This Old Cub

Well, finally Ron Santo is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I just wish Ron had been alive to see it. He was denied induction so many times, disappointed so many times, now he is in.

I always thought the only way Ron would get in was to pass away, which as you all know happened a year ago. Many ex-players didn't like his clicking of the heels or the hard way he played the game and even the active pursuit on his part to get elected to the hall.

A lot of Ron's fellow hall of famers would always say they would vote for him,but he always would come up short. They are a very elite club who don't like to admit many new members but Ron certainly deserved this honor.

Ron put up Hall of Fame numbers but also remember, He is only the second third baseman with at least 5 gold gloves and 300 homers, the other being Mike Schmidt. Ron played his whole career with diabetes back in the days without glucometers. He ate candy whenever he didn't feel right. Yet he only missed 17 games his first 10 years, Ron played in an era with no steroids, no home night games,no 28 team league,60's era pitching with the likes of Gibson,Koufax,Marichal,Drysdale,Ford,Seaver etc.

He never played on a champion but this man was a champion of the heart. He loved his Cubs, he loved raising money for J.D.R.F. ( $60 million ),he loved his family and friends and Cubs nation. He wasn't the best color man on radio, but you knew what team he was rooting for.

I could tell just by listening to Ron by his voice if the Cubs were winning or not!! Pat Hughes and Ron were one of the best broadcast teams in radio, they had fun together and made a lot of bad Cubs teams sound just a little bit better every broadcast.Ron you Old Cub, you finally made it home.. safe at last.