Ron Santo: The campaign to keep him out of the Hall of Fame

Written by MC3 Sports Media

Tuesday, 09 March 2010 12:55

How many of you have read or participated in any of THE GREAT BLOGUIN BASEBALL DEBATE'S here on our site? If you haven't read any of them or participated with comments of your own, you are really missing something special.

ronsanto

The debates are full of fact packed dialogue with knowledgeable baseball writers from around the Bloguin Network. While you may have some opinions of your own on these topics, I'm certain you will learn or thing or two as well. I know I did.

Here are the topics we have taken on so far.

In the nine debates we've had so far, we've had a remarkable happenstance in almost every instance. In virtually every debate the comments have (at some point during the debate) gone off into a "Should Ron Santo be in the Hall of Fame" tangent!

I have no idea where the ground swell is coming from, but the most interesting part here is that he's almost always brought up by the readers as not being Hall of Fame material with the writers of the blog's almost always in the overwhelming minority position of arguing that he should in fact be in the HOF.

blackcat I thought that most people were apathetic towards the Cubs? Aren't they that loveable team that hasn't won in 100 years? What did Santos ever do to draw the ire of the rest of baseball nation? Are there that many anti Cubs fans in the world? Does he take the blame for "Curse of the Black Cat?"

This leads to the question, 'why do readers seem to be actively campaigning for Ron Santo to NOT get in?' I can't say I've ever been to another place on this earth (either physical or site on the internet) where it seems that hundreds of people all at once feel spontaneously compelled to state that Ron Santo should not get into the HOF......

Santo retired thirty six years ago. If you aren't at least 50 years old there's no way you can have seen him play in his prime and be old enough to make a rational judgment. I'm about to turn 43 and my recollection of Santo playing is like that of Willie Mays. I can remember the last few years of their careers which certainly didn't contain vintage performances from either of them. (Willie Mays: The Life, The Legend: Book Review)

I'm not complaining, but I have a hard time believing that so many of our readers are fifty years old and older. Since I don't know however, I'm not going to assume that is or isn't the case because maybe we do have a significant amount of older readers.

This morning I asked John Manfrede who we have adopted as our 'Official Baseball Historian', what he thought of Ron Santo. If you recall, John is 87 years old and both seen and remembers quite a bit of baseball during his time. The 87 year old Manfrede even recalls Lou Gehrig's farewell Speech as he was in attendance that famous day.

"I can't say that Ron Santo was a Hall of Fame player in my eyes." Said Manfrede. "He was never feared at the plate like some of his piers - McCovey, Mays, Aaron, or even Ernie Banks who he played some time with. Although, I would have to say, that for the time period that they played together, Santo was every bit as good as Banks.) The Hall of Fame standards these days don't seem to be what mine are.

If you recall, I was very angry when I found out that Andre Dawson was elected. I guess if you pinned me down to it, I probably would have to say that Ron Santo was a Hall of Famer though based on what the Hall has turned into and who they let in these days. When you take into account his defense and all around play in addition to his offense, he is certainly better than others that are already in."

Santo is still involved in MLB, he's a WGN Radio color commentator. I don't live in the Chicago area, but through the years I've had the opportunity to listen to him call a game or two. He certainly isn't doing anything wrong there. I don't really get where all the negativity is coming from?

Bill Parker from The Daily Something who took part in the Joe Mauer debate yesterday has some thoughts on the Ron Santo topic that I think you will find quite interesting. Bill certainly knows his stuff and is always educated on the topics he writes; this time is no different. If you have a few minutes I believe its well worth the read. - Mike Cardano

Mike is the founder of Around the Horn Baseball Blog & Extra Point Football.

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Comments (4) Add Comment

...
written by Sam Galbreth, March 09, 2010

One of the more interesting posts and perplexing things I've read about in a long time.

Feared at the plate
written by David Haffner, April 18, 2010

The comment above who cited Santo was not feared at the plate should check his facts. See how many intentional walks Santo had.

Santo also got HBP often. He got hit in the face by the Mets when he had something like a 27 game hitting streak going. Baseball adopted Santo's new helmet protecting the batter's side of the check facing the pitcher after that incident. I believe Santo's streak ended after 28 games, but who knows where it may have ended. The guy was as tough as any player in the league.

He belongs, he is statistically the 6th to 8th best third baseman ever in all experts scientific opinions.

The only logical conclusion I can come to when I hear someone say Santo does not belong is that the person making the comment is either a "homer" and will only make positive comments about players from his or her own team, OR, the person making the comment is bigoted.

...
written by Bob LaCivita, April 22, 2010

Your lack of understanding of the negative pokes at Santo rings true - why? Even the comments of your 87 year old guru don't make sense. Yep, he wasn't as good as Willie Mays or Henry Aaron, but, jeez, he had the second best HR total for 3rd basemen ever when he retired and really only played 14 seasons. His batting average was 10 points higher than Brooks Robinson and Mike Schmidt. His on base percentage was fabulous, leading the league in walks four times (which always translates into intentional walks as well, so yes, he was a "feared" hitter). I'm 54 and saw him play, and he was better than any other "hot corner" guy then and now, and I'm not senile (yet), so you are right, the distain toward him is not understandable. All of his tangible numbers during his era (which is all one can compare to-lively ball era, steroid era, oh, yeah, pitchers era) are far and away HOF worthy, even for Lou Gehrig's pal.

Santo Deserving of HOF?
written by Gerry Clarke, July 10, 2010

Although I was not old enough to fully appreciate Ron Santo's talent as a third baseman when he played, I have been diligently researching his career
for several years and have drawn my own conclusions. I am a professor of sport marketing and teach at Judson University and I frequebtly point out to my students the positive and negative aspects relating to PR campaigns in sports, and this effort to keep Santo out of the hall is one of the most negative I have every seen.

Based on his stats and talking with many who are now in their 60's and 70's, who saw for themselves as young adults, that Santo proved for 14 seasons, that he was one of the very best third baseman to ever play the game. I reviewed the stats of a few of the HOF players who played the position, and Santo is a very strong candidate for nomination. I am shocked George Kell is in and not Santo. I am sure Mr. Kell was a terrific player, but I never heard him support Santo's nomination.

As for the arrogant and "a legend in his own mind",Joe Morgan, I find him to be an extremely negative inluence on the entire nomination process as he champions the campaign to keep Santo out, which is abhorent. Morgan distained Sandberg, who was another tremendous player. Morgan believes himself to be greater than any other player of his time and perhaps of all time and sits in judgement of all others who are being considered for the HOF, much like Mike Madigan who is the corrupt monarch of Illinois politics. These gentlemen are of the same cloth.

I hope and pray that Santo makes the HOF before God calls him home for a much deserved rest. He has conquered numerous health issues, played for a not so great organization and still, had one of the most remarkable careers in Major League Baseball, and I congratulate you Mr. Santo. You have nothing to be ashamed of and you should and hopefully one day will, be honored for your accomplishments and contributions to this great game.

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