Ron Santo Finally Elected to Hall of Fame

[upinya83]

Too bad they waited until a year after he died, he would have loved it.



DALLAS -- In a moment that has to be described as bittersweet to the Santo family and Cubs fans alike, former third baseman Ron Santo has been elected into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He received 15 of 16 possible votes from the Golden Era Committee, comprised of Hall of Famers, executives and media members.

The announcement was made Monday morning at the MLB Winter Meetings.

Santo died at the age of 70 just over a year ago, which is what makes the moment bittersweet. Many felt Santo should have been a Hall of Famer years ago, and now he's been elected after his death.

In a 15-season career, Santo hit .277/.362/.464 with 342 home runs, 1,331 RBI, 1,138 runs and 365 doubles. He won five Gold Gloves, finished in the top 10 of MVP voting four times and was a nine-time All-Star.

The last time Santo was on the BBWAA ballot, he received just 43.1 percent of the vote. He needed 75 percent to be elected. He was then left out by failing to gain enough votes from the Veteran's Committee the following several years. This time around, the Golden Era Committee came through for Santo.

Members of the Golden Era Committee: Hank Aaron, Al Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Tommy Lasorda, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson, Don Sutton, Paul Beeston, Bill DeWitt, Roland Hemond, Gene Michael, Al Rosen, Dick Kaegel, Jack O'Connell Dave Van Dyck and Santo's former teammate, Billy Williams.

Santo was the only player on the ballot to be elected by the committee. The other players on the ballot were Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso, Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat, Allie Reynolds and Luis Tiant. Executives Charlie Finley and Buzzie Bavasi were also on the ballot.

A candidate needed 12 of 16 votes to make the Hall of Fame. Kaat received 10 votes. Minoso and Hodges got nine, while Oliva received eight.

[Cash Calloway]

Ron Santo well deserved too bad they had to wait til he passed away. Well done HOF veterans committee you screwed up another one. Luis Tiant should be in there also. Guy has the same numbers as Catfish Hunter and played many years in a tougher park for pitchers.

[Seanie Mac]

HOF becoming a joke with all these fringe players getting in, Rice and now Santo

[Windy City Irish]

I had never heard of Ron santo before moving to Chicago. That should tell you something right there.

[Cash Calloway]

Santo should have been in long long time ago. Easily the best glove at 3rd base in the NL during his time and even on par with Robinson in the AL. Put up the best hitting stats among all third baseman during his time. 1300+ RBIs and nearly 400 hrs during a pitching non steriod era and this guy hung it up at 34 yrs of age, didnt hang around padding his hitting stats like many players are now able to do.

[darealist2]

Sad that they wait until a guy dies to put him in. Santo coveted the hall of fame more than anything would have made him the happiest man in the world. each season they passed on him they would show how dissapointed he was and would share the cubs motto theres always next year.

Shame on the HOF