Santo's on deck once again

Ron Santo tries to be upbeat about his Hall of Fame chances

By Paul Sullivan
Chicago Tribune
Published February 20, 2007


MESA, Ariz. -- Another opportunity to make the Hall of Fame is coming up for Ron Santo, and although he's cautiously optimistic about next Tuesday's Veterans Committee balloting, Santo has learned the hard way to keep his emotions in check.

Santo acknowledges getting his hopes too high in 2003, allowing cameras to be in the room with him when he got the bad news from the Hall of Fame, a heartbreaking moment in the award-winning documentary "This Old Cub." And as much as he tried to downplay his feelings before the '05 results were announced, the disappointment was etched on Santo's face when he wound up eight votes shy of gaining entrance.

Another two years have passed and, once again, Santo is anxiously awaiting the results while trying to maintain an even keel.

"I'm keeping a low profile," Santo said. "But let's be honest, I want this badly, mainly because [the voting] is every two years. To me, two years, because of what I have with the diabetes and [getting] older, it's like eternity. If I do get in, I'd like to enjoy it."

Santo, who turns 67 Sunday, realizes it's out of his hands. The Veterans Committee didn't elect anyone in its last two rounds of balloting, even after the rules were changed to put the matter into the hands of Hall of Fame members instead of a select group composed mostly of veteran baseball writers.

Santo tied with Gil Hodges for first place on the '05 ballot, but neither received the necessary 75 percent of the vote total.

Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Santo deserves induction and would be a "great addition" to the Hall of Fame. The Veterans Committee, however, has been reluctant to add new members, which Piniella doesn't understand.

"If there's a doubt, instead of saying `no,' say `yes,'" Piniella said, before adding, "I'd better keep my mouth shut."



Kerry Wood, the Cubs player who's closest with Santo, believes his friend "definitely has the numbers" to merit inclusion. Wood said he's puzzled by the voting and doesn't understand why Santo, a nine-time NL All-Star third baseman, has yet to make the Hall.

Santo hit .277 over 15 seasons with 342 home runs and 1,331 RBIs. He hit 20 or more homers in 11 of those seasons and had 114 or more RBIs three times.

"His numbers are just as good or better than some guys who are in," Wood said. "Seems like some people don't want him in there for some reason."

Santo doesn't plan on inviting reporters to his Scottsdale home next Tuesday and said he'll probably hold a news conference at Fitch Park if he finally gets the call.

It has been 33 years since Santo retired, beginning a long journey that has ended in repeated heartache. Despite credible career numbers, he received only 3.9 percent of the vote on his first year of eligibility in 1980, and was dropped from the ballot for failing to receive 5 percent.

His name eventually went back on the ballot in '85, but Santo never came close in voting by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. His best showing in voting by the BBWAA was 43.1 percent in 1998.

While Santo is encouraged by the fact that his peers are voting, he doesn't like the idea of voting every other year.

"Players sometimes forget who they voted for, or might change it," he said. "I'm sure there were a couple of guys who lost votes after two years. That's what I worry about. I like the fact that my peers are voting."



After dealing with diabetes during his career, then losing both legs and having open-heart surgery in recent years, the battle-scarred Santo realizes he's fortunate to be alive and healthy enough to continue in his role as color man on Cubs radio broadcasts. He didn't reveal he played with diabetes until 10 years after his career ended.

"I'm so fortunate to be alive today," Santo said. "Because diabetes is a very insidious disease, and at my age, with Type 1, everything slows down. Within [the last] six months, I've had pneumonia twice."

Santo said he's feeling good now, and not surprisingly, he's enthusiastic about the Cubs' chances in 2007.

"You know what I feel good about?" he said. "I loved when Jim Hendry said at the [Cubs] convention: `We're going to be good, and we're going to stay good.' I think we're solid enough."


Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

[I'm obviously in favor of Mr. Santo's induction into the Hall of Fame. Here's a list of other players who I feel deserve enshrinement: Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Rich Gossage, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Roger Maris, Dale Murphy, Al Oliver, and Jim Rice. - jtf]