Ron Santo, who played and later was a broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs, died last night at the age of 70.
Santo, who was in Arizona at the time of his death, reportedly died of complications from bladder cancer. Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts addressed Santo’s death in a statement , saying:
“My siblings and I first knew Ron Santo as fans, listening to him in the broadcast booth… We knew him for his passion, his loyalty, his great personal courage and his tremendous sense of humor. It was our great honor to get to know him personally in our first year as owners… Ronnie will forever be in the hearts and souls of Cubs fans.”
Ricketts added:
“In the days and seasons ahead, we will honor Ron and celebrate all he has meant to our team and our fans… Ron’s No. 10 will always be close to our hearts and Ron will forever be a member of the Cubs family.”
Although he was notably passed over for Hall of Fame inclusion, Santo’s number (10) was retired by the Cubs not long after the snub. At the time, Santo said:
“This flag hanging down the left-field line means more to me than the Hall of Fame,” Santo told the cheering crowd at Wrigley Field when his number was retired.
“This couldn’t be any better,” he said. “With the adversity that I have been through if it wasn’t for all of you, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
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