Santo's in and that's all that matters now

If a player is elected to the Hall of Fame, he's a Hall of Famer, period, case closed, end of debate.

At that point it doesn't matter whether you or I or anyone else agrees.

So belated congratulations to Ron Santo's family over his election to Cooperstown.

Meanwhile, condolences over Santo not being elected until a year after his death.

Now for full disclosure: I didn't vote for Santo when he still was on the regular ballot back in the 1990s.

Nor would I have voted for Santo if I were on this week's Golden Age Veterans Committee.

I won't get into the details of my reluctance to vote for Santo. Let's just say that while watching his entire career, he didn't pass the eye test for me that others in his era did.

Anyway, not voting for Santo is nothing to be proud of or to be ashamed of. But it is something to be uncomfortable about, considering the respect I have for the man and his life story.

Santo and I had a great relationship. He always treated me well, and I cherish the laughs we shared at the ballpark.

Beyond that, Santo suffered from diabetes most of his life. I also have related here how he helped a friend of mine who was inflicted with the disease.

I never knew whether Santo knew I hadn't voted or whether he cared, but it bothered me.

Still, I never regretted my vote. Right or wrong, I simply and sincerely didn't believe Santo was a Hall of Famer.

I wasn't alone, either, because the primary electorate of baseball writers had nearly 20 chances to send him to Cooperstown and didn't. Then a variety of veterans committees also declined.

Cubs Nation, much of it comprised of people who never saw Santo play, enthusiastically supported his bid.

Santo fans under age 50 know Santo mostly as an analyst on Cubs radio broadcasts and as a tireless advocate for diabetes research.

To them, Santo's playing career blurred into his post-playing career. They didn't have to compartmentalize the two like voters did.

Not voting for Santo makes me a bad guy around here, especially to Cubs fans who think I'm a White Sox fan. They don't realize that Sox fans think I'm a Cubs fan.

It wouldn't matter whether I was either when it came to casting a ballot.

Today I'll dive into even worse waters with the Cubs' faithful by saying that former Sox outfielder Minnie Minoso has been more worthy of being in Cooperstown.

Not because Minoso might have been a better player; because he made a mark as a pioneer for Latin players, especially black Latin players.

During my 22 years as a voter, several players I didn't vote for made the Hall of Fame. Phil Niekro, Don Sutton and Robin Yount come to mind.

Some that I do vote for like Lee Smith and Jack Morris haven't made the cut.

I accept all the results because I respect the process. Anyone checked on 75 percent of the ballots is worthy of induction; anyone who doesn't must not be.

Even though the Golden Era Committee seems like a concoction for backdoor entry, the principle still stands that a player voted into the Hall of Fame is a Hall of Famer.

So no argument, here and now, that Santo is a Hall of Famer.

I join those happy for Ron Santo's family and unhappy that he isn't around to enjoy the honor.

mimrem@dailyherald.com