Ron Santo has died

[bonarae]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ba ... 9814.story

Legendary Chicago Cubs player and broadcaster Ron Santo died Thursday night in Arizona. He was 70.

Friends of Santo's family said the North Side icon lapsed into a coma on Wednesday before dying Thursday. Santo died of complications from bladder cancer, WGN-AM 720 reported.

The former Cubs third baseman had overcome several debilitating injuries, including the amputation of both legs, to continue to work as a Cubs analyst on WGN, the team's flagship radio broadcast. He was expected to return for the 2011 season.

Despite ongoing health problems, including a lifelong battle with diabetes, Santo never considered giving up his work alongside play-by-play man Pat Hughes. He missed several road trips in 2010 but insisted he would return.

[Gil Dobie]

RIP Ron Santo

[JoltinJoe]

His exclusion from the Hall of Fame is a large oversight. Sadly, he won't be there when they finally correct this mistake.

[bonarae]

His exclusion from the Hall of Fame is a large oversight. Sadly, he won't be there when they finally correct this mistake.

I checked his BB-Ref page http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ro01.shtml and he has never been nominated by the Veterans Committee yet. I guess he won't be having a bust in Cooperstown for the foreseeable future.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

attention baseball writers - Santo, perhaps the most deserving player not in the Hall has now not lived to enjoy the lofty honor he earned... take note, do the right thing with those deserving individuals still elligible.

and to the veterans committee - you've tragically failed in your mission... make it right.

one of the top 10 3B of all time - and perhaps the most beloved Cub short of Ernie Banks.

[SuperHornet]

What are the odds of Santo getting in via the Jon Miller path?

[Ivytalk]

Santo was one of the best defensive 3B ever and a great clutch hitter. I know he always killed the Phillies. R.I.P.

[isumatt]

attention baseball writers - Santo, perhaps the most deserving player not in the Hall has now not lived to enjoy the lofty honor he earned... take note, do the right thing with those deserving individuals still elligible.

and to the veterans committee - you've tragically failed in your mission... make it right.

one of the top 10 3B of all time - and perhaps the most beloved Cub short of Ernie Banks.

I disagree, Bert Blyleven is the MOST DESERVING PLAYER not in the HOF. Also as a White Sox fan, I have a strong case that says Harold Baines should be in the HOF before Santo

[SuperHornet]

I don't know much about Santo other than what my Cub-loving friend has told me (which jives with what Ivy just said). I also wouldn't want to designate ANY player as MOST deserving without looking at other players. But I would agree, Matt, that Blyleven is certainly deserving. What he did with the Twinkies, particularly in the post-season, was really good.

My #1 pick, though, (at least for pitchers) would be Orel Hershiser. That string of shutout innings is tough to beat.

[AZGrizFan]

I'm just glad he finally kicked the bucket. i was getting damned tired of hearing his "diabetes, both legs amputated, what a trooper" story every fucking cubs game.

Maybe now they can move the fuck ON.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

attention baseball writers - Santo, perhaps the most deserving player not in the Hall has now not lived to enjoy the lofty honor he earned... take note, do the right thing with those deserving individuals still elligible.

and to the veterans committee - you've tragically failed in your mission... make it right.

one of the top 10 3B of all time - and perhaps the most beloved Cub short of Ernie Banks.

I disagree, Bert Blyleven is the MOST DESERVING PLAYER not in the HOF. Also as a White Sox fan, I have a strong case that says Harold Baines should be in the HOF before Santo

oh i agree on blyleven (i mean, i'm a twins fan, of course i think that) but i was referring to guys not on the ballot that had already been passed over.