The late Ron Santo, star third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and later a broadcaster for the team, has been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
His widow, Vicki, gave a heartwarming speech and ended it with: "This is not a sad day. This is a great day. I'm certain that Ronnie is celebrating right now."
In 15 seasons, including one with the White Sox, Santo hit 342 home runs, had a batting average of .277 and won five Gold Gloves.
Yet Santo appeared on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot for 15 years and the closest he came to making the Hall cut was 43.1 percent, in 1998 -- far short of the necessary 75 percent.
Finally, thanks to a revamped Golden Era committee -- and a strong push from former Cubs teammate Billy Williams, who stressed Santo's work for juvenile diabetes research -- Santo got in last December, a year and two days after he died at 70.
The Claek Sports Center was evenly divided between Cubs fans and Reds fans to honor the other 2012 inductee, shortstop Barry Larkin.
"God, how he loved the Cubs and Cubs fans " Vicki Santo said. "He would be so grateful you came here today to share this with him."
Santo died of bladder cancer in December 2010.
In St. Louis, the Cubs players paid tribute to Santo by clicking their heels together as they jumped over the third-base line to start the game.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
Former Cubs Pitcher Kerry Wood and his wife Sarah joined Good Day to announce the Wood Family Foundation's first annual Woody Wiffle Ball Classic on August 10 at Wrigley Field!
Former Cubs Pitcher Kerry Wood and his wife Sarah joined Good Day to announce the Wood Family Foundation's first annual Woody Wiffle Ball Classic on August 10 at Wrigley Field!
Wednesday, June 19 2013 9:31 AM EDT2013-06-19 13:31:44 GMT
Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom hit back-to-back homers in a four-run first inning and that was plenty for Jeff Samardzija, who pitched the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Tuesday night.
Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom hit back-to-back homers in a four-run first inning and that was plenty for Jeff Samardzija, who pitched the Chicago Cubs over the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 Tuesday night.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:38 AM EDT2013-06-18 04:38:00 GMT
Rookie Shelby Miller pitched five shutout innings and Yadier Molina had a two-run double to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Rookie Shelby Miller pitched five shutout innings and Yadier Molina had a two-run double to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Sunday, June 16 2013 5:47 PM EDT2013-06-16 21:47:54 GMT
Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a three-run homer that capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning and the New York Mets beat Carlos Marmol and the Chicago Cubs 4-3
Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a three-run homer that capped a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning and the New York Mets beat Carlos Marmol and the Chicago Cubs 4-3
Saturday, June 15 2013 11:17 PM EDT2013-06-16 03:17:50 GMT
Scott Feldman allowed two hits in seven innings and Starlin Castro hit a two-run double to left in the Cubs' three-run eighth inning and Chicago beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Saturday.
Scott Feldman allowed two hits in seven innings and Starlin Castro hit a two-run double to left in the Cubs' three-run eighth inning and Chicago beat the New York Mets 5-2 on Saturday.
Thursday, June 13 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-06-14 03:10:10 GMT
Pinch-hitter Julio Borbon had a two-out RBI single in the 14th inning, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Reds 6-5 Thursday and end Cincinnati's record 12-game winning streak at Wrigley Field.
Pinch-hitter Julio Borbon had a two-out RBI single in the 14th inning, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Reds 6-5 Thursday and end Cincinnati's record 12-game winning streak at Wrigley Field.
Wednesday, June 12 2013 12:03 AM EDT2013-06-12 04:03:19 GMT
The Chicago Cubs have suspended Triple-A infielder Ian Stewart without pay for an indefinite period following his critical comments about the organization.
The Chicago Cubs have suspended Triple-A infielder Ian Stewart without pay for an indefinite period following his critical comments about the organization.
(Ron Cogswell/Flickr)
