Ron Santo passes away at 70

[Invader3K]

The Chicago Cubs legend died last night due to complications from bladder cancer.

(Dec. 3) -- Ron Santo, the retired Chicago Cubs great who lost his legs to diabetes but continued to work as a broadcast analyst, has died at age 70.

The former Cubs third baseman, who hit 342 home runs and drove in 1,331 runs during his 15-year major league career, died Thursday of complications from bladder cancer, family members told WGN-AM in a report cited by the Chicago Tribune. Santo worked for the station as a Cubs analyst.

 

 

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[1992casey]

This is sad news for fans everywhere. I've always felt that his playing career was underrated by many. He was certainly dedicated to his team.

[JimH5]

It was fun/frustrating to tune in to Cubs games to listen to him and his homer calls. I hate the Cubs, so the things that brought him despair would bring me glee--and vice versa.

 

But I admire his passion for his team, and I REALLY admire how he continued to work even as his body was failing him. He could have given up years ago, but he kept plugging along.

 

Not sure if he's a Hall of Famer. But he seemed like a decent guy and a hero in his battles against his ailments.

[1992casey]

Hall of Fame Trial - Ron Santo

[Funketown]

For all I enjoyed his pain when the Cubs lost, he seemed like a pretty good guy. Sad to hear this.

[Fatter than Joey]

The Cubs probably lost their biggest fan today.

[Mass Haas]

This is not an audio link, but just a programming reminder MLB Network Radio provided.

 

Happened to hear that interview with Santo on my workday commute via XM Radio the day after Thanksgiving.

 

His passion, even via his baseball sufferings following his own club, seemed to allow him to overcome the many very real and severe physical sufferings he dealt with in "real" life.

[Patrick425]

Occasionally I'll listen to Cubs game on the radio. I'm really going to miss Santo. I know many have criticized his broadcasting talents. However, I found him very entertaining to listen to. It was like eavesdropping on a die hard, life long, Cubs fan as he watched a game. He truly lived and died with each play and he clearly showed that emotion when he did his broadcasts.

[JohnBriggs12]

It's a sad day in baseball indeed. I think the last time I listened to him was when McGehee got that walk off hit off Marmol. Santo always wore his emotions on his sleeve just like any fan.

 

Of course I remember him as a player too. When Santo came up in 1960, Eddie Mathews was established as the premier 3B in the game, certainly in the NL. His 2 closest NL rivals were Ken Boyer and then a little later Santo. Boyer and Santo were both very good, but neither is in the HOF. Eventually, both probably will make it.

[hawing]

He truly lived and died with each play and he clearly showed that emotion when he did his broadcasts.

Listening to Ron pretty much drove me crazy, but I respect his passion for the Cubs, even though I don't share it; and he certainly had more than his share of physical ailment to bear. I always thought if the Cubs actually "won it all" while he was in the booth, that he might not survive it, though at least he'd die happy.

 

I was mildly surprised to see this in the Chicago Tribune online obituary:

His most famous call was a simple two-word utterance -- "Oh no!" -- when

outfielder Brant Brown dropped a fly ball with two outs and the bases

loaded in the bottom of the ninth of a crucial game in Milwaukee in the

final week of the 1998 season.

When I heard the news on the radio this morning, I thought of tomwopat's avatar immediately:

 

http://images.yuku.com/image/png/ffa15f91825790cee6c119425654fd6d5b9278a_t.gif

 

Rest in peace, Ron.

[joepepsi]

Santo deserves the Hall of Fame. It's one of the biggest disgraces of the Hall.

[brewers4eric]

I heard the news on the drive to work this morning. Ironically, they included the audio call from the Brant Brown game. I have no memory of Santo as a player, but I enjoyed listening to horrific Cub losses on the radio just to hear him grunt, groan, and complain.

[RockCoCougars]

Seemed like a good guy, who really has had a rough shake of it with health issues. I never understood the vitriol against him due to his homer-ish style on the radio- especially from many people who grew up listening to Max McGee.... (who he reminded me of).

