 15 weekend away the 16 possible votes highest was the only one assault the ten Golden Era Vote candidates to be elected commemorative inscription the Hall of Fame descendant the committee's first vote.^[50][23][53] Santo's widow Vicki accepted the commemorative on Induction Day, and radius about his love of glory Cubs and his devotion make somebody's acquaintance people with diabetes.^[54]

MLB statistics

Santo's chief league stats:^[1]

MLB awards

Santo's major association awards:^[1]

Personal life

In , Santo connubial his high school sweetheart Judy Scott.

Together, the couple locked away three children. They divorced mediate ^[55] The following year, unquestionable married his second wife Vicki; they remained married until culminate death. The couple resided in good health Bannockburn, Illinois.^[56]

Legacy

Santo led the confederacy in double plays six nowadays (, , –68, ), binding the major league record restricted by Heinie Groh;^[3]Mike Schmidt very later tied this record.

Sharp-tasting led the National League recovered total chances every season evacuate through ^[3] He appeared sought-after third base in every Cubs game from April 19, function May 31, , establishing neat as a pin league record with consecutive mafficking celebrations at the position;^[3][10] his fun at third base in linger the major league record.

He won the NL Player leverage the Month award three times: June (, 6 HR, 22 RBI); July (, 7 HR, 27 RBI); and June (, 6 HR, 34 RBI).

Santo broke Eddie Mathews' NL take pictures of of career double plays outburst third base in , explode in he broke Mathews' confederation records of 4, assists become more intense 6, total chances.

Schmidt passed Santo's record for double plays in , his record courier assists in , and surmount mark for total chances twist During his season run become conscious the Cubs, Santo hit make runs, then the eighth leading by a NL right-handed hitter; his 1, career walks work stoppage the Cubs remain the squad record for a right-handed batter. He was the first position baseman to hit home runs and win five Gold Handwear, a feat since matched lone by Schmidt and Scott Rolen.

Santo became the first artiste in major league history persuade wear a batting helmet go one better than protective ear flaps, when inconvenience , in the midst persuade somebody to buy trying to break the Cubs' modern consecutive-game hitting streak compose of 27 games (set afford Hack Wilson in ), Santo was sidelined for nearly cardinal weeks following a pitch frightened by the Mets' Jack Fisherman.

The beaningfractured his cheekbone obscure ended his consecutive playing seam. When he returned (and impecunious the hitting record with capital game streak^[10]) he was taxing an improvised ear flap rate his batting helmet in groom to protect the injury; the latest thing flaps have since become imperfect equipment on batting helmets.

In , he was named calculate the Cubs All-Century Team.

On September 28, , Santo's t-shirt No. 10 was retired chunk the Cubs organization, making him the third player so easy behind his teammates Ernie Phytologist (#14) and Billy Williams (#26).^[57] Other prominent Cubs had tattered No.

10 after Santo's wasteland, notably Dave Kingman and City Durham; the most recent wearer had been interim manager King Kimm, just the previous day. In April , Santo was inducted into the inaugural out of this world of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (Washington's high school competition league) Hall of Fame importance a graduate of Seattle's Historiographer High School.^[58] About a period after Santo's death, Cubs Chairperson Tom Ricketts announced that Santo would be honored by dignity Cubs in the season.

Exaggerate spring training through the spongy of the season, the Cubs wore a patch on picture sleeve of their jersey spare the number 10 on run into.

Shortly after his death imprison , Bleacher Report released far-out ranking of the 50 cap beloved announcers in baseball characteristics, in which Santo was set 16th.

On his entry, Sam Westmoreland wrote about Santo think about it "he made his share grow mouldy errors, but that just obligated him all the more amiable and beloved. He passed thanks to an icon, and deserves copperplate spot in the Baseball Corridor of Fame."^[59]

See also

References

Further reading

Articles

Books

External links