Otto not about to trade his memories with Cubs
If you're waiting for Dave Otto to complain about the Cubs passing him over as the late Ron Santo's successor in the radio booth, then you don't know Otto.
For roughly 40 years — since his grandma started taking him to Wrigley Field for Ladies Day on a weekly basis — the 46-year-old Elk Grove Village native has maintained a passion for the Cubs.
How did he spend Father's Day? Sitting in the stands watching the Cubs and Yankees with his father Al (a former Yankee farmhand) and his two sons, Travis and Sam.
What was the biggest highlight of his eight-year major-league career? The 1994 season he spent working out of the bullpen for the Cubs.
“That's something I'll never forget,” Otto said. “When you grow up here, then you stand on the mound at Wrigley Field, you can look into the stands and remember where you sat for games as a kid.”
Otto recalls one moment that season where, though he was pitching, he became an enraptured spectator again.
“As a reliever, I always pitched out of the stretch,” he said. “There was nobody on base and I got my sign. I turned to look at the scoreboard and said, ‘Wow, this is Wrigley Field.' It was weird.
“Somebody in the dugout got on me about it after the inning. He said, ‘There was nobody on second base. What were you doing out there?' ”
Throw in the fact Otto spent several seasons serving as Santo's backup as WGN 720-AM's color analyst — making frequent last-minute appearances when Santo's health dictated a break — and you'd think the Wheaton resident would be a bit bummed Keith Moreland edged him in February for the right to work at Wrigley Field on a full-time basis.
“It was fine,” Otto said. “Really. It was such an honor and privilege all these years to have filled in for Ron Santo. That's the thing about baseball. You get to have such great memories.
“I got to work a lot with Pat Hughes ... and he's a (future) Hall of Fame broadcaster.”
When the door to the Cubs broadcast booth closed, another one opened with Best Transportation in Woodridge.
Otto, who earned an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management after retiring following the 1994 season, put Best on hold until the Cubs made their radio choice.
“It's a small company, but we cover the Chicagoland area doing same-day transport,” Otto said. “You'd be surprised how many businesses need to move something from, say, Skokie to Tinley Park in the same day.
“I'm in sales with them. It's what I've always loved along with baseball.”
During the offseason, Otto feeds his passion by teaching the art of pitching. In conjunction with the Wheaton Sports Center, Otto charges a comparatively nominal fee to work with youngsters.
“I usually like to get the kids when they're 7 or 8 years old,” Otto said, “so they start out throwing the right way.”
And if you've been missing Otto's baseball insights on Cubs broadcasts, then check out Comcast Sports Net during the Cubs-White Sox series. It's his first gig this season.
“Comcast asked me to be part of the pre- and post-game shows, even though I have a face for radio,” he joked.
Ÿ Is there a former suburban high school athlete or coach you'd like to read more about? Send your suggestion to Lindsey at lwillhite@dailyherald.com.