[brains and braun]

I also enjoyed listening to Ron. Especially when he'd kid around with Pat about his "gamer." (The high quality toupee for ballgames) Not a great announcer by any conventional means, but Ronnie always entertained. Made listening to games FUN, and I think there is something to be said for that. He will be missed in my home. As for the Hall, I think he should make and will eventually. Unfortunately, he won't be around to see it.

[PrinceEatMeat]

Very sad news. Ron deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I know many were annoyed with him as an announcer, but he sure was passionate. I agree that the Cubs probably just lost their biggest fan.

[DuWayne Steurer]

I loved listening to the rare inning when Hughes was away doing something else, and Santo was handling play by play by himself. You'd hear a crack of a bat, and then something along the lines of ".........uh......CAUGHT in uh.........right field by......Sosa? Yeah. Sosa."

 

I digress. The guy has belonged in the HOF for a good long while. It sucks that if and when he makes it, he won't be able to cherish the moment.

[UeckerAddict]

While it's true I hate the Cubs, I mourn the losses of Harry Caray and Ron Santo. Both seemed like good guys who were passionate about baseball. No matter what team someone may like, I always hate seeing passionate baseball people go. They've made my life so much better.

[bucks2281]

I thought he was terrible on the radio, but aside from that, this is sad news. I had a lot of respect for him -- he heroically dealt with a litany of physical ailments, but he was as tough as nails. Rest in peace, Ronnie.

[HiAndTight]

It was fun/frustrating to tune in to Cubs games to listen to him and his homer calls. I hate the Cubs, so the things that brought him despair would bring me glee--and vice versa.

 

But I admire his passion for his team, and I REALLY admire how he continued to work even as his body was failing him. He could have given up years ago, but he kept plugging along.

 

Not sure if he's a Hall of Famer. But he seemed like a decent guy and a hero in his battles against his ailments.

Agreed. Most of us on here can appreciate how loyal and dedicated he was to the Cubbies. It's a sad time for Cubbie nation.

 

While I have to admit, I wasn't his biggest fan, and he wasn't exactly the most polished radio guy, you really could hear the emotion coming through. At the time I thought his agonized groans were funny, but hey, it's kinda cool to have a guy who's that emotionally invested into the team.

 

Great player as well.

[TooLiveBrew]

When I heard the news on the radio this morning, I thought of tomwopat's avatar

 

Me too... I literally said, "Oh no!" out loud before I even thought of the connection. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

 

R.I.P. Ron

[HiAndTight]

I loved listening to the rare inning when Hughes was away doing something else, and Santo was handling play by play by himself. You'd hear a crack of a bat, and then something along the lines of ".........uh......CAUGHT in uh.........right field by......Sosa? Yeah. Sosa."

 

I digress. The guy has belonged in the HOF for a good long while. It sucks that if and when he makes it, he won't be able to cherish the moment.

I thought it was better when the ball WASN'T caught. "OH NO!!! NO....NO....NO....that's just a shame....c'mon GUYS!!!"

 

Just blind homerism....and that's not a bad thing.

[Schlitz001]

I'm a huge fan of radio and Ron was always one of my favorite radio voices. I love passion in the voice of an announcer and Ron was certainly genuinely passionate. As a Brewer fan I could grin a little bit hearing Ron's "Oh no!" when the Cubs were playing the Brewers.

 

I didn't get to see him play, but his numbers always seemed Hall worthy to me.

[1992casey]

Here's Ron's Hall of Fame Trial topic:

 

ARTICLE: Hall of Fame Trial - Ron Santo

 

I remember looking up OPS+ stats for Hall of Fame third basemen a few years back. Ron's would fall right in the middle of that group. I would think that should make him a worthy candidate.

[Ennder]

Sad to hear the news, never good when a long time baseball guy passes away.

 

I still would put him in the top 10 most annoying broadcasters in baseball history though. Hawk being #1 of course.

[AdvantageSchneider]

I emailed a buddy of mine today about this and his reply, "So I guess there's an opening in the cubs broadcast booth for Cory Provus."

 

I'm sorry that Ron had to die, but...