Cubs Pay Tribute to Ron Santo

As Vicki Santo was standing in front of thousands in Cooperstown Sunday, her late husband Ron was being honored at the place he called home for close to five decades.

Sure, I'm not a Chicago Cubs fan, but I've gotta say...I was quite impressed when I saw that the team paid tribute to the newly minted Hall of Famer as best they could. 

By mimicking his famous 1969 heel click as they took the field.

Larkin and Santo Inducted into the Hall of Fame

“This is unbelievable. UN-STINKING-BELIEVABLE!” - Barry Larkin

In front of 44 Hall of Famers and a virtual sea of Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs fans, Barry Larkin headlined the 2012 Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

But...it almost didn't happen.

You see, when Larkin accepted a scholarship to the University of Michigan, it was football (not baseball) that he fancied.

"(Then-Michigan head coach Bo Schembechler) redshirted me my freshman year and told me that he was going to allow me just to play baseball," Larkin told the crowd at The Clark Sports Center. "Occasionally, I'd call him while I was playing in the big leagues and told him that was the best decision he made as a football coach. He didn't like that too much."

Larkin, a native of Cincinnati, played his entire career with the Reds and put together a .295 career average, 2340 hits, 1329 runs scored, 198 home runs, 960 RBI and 379 stolen bases.  In 1995, Larkin was named the National League MVP.  A year later, he became the first shortstop to join the 30-30 club with 33 home runs and 36 stolen bases.

The 12-time All-Star retired in 2004 after 19 seasons. 

Joining Larkin on the stage Sunday was Vicki Santo...widow of the newly inducted Ron Santo.

"It just feels right, a perfect ending to a remarkable journey," Vicki Santo said. "Ron left an awful hole for many of us today. This is not a sad day. This is a great day. I'm certain that Ronnie is celebrating right now."

Santo was a member of the Chicago Cubs organization for the better part of five decades as a player (1960-74) and then beloved broadcaster (1990-2010).  He was was selected by the Veterans Committee this past December...exactly one year after his death.

The former third baseman compiled a .277 batting average, 2254 hits and 1331 RBI during his 15-year big league career.

Some other news of note from Hall of Fame weekend courtesy of Bruce Markusen from The Hadball Times.

• According to reliable sources, actor Charlie Sheen was among those attending the induction ceremony. Sheen is good friends with Barry Larkin.
• Tom Seaver, normally a fixture at Hall of Fame Weekend, did not attend this year’s event. He has a painful hip condition that makes it difficult for him to fly.
• As expected, Pete Rose filmed a segment on Friday for his new reality show at T.J’s Place on Main Street. A film crew taped Rose having breakfast with his fiancee, Kiana Kim, and two Cooperstown locals, restaurant owner Ted Hargrove and memorabilia dealer Andrew Vilacky.

Oh, and in case you missed it, there was another "induction" of note this past week.  On Friday, pitching legend (and medical marvel) Tommy John became the inaugural member of The Hall of Very Good™.

Ron Santo Get the Call from the Hall

Since the 2012 Hall of Fame ballot is pretty much a bust, I've actually turned more of my attention to the "Golden Era" (1947-1972) Committee vote.

And after one of the more exciting ballots in the last few years, it was announced Monday that Ron Santo would be, posthumously, joining his peers in Cooperstown.

The Chicago Cubs legend received 15 of the 16 possible votes...12 were needed.

Also on the ballot and receiving votes...Jim Kaat (10), Gil Hodges (9), Minnie Minoso (9) and Tony Oliva (8).

Buzzie Bavasi, Ken Boyer, Charlie Finely, Allie Reynolds and Luis Tiant each recevied three votes.

Santo, who passed away last December, is one of six former Cubs to have his number retired by the team when they celebrated him with the honor in 2003.

Throughout his 15-year career (all but one with the Cubs), the third baseman managed a .277 batting average, 2254 hits and 342 home runs. He brought home a Gold Gloves in five consecutive years (1964-1968) times and was an All-Star nine times.

When Santo first became eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, he was named on less than 4% of all ballots...meaning he would be removed from subsequent ballots.

