Ron Santo (HOF): 9x All-Star, 5 Gold Gloves, Led the NL in WAR in 1967, OBP in 1964 and 1966

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Player: Santo, Ron

Card: 1963 Topps #252

Position:3B

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playerbio

Player Bio: Ron Santo

Born in Seattle, WA, Ron played for the Chicago Cubs from 1960 through 1973 and the White Sox in 1974. Santo was an All-Star for nine seasons during his 15-year career. He led the National League (NL) in triples one time, in walks four times, and in on-base percentage two times. He batted .300 or more and hit 30 or more home runs four times each, and is the only third baseman in MLB history to post eight consecutive seasons with over 90 runs batted in.

Santo led the league in double plays six times (1961, 1964, 1966–68, 1971). He won the NL Player of the Month award three times: June 1963 (.384, 6 HR, 22 RBI); July 1964 (.395, 7 HR, 27 RBI); and June 1969 (.400, 6 HR, 34 RBI). He also was named to the 1960 Topps All-Star Rookie Team, was a 5-time NL Gold Glove Winner (1964-1968), 2-time NL On-Base Percentage Leader (1964 & 1966), NL Triples Leader (1964) and a 4-time NL Bases on Balls Leader (1964 & 1966-1968).

During his 14-season run with the Cubs, Ron hit 337 home runs, then the eighth most by a NL right-handed hitter; his 1,071 career walks with the Cubs remain the team record for a right-handed hitter. He was the first third baseman to hit 300 home runs and win five Gold Gloves.

A fierce competitor, Santo said: “When I was a ballplayer, I was very intense. When I walked across those white lines, nobody was my friend. Once the game was over, off the field, I was a different guy. But on the field, I was very intense. I think that showed... That was the kind of player I was.”

In 1999, he was named to the Cubs All-Century Team and on September 28, 2003, Santo's jersey No. 10 was retired by the Cubs organization, making him the third player so honored behind his teammates.

Santo joined the Cubs' broadcast booth in 1990 as the WGN radio color commentator for the Cubs. As a result, he became very popular with a whole new generation of Cubs fans due to his unflagging loyalty to the team and his display of raw courage in the face of personal adversity related to his illness. Santo reciprocated the sentiment. After many years of struggling with Diabetes, he passed away in 2010. Ron was the subject of documentary "This Old Cub".

(excerpted from SABR, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)