Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Michael Griffin
I’ll admit it: I wanted Ron Santo in the Hall of Fame before he passed away. So much so, that I wrote an email to the Hall in 2007 venting my frustration. I received a polite reply explaining the process, though it was slightly undercut by plugs for the memorabilia store. Sadly, Santo had to be posthumously inducted in 2012 after he passed from complications with diabetes in 2010—a condition he battled his entire career. Here are 15 reasons why he should have gotten the call sooner.
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Nine All-Star Selections: Santo’s Exclusive Club
From 1963 to 1973, Ron Santo was named to nine All-Star Games—a badge of honor reserved for the game’s elite. For Cubs fans, it meant seeing their man on baseball’s biggest stage, representing the North Side.
Five Gold Gloves—And a Hot Corner Unlike Any Other
Santo’s glove was a vacuum at third base, scooping up line drives and bunts with acrobatic flair. Five straight Gold Gloves let the league know: you didn’t test Ron at the hot corner unless you wanted to be out by a mile.
342 Home Runs: Long Balls, Longer Cheers
With a mighty swing and a hop out of the box, Santo launched 342 career home runs. Wrigley’s left-field bleachers became a landing zone. Fans knew to pay attention when he was hitting … and there were no distractions like iPhones then.
1,331 Runs Batted In—Delivering When It Counted
If clutch had a middle name, it would be Ron. With 1,331 RBIs, Santo was the hitter you wanted up with two outs and the game on the line. He earned every one of his cheers. .
The Only Cub to Belt 30+ Homers Four Years Running Until Sosa
From 1964 to 1967, Santo mashed at least 30 homers every season—a Cubs record that stood for decades until a slugger named Sammy Sosa surpassed it starting in 1993.
The 1967 Cubs MVP—But Not the League’s
Santo was voted the Cubs’ team MVP in 1967, but the league’s Most Valuable Player award went elsewhere. Still, no one in Chicago doubted who truly carried the team that year.
Leading the NL in Walks—Santo’s Patient Eye at the Plate
Santo led the National League in walks four times, working pitchers while hoping to find a pitch to hit. Still, he was patient, and he would gladly take first on four balls.
Top Ten in On-Base Percentage—Year After Year
Modern stathead love Ron Santo, but so did old-school fans who noticed how often he was on base. Top ten in OBP year after year? The sun would rise and set and Ron Santo would be on base.
2,254 Hits: The Soundtrack of a Cubs Era
Every one of Ron’s 2,254 hits was earned. He was a competitor through and through. Cubs fans admired the gritty third baseman who put it on the line day in and day out.
The Cubs Retire #10: Immortality at Wrigley
You have to be a franchise icon to get your number retired, and the Cubs bestowed that honor on Santo in 2003, raising his No. 10 flag at Wrigley Field to cement his legacy.
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award—Courage Personified
Santo’s battle with diabetes was legendary—he played through it all, earning the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for his courage and character in 1974. He wore his heart (and insulin pump) on his sleeve, inspiring fans long before “awareness” was a buzzword.
Making the Heel-Click Famous
While shortstop Gene Michael may have started it, only Ron Santo could turn a little heel-click into a citywide celebration. After the Cubs’ wins, he adopted the airborne dance and made it his own, a joyful tradition that became synonymous with his passionate play.
The Heart and Soul of the 1969 Cubs (Even If the Pennant Didn’t Come Home)
The ’69 heartbreak still stings, but Santo’s passion that season was unforgettable. He did all he could to get them across the finish line, but the Mets just wouldn’t be denied… and that black cat, either.
A Collective Cubs Heel Click
In 2012, the Cubs wanted to honor Santo, who had finally been elected to the Hall of Fame. So, they took a page out of his book, and the infielders and outfielders jumped and clicked their heels as they ran out to take their positions. It was a nice tribute to the man who was the heart of the Cubs for many years.
Finally Elected to Cooperstown—A Hall Call That Took Decades
Baseball took its sweet time, but Ron Santo finally got the call to Cooperstown in 2012. His widow gave a beautiful speech that was also part eulogy. If you listened carefully, you could hear heels clicking up in the sky.