In 1985, he was one of several players re-added to the ballot following widespread complaints about overlooked candidates.

After receiving 13% of the vote in 1985, his vote totals increased in 10 of the next 13 years. He received 43% of the vote in his final year played 15 seasons at third base for the Cubs and White Sox.

The "Golden Era" Committee is the second of a three-year cycle of consideration for Managers, Umpires, Executives and Long-Retired Players by Era.  Next year, "Pre-Integration Era" Committee candidates will be considered for induction in 2013.

Santo will be inducted in July alongside whoever gets selected by the BBWAA next month.

Golden Era Ballot Candidates Announced

Thank God for Jeff Idelson.

Just minutes after I asked for some real baseball news, the Hall of Fame president tweeted a link to the press release announcing the ten finalists on the Baseball Hall of Fame's Golden Era (1947-1972) Ballot.

And let me tell you...there are some good names on it.

So, without further adieu...here are the nominees as capsuled in the Hall of Fame's presser.

Buzzie Bavasi spent 17 seasons as the Dodgers general manager from 1951-67, leading his team to four World Series titles and eight National League pennants. He then served in similar capacities for the Padres (1968-77) and Angels 1978-84).

Ken Boyer played 15 seasons as a third baseman with the Cardinals, Mets, White Sox and Dodgers, earning seven All-Star Game selections and winning the 1964 National League Most Valuable Player Award en route to leading the Cardinals to a World Series championship.

Charlie Finley owned the Kansas City/Oakland A's from 1960 through 1980, building an Athletics team that won five American League West titles, three AL pennants and three World Series titles between 1971 and 1975.

Gil Hodges was named to eight All-Star Games in an 18-year big league career as a first baseman with the Dodgers and Mets, winning three Gold Glove Awards and leading the Dodgers to seven National League pennants and two World Series titles. As a manager, Hodges led the 1969 Miracle Mets to the World Series title.

Jim Kaat pitched 25 seasons with the Senators, Twins, White Sox, Phillies, Yankees and Cardinals, winning 283 games over the course of four different decades. Kaat was named to three All-Star Games and helped the Cardinals win the 1982 World Series.

Minnie Minoso played 17 seasons with the Indians, White Sox, Cardinals and Senators, earning seven All-Star Game selections and three Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder. A native of Cuba, he blazed a trail for Latin American players in the big leagues starting in the 1950s.

Tony Oliva played 15 seasons for the Twins, winning three batting titles and leading the American League in hits five times. He was named to eight All-Star Games and won the 1964 AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Allie Reynolds pitched in 13 seasons with the Indians and Yankees, winning 182 games while earning five All-Star Game berths. He pitched in six World Series, leading the Yankees to six Fall Classic titles in seven years while posting a 7-2 record with four saves and a 2.79 ERA in 15 World Series games.

Ron Santo played 15 seasons at third base for the Cubs and White Sox, earning nine All-Star Game selections and winning five Gold Glove Awards. He hit 342 home runs and drove in 1,331 runs while leading the National League in walks four times.

Luis Tiant won at least 20 games in four of his 19 big league seasons with the Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates and Angels, finishing his career with 229 wins and a 3.30 ERA while earning three All-Star Game selections. He won two American League ERA titles and led the league in shutouts three times.

Of these ten candidates, only Kaat, Minoso, Oliva and Tiant are living...the other six are deceased.

The Golden Era electorate will meet to discuss and review the candidacies of the ten finalists as part of baseball's Winter Meetings, December 4-5 in Dallas.

Any candidate to receive votes on 75 percent of the ballots cast by the 16-member Golden Era Committee will earn election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 22, 2012, along with any electees who emerge from the 2012 Baseball Writers' Association of America election, to be announced on January 9.

Now, this all begs the question...who would you vote for?

Kerry Wood Inks Deal to Become Cubs Broadcaster...or Not

When the Chicago Cubs announced they were bringing back Kerry Wood, you knew something was up.

It just didn't smell right.

