Ron Santo
⭐ Hall of Fame 2012
Born: 2/25/1940 in Seattle, WA, USA
Died: 12/2/2010 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA
MLB Debut: 1960-06-26 | Final Game: 1974-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Ronald Edward Santo
Biography
Ron Santo was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1960 to 1974. Born in 1940, Santo established himself as one of the most skilled third basemen of his era, showcasing a powerful bat and exceptional fielding abilities. Over the course of 2,243 games, he accumulated 2,254 hits, 342 home runs, and 1,331 RBIs, posting a career batting average of .277. Known for his resilience and competitive spirit, Santo also demonstrated speed on the bases with 35 stolen bases to his name. A nine-time All-Star, he was celebrated for his contributions to the game during a transformative period in baseball marked by the rise of power hitting and the integration of players from diverse backgrounds.
Santo played the majority of his career with the Chicago Cubs, where he became a beloved figure among fans. His dedication to the team and the city cemented his legacy, and he was recognized for his leadership both on and off the field. After his retirement, Santo's impact continued as he became a revered broadcaster, sharing his passion for the game with a new generation of fans. In 2012, he was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring influence and the significant role he played in the history of the sport.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2243 | 8143 | 1138 | 2254 | 365 | 67 | 342 | 1331 | 35 | 1108 | 1343 | 0.277 | 0.362 | 0.464 | 0.826 | 33318.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | CHC | NL | 95 | 347 | 44 | 87 | 24 | 2 | 9 | 44 | 0 | 31 | 44 | 0.251 | 1.1 |
| 1961 | CHC | NL | 154 | 578 | 84 | 164 | 32 | 6 | 23 | 83 | 2 | 73 | 77 | 0.284 | 1886.9 |
| 1962 | CHC | NL | 162 | 604 | 44 | 137 | 20 | 4 | 17 | 83 | 4 | 65 | 94 | 0.227 | -1056.2 |
| 1963 | CHC | NL | 162 | 630 | 79 | 187 | 29 | 6 | 25 | 99 | 6 | 42 | 92 | 0.297 | 2293.7 |
| 1964 | CHC | NL | 161 | 592 | 94 | 185 | 33 | 13 | 30 | 114 | 3 | 86 | 96 | 0.312 | 4689.1 |
| 1965 | CHC | NL | 164 | 608 | 88 | 173 | 30 | 4 | 33 | 101 | 3 | 88 | 109 | 0.285 | 3780.4 |
| 1966 | CHC | NL | 155 | 561 | 93 | 175 | 21 | 8 | 30 | 94 | 4 | 95 | 78 | 0.312 | 4575.7 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 161 | 586 | 107 | 176 | 23 | 4 | 31 | 98 | 1 | 96 | 103 | 0.300 | 4365.8 |
| 1968 | CHC | NL | 162 | 577 | 86 | 142 | 17 | 3 | 26 | 98 | 3 | 96 | 106 | 0.246 | 2600.2 |
| 1969 | CHC | NL | 160 | 575 | 97 | 166 | 18 | 4 | 29 | 123 | 1 | 96 | 97 | 0.289 | 3141.3 |
| 1970 | CHC | NL | 154 | 555 | 83 | 148 | 30 | 4 | 26 | 114 | 2 | 92 | 108 | 0.267 | 2214.4 |
| 1971 | CHC | NL | 154 | 555 | 77 | 148 | 22 | 1 | 21 | 88 | 4 | 79 | 95 | 0.267 | 1636.7 |
| 1972 | CHC | NL | 133 | 464 | 68 | 140 | 25 | 5 | 17 | 74 | 1 | 69 | 75 | 0.302 | 2880.3 |
| 1973 | CHC | NL | 149 | 536 | 65 | 143 | 29 | 2 | 20 | 77 | 1 | 63 | 97 | 0.267 | 1320.8 |
| 1974 | CHW | AL | 117 | 375 | 29 | 83 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 41 | 0 | 37 | 72 | 0.221 | -1011.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2B | 42 | 39 | 106 | 107 | 7 | 44 |
| 3B | 2130 | 2116 | 1955 | 4581 | 317 | 395 |
| OF | 8 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| SS | 18 | 7 | 14 | 28 | 2 | 7 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | CHN | 3B | 94 | 94 | 78 | 144 | 13 | 6 |
| 1961 | CHN | 3B | 153 | 152 | 157 | 307 | 31 | 41 |
| 1962 | CHN | 3B | 157 | 156 | 161 | 332 | 23 | 33 |
| 1962 | CHN | SS | 8 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| 1963 | CHN | 3B | 162 | 162 | 136 | 374 | 26 | 25 |
| 1964 | CHN | 3B | 161 | 161 | 156 | 367 | 20 | 31 |
| 1965 | CHN | 3B | 164 | 164 | 155 | 373 | 24 | 27 |
| 1966 | CHN | 3B | 152 | 151 | 150 | 391 | 25 | 36 |
| 1966 | CHN | SS | 8 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 1 | 5 |
| 1967 | CHN | 3B | 161 | 161 | 187 | 393 | 26 | 33 |
| 1968 | CHN | 3B | 162 | 162 | 130 | 378 | 15 | 33 |
| 1969 | CHN | 3B | 160 | 159 | 144 | 334 | 27 | 23 |
| 1970 | CHN | 3B | 152 | 151 | 143 | 320 | 27 | 36 |
| 1970 | CHN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | CHN | 3B | 149 | 147 | 118 | 274 | 17 | 29 |
| 1971 | CHN | OF | 6 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | CHN | 2B | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 4 |
| 1972 | CHN | 3B | 129 | 128 | 108 | 274 | 21 | 19 |
| 1972 | CHN | SS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | CHN | OF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | CHN | 3B | 146 | 146 | 107 | 271 | 20 | 17 |
| 1974 | CHA | 1B | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1974 | CHA | 2B | 39 | 37 | 97 | 99 | 6 | 40 |
| 1974 | CHA | 3B | 28 | 22 | 25 | 49 | 2 | 6 |
| 1974 | CHA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 3 |
| Second Base | 42 |
| Third Base | 2129 |
| Shortstop | 18 |
| Left Field | 8 |
| Designated Hitter | 47 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | |
| 1973 | Player of the Week | Week of 1973-06-29 |
| 1972 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1969 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1968 | Gold Glove | 3B |
| 1968 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1967 | Gold Glove | 3B |
| 1967 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1966 | Gold Glove | 3B |
| 1966 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
| 1965 | Gold Glove | 3B |
| 1964 | Gold Glove | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 124.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1968 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 24th | 2.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1967 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 4th | 103.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1966 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 12th | 23.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 18th | 11.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1964 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 59.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1963 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 8th | 41.0 | 280 | 0 |
| 1960 | Rookie of the Year | NL | 4th | 2.0 | 24 | 2 |