Ronald Edward Santo:Born too late into the 1970′s, I never had the pleasure of watching Ron Santo play baseball. The only things I have to look back on are stories and statistics. Those statistics have long been his ticket to Cooperstown. Only, it took nearly 40 years before that ticket was cashed in. Sadly, his election also came a year and two days too late. Ron succumbed to complications from diabetes and cancer on December 3rd, 2010. Diabetes was a struggle Ron fought with every day of his playing career, at a time when controlling the disease wasn’t simplified by the medication and blood meters diabetics have at their disposal today.
The injustice that was his absence from the Hall of Fame was finally righted today. Shameful that Ron can’t enjoy it.
Ron, it wasn’t the way you or any of your fans hoped it would be, but you finally made it. Congratulations.
