Letter to Members of the Veterans Committee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Re: Include Ron Santo in Baseball Hall of Fame

Letter

Letter to Members of the Veterans Committee of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Re: Include Ron Santo in Baseball Hall of Fame

Durbin Pushes for Ron Santo to be in Baseball Hall of Fame

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released a letter asking members of the baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee to include Cubs third baseman Ron Santo into this year's class of baseball Hall of Famers. The Veterans Committee, composed of the 64 living Hall of Famers will vote on new Hall of Famers and announce the results on December 8.

Durbin made his request in a letter sent to the all the members of the baseball Veterans Committee. In the letter, the Illinois lawmaker wrote about the life of Ron Santo; his struggle with diabetes, statistics from his 15 year career (career batting average of .277; 342 home runs and 1,331 runs batted in) and his love for the Cubs.

"Simply put, [Ron Santo] is the best third baseman in Cubs history. Many consider him to be among the best third basemen in the history of the game. And he is a Hall of Famer to all of us who have met and been inspired by his work on and off the field," wrote Durbin. "Of all the titles he holds - Gold Glover, All Star - the one he deserves is "Hall of Famer." You have the power to make that dream come true for so many Cubs fans. For Ron Santo, for his fans and for baseball, I respectfully ask that you cast your 2008 Hall of Fame ballot for this great player."

Durbin went on to say, "Like his fellow Cubs whose retired numbers also hang proudly on the Wrigley Field foul poles - Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, and Ryne Sandberg - Ron Santo deserves to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame."

Text of the letter appears below:

September 17, 2008

Members of the Veterans Committee
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main Street
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Dear Veterans Committee Members:

I am writing to thank you for what you have contributed to America's Pastime and to once again ask your support for a man I strongly believe deserves to join you in the Hall of Fame - Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo.

Ron Santo is a baseball hero and an inspiration to all those living with diabetes.

As you may know, Ron hid his diabetes from the public for ten years because he didn't want anyone to pity him or hold him to a different standard. He wanted to be judged the same way every ballplayer is judged - by the numbers - and by that standard, Ron Santo has earned his spot among the greats at Cooperstown. During his 15-year career, he batted .277, with 342 home runs and 1,331 runs batted in. Ron was a nine-time All Star and five-time NL Gold Glove winner. In four seasons each, he batted .300, drove in 100 runs, and led the league in walks.

We can't know how much better Ron Santo's statistics might have been had he not played his entire career with a life-threatening illness, in an era that suppressed the long ball, for a team that, God bless them, never once saw post-season action - but that doesn't matter. Ron Santo still put up the numbers to earn his spot at Cooperstown. Simply put, he is the best third baseman in Cubs history. Many consider him to be among the best third basemen in the history of the game. And he is a Hall of Famer to all of us who have met and been inspired by his work on and off the field.

Beyond the numbers, there are other reasons Ron Santo deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. The first is his courageous struggle with diabetes and his tireless efforts to help others who suffer from this disease.

Since 2001, Ron Santo has lost the lower portions of both legs to diabetes. He has also survived a bout of cancer and endured more than two dozen surgeries. Walking on prosthetic legs has slowed his gait but not his dedication to the game of baseball and his charitable work for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, on whose board of directors he has served since 1975.

On October 5, the 30th annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes will take place in Chicago. This amazing event, a regional tradition, has raised nearly $60 million for juvenile diabetes research. And it's raised awareness and continued hope for a cure.

Another reason Ron Santo stands out as one of baseball's best is his legendary loyalty to the one city, one team and its fans. He fell in love with the Cubs as a kid in Seattle watching the Game of the Week on TV. As he has said: "It was Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks - something about this ballpark and the Cubs fans." When it came time to sign, other clubs offered more money, "but I wanted to be a Cub." He could have made more money at the end of his career as well by leaving Chicago. Instead, in 1974, Ron Santo became the first player to invoke his privilege under the league's "5-and-10 rule," declining a trade to the Angels because he wanted to finish his career in the city he loved. That kind of dedication to a team and its fans is something you hardly ever see anymore, in any sport.

Today you can hear Ron Santo's love for the Cubs in his frequent, crowd-pleasing 7th inning stretch renditions of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field. You can hear it, too, in the color commentary he provides on WGN Radio Cubs broadcasts, a job he held since 1990. To quote Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly: Ron Santo "loves them Cubs like Pooh loves honey … He does not call the game - he lives it … He cheers so much that it sounds like his play-by-play partner Pat Hughes is broadcasting from Murphy's bar."

In September 2003, the Cubs retired Ron Santo's number 10. It now hangs at Wrigley Field, along with the numbers of his former teammates Billy Williams and Ernie Banks. Ron Santo famously said, "that is my Hall of Fame." But This Old Cub deserves more. Like his fellow Cubs whose retired numbers also hang proudly on the Wrigley Field foul poles - Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, and Ryne Sandberg - Ron Santo deserves to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of all the titles he holds - Gold Glover, All Star - the one he deserves is "Hall of Famer." You have the power to make that dream come true for so many Cubs fans. For Ron Santo, for his fans and for baseball, I respectfully ask that you cast your 2008 Hall of Fame ballot for this great player.

Sincerely,
Dick Durbin
United States Senator
(and baseball fan)

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