Ron Santo
| Birthdate | 2/25/1940 |
| Death Date | 12/3/2010 |
| Debut Year | 1960 |
| Year of Induction | 2012 |
| Teams | Cubs, White Sox |
| Position | Third Base |
Nine times an All Star, Ron Santo won five straight Gold Glove Awards from 1964-1968. He was voted to the Cubs All Century team in 1999.
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Ron Santo was outstanding at the plate and in the field
Ron Santo was outstanding at the plate and in the field
Ron Santo made his first appearance in the big leagues as a 20-year old in 1960. In 95 games he hit .251 with 35 extra-base hits. His efforts were rewarded with a fourth-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.
The following season he began a run of 11 straight seasons with at least 154 games played. In 1963 Santo made his first All Star team, finishing the year with 25 homers, 99 RBI and a .297 average.
From 1963-1973 Santo made the All Star squad nine times. Adept at reaching base, the third baseman led the league in walks four times in a five-year span starting in 1964. Twice Santo paced the Senior Circuit in on-base percentage.
Santo played alongside Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Fergie Jenkins. Despite the talented teams, Santo never appeared in a postseason game.
The 6’0″, 190-pound Santo hit 20 or more homers 11 times, slamming 30 or more in each season from 1964-1967. Seven times he received support in MVP balloting.
In the field he earned Gold Gloves five straight seasons starting in ’64. Santo led NL third basemen in putouts and assists 7 times each, and total chances 9 times.
He left the game as the National League record-holder at his position for most assists in a season. Santo also held the league’s mark for career double plays and chances at his position.
When he retired in 1974 his career numbers included a .277 average, 342 home runs, 1,331 RBI, 1,108 walks and 1,138 runs scored.
A popular candidate for Cooperstown, Santo spent 15 years on the Hall of Fame ballot before being posthumously elected in 2012.
Shown here is a 1961 Topps card depicting Santo as a Topps Rookie All Star. Santo signed his name boldly.
After retiring as a player, Santo joined the Cubs broadcast booth
After retiring as a player, Santo joined the Cubs broadcast booth
Ron Santo joined the Cubs radio broadcasts as a color commentator in 1990. Known for openly rooting for his team on the air, Santo was a fan favorite in the booth.
As the Cubs announcer Santo regularly traveled with the club. When the Cubs played the Dodgers in a three-game set in Los Angeles in May, 1999 Santo penned this letter writing, “To Jim Best of luck to a great baseball fan. Your buddy, Ron Santo 5/11/1999”.
That night the Cubs doubled up the Dodgers 10-5. Sammy Sosa had three hits including the 8th of his 63 homers that season.
He was my favorite player.I saw him play when the Cubs came here 2 LA and play the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.