Ron Santo Dead at 70

[Roast]

Oh damnit...

 

Definitely did not expect to wake up to this :(

[JoshiQ]

This is just horrible, horrible news. You will be greatly missed, Ron!

[Wheelimus]

Well there went my year plus streak of not having cried.

 

RIP Ronnie, you may have not lived to see it but someday when The Cubs win a World Series you'll be celebrated even moreso than the young men who win it. That's what I call a legacy.

[JonnyRed]

Rest in peace Ronnie....You're a true Hall of Famer in the hearts of every Cubs fan.

[CubmanPi]

RIP Ronnie :bye:

[Guest]

Horrible news to wake up to. RIP. :(

[wekim81]

My own little story..

 

He was in Peoria a few years back signing autographs with the proceeds going to JDRF I believe, and I took my Santo Jersey to have him sign it. He was there with his son who had made the documentary the year before. He signed my jersey right on the zero on the back, and took a picture with me. I told him that he was one of my heroes growing up and that I wore #10 growing up playing 3B in Jr High and HS because of him. He seemed touched by the sentiment even though I’m sure there are 100 others out there who had told him the same.

 

This just..i don’t know..it sucks. Today is so hard. You could tell he was such a genuine guy, wore his heart on his sleeve, and cared about the Cubs and Cubs fans so much. GD it, lets win it all in 2011 for Ronnie!

[Abedunk34]

RIP Ron. Your endless enthusiasm will be missed. :(

[OleMissCub]

Always liked this article:

 

http://nationalsportsreview.com/2005/03/02/ron-santo-hall-worthy-2/

 

Using TPR, Santo was the best player in baseball from 1964-1968, with a TPR of about 32.5. That is an average of about 6.5 a season and there were only three other seasons in this span that reached 6.5 or more. Santo went a little above 7 a couple of times, which no one else did. Aaron is probably second in this time period with about 22. Santo was in the top 5 in the NL each of these years and first three times. In WS, Santo had 164. Only Allen (170), Mays (169) and Aaron (167) had more in MLB over the years 1964-68. Santo was 6th in WS (with 249) for the whole decade despite not playing in 1960 and getting off to a somewhat slow start in 1961-3. The top six in the decade were

 

Aaron 340

Mays 337

Robinson 307

Clemente 262

Killebrew 257

Santo 249

 

James says that 15 WS is an average season, 20 is an all-star season and 30 is an MVP type season. Santo averaged 32.8 over this period.

 

Pete Palmer has Santo as the 4th best player in TPR in all of MLB from 1961-72:

 

1- Mays (84.6)

2 - Aaron (81.3)

3 - Robinson (64.3)

4 - Santo (45.3)

 

Top 10 Win Shares of the 1960's:

 

Hank Aaron - 340

Willie Mays - 337

Frank Robinson - 307

Roberto Clemente - 260

Harmon Killebrew - 257

Ron Santo - 247

Mickey Mantle - 247

Willie McCovey - 237

Brooks Robinson - 233

Carl Yastrzemski - 230

[Old Style]

I was lucky enough to get him to autograph some baseballs for my dad and me before a Cubs-Rangers game in Arlington back in 2006, I think it was. It was the last game of the 3-game series and the only day game. About 10-12 of us were waiting (im)patiently below the announcers booth when someone finally asked Pat if Ron was going to be coming out anytime soon since it was almost game time. From our angle, we couldn't see that Ronnie was already sitting there. When he heard the question, he stood up and started having us toss up our stuff to get autographed. I will never forget that when someone tossed a cheap knockoff baseball to him, he would grab a blue sharpie and sign on the fat part of the baseball. When those of us that bought offical MLB baseballs tossed them up, he would sign right on the sweet spot with a blue ballpoint pen. That baseball has been on my fireplace mantle ever since. My dad has his proudly displayed amongst some other Cubs memorabilia at his home. I think what really gets me choked up about Santo's passing is that my dad is almost as big a Cubs fan as Ronnie was. He is also turning 80 next May and is starting to really slow down physically and mentally. His eyesight is getting progressively worse every year and I don't know if I will appreciate a Cubs World Series as much without my old man to share it with since he is the reason for me being a Cubs fan. Edited December 3, 2010 by Old Style

[NCCubFan]

Very sad news. I don't think it would have been a real shock to read it at any time given his health issues, but I don't think any of us knew it was imminent.

 

Shove it up your gluteus maximus, Veterans Committee voters. It would be fitting if Ron's family refuses to participate when Ron finally gets elected posthumously.

 

Ron actually talked to me once. I was in Atlanta for the early April series in Atlanta in 2004 and staying at the team hotel. I just got to the lobby when Ron and others got back from the game and he said "hold the elevator."

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, this is [expletive] awful. Pretty much the last thing I expected to hear when my alarm went off and started playing NPR.

 

I remember hearing him on ESPN 1000 after Quade got the job and he sounded really, really bad and I was wondering how much of the season he'd be able to call. Very, very sad.

[robotikarm]

Radio games will never be the same for me. I'm sad for his family. R.I.P. Ron

[RammyFanny]

RIP:(

[Abe Frohman]

CLEARLY, Ronnie is in HOF company with his career.

 

This is a HUGE loss for all of us Cub fans, and even though I thought it was a real possibility that Santo would pass before he was finally enshrined in the HOF, now that he is gone and never got to enjoy the fruits of his labor - IT ENRAGES ME.

 

It also makes me look at the Cub organization and see some things that make me feel things just aren't right. Sandberg's departure, mainly. Not that I object to the Quade hiring, but losing Sandberg to the Philly's, and the other small hints we get make me think this ship is going in the wrong direction.

 

The Ricketts are business men. The are in it for the profit. Clubs that make money don't spend it, and so far that is exactly what seems to be happening. Honor Ron by doing what it takes to bring Chicago a winner. Quit [expletive] around.

 

This sucks.

[Sammy Sofa]

Sandberg chose to leave. Let's not drag down Santo by bringing Sandberg into this.

[Old Style]

Sandberg chose to leave. Let's not drag down Santo by bringing Sandberg into this.

Don't argue with The Sausage King of Chicago.

 

But seriously, this is not the thread to rip ownership.

[davell]

RIP Ronnie. Not sure what to say here other than he gave me and all Cub fans tons of great memories.

[Abe Frohman]

Sorry guys. You are right.

 

It all points to the fact that it would be nice to win it all for Ronnie.

[C.C.]

Damn, this sucks. No matter how bad Ron over the years I still got a kick out of him and still loved Pat and Ron. Won't be the same without him.

[Keyris]

RIP Ron :(

[flyseye]

Boy oh boy........

[UMFan83]

If you guys are interested, this is a link to Santo's last interview on WGN (last ever?) on November 28, just 4 days before his death :(

 

http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/sportscentralweekend/wgnam-sportscentral-podcast-120310santo,0,1913243.mp3file

[fromthestretch]

To basically echo the sentiments of just about everyone else, this sucks. If anyone deserved to see the Cubs win it all, it was him, and the organization just couldn't deliver during his lifetime.

 

R.I.P. Ronnie.

[MWV]

I don't think I've ever been this saddened by the passing of a man I never met. I miss him already.