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Now it's time for Santo's final due

Baseball fans are aware of Ron Santo's stats. They are outstanding. Both offensively and defensively he ranks up there with the best who have ever played the hot corner and certainly with the best 3rd baseman of his era. He should be in the Hall of fame.

I did not know Ron Santo but I have rooted his on-field performance and laughed and “arrghed” with him during his career as a color man in the radio booth. What sets Ron apart from so many is his service to and love of the Cubs, his passion and enthusiasm for the game, his dedication to JDRF and his beloved status among Cubs fans.

Other than maybe Yosh Kawano, who has served the Cubs as long as Ron? Along with Ernie Banks who else can be held up as the face of the organization? And can there be any doubt that no one, absolutely no one, was as emotional during a game than Ron. He didn't bleed Cubbie blue he hemorrhaged it.

As much as we like to ignore it, most of the players today are simply mercenaries who move from team to team and city to city based on who will give them the best deal. Ron signed with the Cubs for less money than he could have earned with other teams.

While he may not have been the best “technical” broadcaster in the world, I would not have traded Ron's passion and love of the game, love of the fans, loyalty to team, sense of humor, enthusiasm and optimism for life for any other player-broadcaster in the world.

The Cubs honored Ronnie when they retired his No. 10. Now it's time for Cub fans and true baseball fans everywhere to push for his well deserved and overdue enshrinement into the Hall of Fame.

Mark Kischner, Sr.

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