Chicago Cubs great Ron Santo was posthumously elected to the to the baseball Hall of Fame on Monday with a 93.8 percent yes vote received from the Golden Era committee.
With 15 of 16 votes received Santo was the only player to receive the 75 percent vote threshold needed for induction. Following behind Santo was Jim Katt with 10 votes while Minnie Minoso and Gil Hodges both received nine votes.
Santo who was previously named on 15 hall of fame ballots was voted down each time, receiving a peak score of just 43 percent despite huge lobbying efforts on the part of Chicago Cubs fans.
The former Cub will be inducted on July 22 along with other members elected by the BBWAA during a Jan. 9 vote.
In a statement released to the press Bud Selig wrote:
“This is a great day for baseball and for Cubs fans everywhere … I am thrilled that the memory of my dear friend Ron Santo will be preserved forever in the halls of Cooperstown. As a star player and a beloved broadcaster, Ron was a staple of the Cubs’ experience every single day for decades, representing all the goodwill of both the franchise and the game he loved.
“I always admired Ron’s courage and loyalty, and I miss him very much. Today, I am so proud to know that his contributions to baseball will receive the highest honor. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I congratulate Ron’s wife Vicki, their four children and their grandchildren.”
Ron Santo died on Dec. 3, 2010 at the age of 70, he will be the 47th Chicago Cub to be inducted.
It didn’t take his death for Chicago to memorialize the former Cub with a retired No. 10 jersey and a statue named for the former Chicago Cub located outside of Wrigley Field.