Why would a guy leave, according to numerous sources, at least two two-year $10 million offers on the table to go back to the same team who gave up on him following the 2008 season? 

And furthermore, why would he sign with said team for a paltry $1.5 million plus incentives?!?

"It boils down to what's comfortable and where I wanted to play, and this is the best fit for both," Wood said during a press conference last month. "This is where I want to play."

Nope...it ain't that easy.

Well, on Wednesday, came the whispers...part of Wood's deal with the Cubs included an agreement that he would move into the broadcast booth when he is finished playing baseball.

Ah ha...that has to be it!

According to ESPNChicago.com, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts (of CBS's "Undercover Boss" fame) promised the hardthrowing righty a broadcasting job in the future.

But then...the Chicago Tribune posted this nugget on their website:

We spoke with Wood and he laughed about the report. "That is completely untrue," he said. "I have no interest in broadcasting when my playing days are over. That has never been something that I saw myself doing."

Now, I'm confused. 
 
Is it possible that oft-injured might just be a good guy?  Is it possible that his claims to keep his family close to home (his wife is from surburban Waukegan) might be true?  Is it possible that there actually IS a thing called the "hometown discount"?

I guess so.

Now...I went through that whole exercise to bring you to this one.  Did you know that the Cubs actually had to POST Ron Santo's old job? 

I mean, I get it.  I've interviewed, hired and fired my share of employees in the past and I understand how, legally, you've gotta do what you've gotta do...but still do we need to see THIS?

WGN Radio seeks on-air talent to serve as analyst for broadcasts of Chicago Cubs games

Preferred candidate will have played with the Chicago Cubs -- or played major league baseball with previous broadcast experience as a game analyst.

Materials to:  Cubs Game Analyst, WGN Radio, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611

WGN Radio is an Equal Opportunity Employer

What "preferred candidate" is actually searching the internets looking for analyst jobs?  Is Tim Stoddard really out there banging away on his keyboard looking for jobs?

Something tells me that could probably make a few calls, see who is free and make a hire.

OR...they could flip on ESPN's Baseball Tonight or the MLB Network and snatch up any one of the misfits (Dave Valle anyone?) those networks trot out on a nightly basis.

Ron Santo (1940-2010)

"The Cubs lost their biggest fan," team radio broadcaster Pat Hughes said Friday morning.

Often called the best player not in the Hall of Fame, Ron Santo succumbed to bladder cancer late Thursday night after falling into a coma Wednesday.

He was 70.

It's hard to think of Santo now without remembering his most recent struggles.  The former Cubs third baseman battled Type 1 diabetes since being diagnosed at 18 and in 2001, he had his right leg amputated below the knee due the disease...a year later, left leg suffered the same fate. 

Last season, Santo's work with in the Cubs broadcast booth was limited due to his battle with bladder cancer.  But despite it all, he continued to work as an analyst on the team's flagship station.  He was expecting to return for the upcoming season.

"What else am I going to do?" Santo said in an interview this past season. "Doing the Cubs games is like therapy for me."

Santo is one of six former Cubs to have their number retired by the team when they celebrated him with the honor in 2003. 

Throughout his 15-year career (all but one with the Cubs), the third baseman managed a .277 batting average, 2254 hits and 342 home runs.  He brought home a Gold Gloves in five consecutive years (1964-1968) times and was an All-Star nine times.

When Santo first became eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, he was named on less than 4% of all ballots...meaning he would be removed from subsequent ballots.  In 1985, he was one of several players re-added to the ballot following widespread complaints about overlooked candidates. 

After receiving 13% of the vote in 1985, his vote totals increased in 10 of the next 13 years.  He received 43% of the vote in his final year on the 1998 ballot...finishing behind only Don Sutton and Tony Perez.

Now on the veteran's ballot. Santo's next opportunity for admission to the Hall of Fame will come a year from now.

But as good as Santo was on the field, his light was brightest helping others...and that will be the legacy that the longtime Chicagoain will be remembered.  For a wonderful write up on the life and times of the Cubs legend, please check out Toni Ginnetti's piece for the Chicago Sun Times HERE.