[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21098]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMEMORATING THE LIFE OF RON SANTO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 14, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the 
passing of legendary Chicago Cubs third baseman and broadcaster Ron 
Santo, and to recognize his lifetime of achievement both on and off the 
baseball diamond.
  Ronald Edward Santo was born February 25, 1940 in Seattle, 
Washington. Twenty years later, he made his professional baseball debut 
at third base for the Chicago Cubs. Over his 14-year major league 
career, the first 13 with the Cubs and the final season with the cross-
town White Sox, Santo hit 342 home runs, had 1,331 RBIs, won 5 Gold 
Gloves, and appeared in 9 All-Star games. He is considered perhaps the 
greatest player not currently in the Hall of Fame. Nonetheless, his 
number 10 is immortalized on the North Side, hanging on the left field 
pole at Wrigley Field, which Santo referred to as ``my Hall of Fame.''
  After a successful baseball career, Santo spent 15 years in business 
before returning to the Cubs as the color commentator for WGN Radio's 
Cubs broadcasts in 1990. He spent the next 20 years in the Cubs radio 
booth, and his passion and enthusiasm for the home team, which surfaced 
in disheartened groans as often as supportive exclamations, endeared 
him to a new generation of Cubs fans. Santo always seemed at ease in 
the WGN booth and established himself as the rightful heir to Harry 
Carey's oversized throne as the king of Chicago Cubs commentary.
  Away from the ``Friendly Confines,'' Santo worked tirelessly to raise 
money and awareness for Diabetes through the Juvenile diabetes Research 
Foundation. Diagnosed at age 18, his diabetes was unknown even to his 
teammates until 1971, when Santo decided to use his star power to draw 
attention to the disease. From 1979 until his death, Santo sponsored 
the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, helping to raise over $60 million for 
research and advocacy. Santo's teammate Ernie Banks said of his fellow 
Cub, ``Ronnie has handled his own ailment like the true champion he is. 
He is the most courageous person I've ever been around. I'm inspired by 
him and by his spirit. He is one of my idols, one of my heroes. I love 
Ron Santo.''
  Ron Santo passed away on Thursday, December 2. He will be sorely 
missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all.

                          ____________________