casper
12-04-2010, 05:04 PM
Cubs' Ron Santo dies at 70 in Arizona
CHICAGO, -- Former Chicago Cubs infielder and longtime broadcaster Ron Santo died in Arizona of complications from bladder cancer at age 70, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Friends of the family said Santo lapsed into a coma Wednesday and died Thursday, the Tribune said.
Santo, a third baseman who was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager, fought through debilitating injuries and, while working as an analyst for WGN-AM, the team's flagship radio station, had both of his legs amputated.
The popular broadcaster expected to return for the 2011 season.
"What else am I going to do?" Santo, a diabetic, said during this past season. "Doing the Cubs games is like therapy for me."
He made no apologies for expressing joy at great plays and frustration over miscues, the Tribune said.
"I'm a fan," he said. "I can't plan what I do. I get embarrassed sometimes when I hear what I said, like, 'Oh, no, what's going on?' But it's an emotion."
Santo finished his career with a .277 batting average over 15 seasons, collecting 342 home runs and 1,331 runs-batted-in. He played 14 seasons with the Cubs and one with the Chicago White Sox.
Santo earned multiple all-star and Gold Glove honors and was up for Hall of Fame induction 19 times. He first appeared on the Veterans Committee ballot in 2003.
He said having his number retired by the Cubs was the equivalent of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Santo ended his baseball career in 1974 and became an analyst on WGN in 1990.
He endorsed the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes in Chicago and raised more than $50 million for the foundation.
CHICAGO, -- Former Chicago Cubs infielder and longtime broadcaster Ron Santo died in Arizona of complications from bladder cancer at age 70, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Friends of the family said Santo lapsed into a coma Wednesday and died Thursday, the Tribune said.
Santo, a third baseman who was diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager, fought through debilitating injuries and, while working as an analyst for WGN-AM, the team's flagship radio station, had both of his legs amputated.
The popular broadcaster expected to return for the 2011 season.
"What else am I going to do?" Santo, a diabetic, said during this past season. "Doing the Cubs games is like therapy for me."
He made no apologies for expressing joy at great plays and frustration over miscues, the Tribune said.
"I'm a fan," he said. "I can't plan what I do. I get embarrassed sometimes when I hear what I said, like, 'Oh, no, what's going on?' But it's an emotion."
Santo finished his career with a .277 batting average over 15 seasons, collecting 342 home runs and 1,331 runs-batted-in. He played 14 seasons with the Cubs and one with the Chicago White Sox.
Santo earned multiple all-star and Gold Glove honors and was up for Hall of Fame induction 19 times. He first appeared on the Veterans Committee ballot in 2003.
He said having his number retired by the Cubs was the equivalent of being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Santo ended his baseball career in 1974 and became an analyst on WGN in 1990.
He endorsed the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes in Chicago and raised more than $50 million for the foundation.