Where does Ron Santo rank when compared to Hall of Famers?

Answer 1

You have to look at Hall of Famers by position.

There are fewer third basemen in the hall of fame than anyother postion. Nevertheless, Santo, if inducted, would rank in the top half of Hall of Fame third baseman, and quite easily.

He may very well be the best player who is eligible for the Hall of Fame but not in.

He's far better than Jim Rice and a number of other overrated players from the 80s and 90s....(yeah, I know Rice was a left fielder)

He also won 5 gold gloves, so he was outstanding as a two-way player.

Santo was far better than Gary Gaetti... Gaetti compiled his numbers in the 80s and 90s, while Santo did it in the 60s and 70s, a much tougher era for hitters.

Santo also played in 9 all star games, an excellent total. (Gaetti made the All Star team only twice...that's a HUGE difference)

Other Hall of Fame 3rd Basemen:

George Kell: Drove in 100 runs once, scored 100 runs once. Otherwise his career high in RBI was 93. Santo scored 100 runs once, and drove in more than 93 runs ever year, eight straight years.

Santo was a better hitter than Jimmy Collins, Pie Traynor, Fred Lindstrom and Brooks Robinson.

Many players were selected to the Hall of Fame in the 1940s who were nowhere near as good as Santo...lots and lots of them.

Many players were selected to the Hall of Fame in the 1950s who
were nowhere near as good as Santo.

Many players were selected to the Hall of Fame in the 1960s who were nowhere near as good as Santo.

Many players were selected to the Hall of Fame in the 1970s who were nowhere near as good as Santo...a whole slew of them, in fact...

Many players were selected to the Hall of Fame in the 1980s who were nowhere near as good as Santo.

Many players were selected to the Hall of Fame in the 1990s who were nowhere near as good as Santo.

(For those of you who don't know the history of Hall of Fame voting, the 40s and the 70s were the absolute worst decades for putting mediocre players in the Hall of Fame).

Bill James ranked Santo as the #6 third baseman of all time, behind Schmidt, Brett, Mathews, Boggs and Baker, and just ahead of Brooks Robinson (due to Santo's putting many more runs on the scoreboard than Brooks did).

Santo should have been in the HOF years ago.

Answer 2

tweety got it exactly right he should be in the hall of fame. Several Cub fans rank Ronnie higher than Mr. Cub himself on their all-time list. If you have ever listened to a Cub broadcast on the radio, you would see that this man loves the Cub franchise more than any announcer for any team. He takes Cub loses harder than anyone else (players, managers, fans). He put his heart and soul into the Cub organization everytime he showed up to play the game of basball. No he never won a World Series but what Cub has? His numbers arn't the greatest of all-time but the way he played the game is the greatest of all time. He was diagnosed with diabetes at a very young age and was not suposed to live beyond 25. He's 66. The numbers that he put up were hard to put up because of his desease. Since he retired from the game he has lost both legs, but is still positive every season about his Chicago cubs. You don't think Chicago Cubs without thinking Ron Santo. Sometimes you have to look beyond the numbers...they're just numbers. Ron Santo played with more heart than anyone I have ever seen play the game. I hope the Veteran's committee will agree with me when their voting rolls around.

Answer 3

tweety were given it precisely accurate he could be contained in the hall of repute. numerous Cub followers rank Ronnie larger than Mr. Cub himself on their all-time record. once you have ever listened to a Cub broadcast on the radio, you would possibly want to work out that this guy loves the Cub franchise more effective than any announcer for any team. he's taking Cub loses harder than every person else (gamers, managers, followers). He positioned his coronary heart and soul into the Cub organisation everytime he confirmed as a lot as play the game of basball. No he by no ability received a international sequence yet what Cub has? His numbers arn't the superb of all-time in spite of the undeniable fact that the way he performed the game is the superb of all time. He become clinically determined with diabetes at a very youthful age and become no longer suposed to stay previous 25. he's sixty six. The numbers that he positioned up weren't hassle-free to positioned up because of his desease. on account that he retired from the game he has lost both legs, yet continues to be helpful each season about his Chicago cubs. you do not imagine Chicago Cubs without questioning Ron Santo. each so often you may seem previous the numbers...they're basically numbers. Ron Santo performed with more effective coronary heart than every person I honestly have ever considered play the game. i desire the Veteran's committee will consider me even as their voting rolls round.

Answer 4

Santo could rightly be considered for the Hall of Fame. Possibly the best third baseman in the NL until Mike Schmidt came along. Decent stats in comparison to other HOFers. The fact that he played for some bad Cub teams (including one that blew a 9 game lead over the Mets in '69) would affect his selection.

Answer 5

Santo suffers because of the perception of Wrigley Field as being a hitter's park. I saw him play and do not consider him a Hall Of Famer. His numbers are underwhelming for a third baseman. He wasn't head and shoulders above his contemporaries.

Answer 6

One big point that I haven't seen mentioned is the heel clicking. After every Cub victory Ron would jump up and click his heels together. Back in the 60's you didn't do that sort of stuff (nowadays it would be like Pedro showing emotion after you strikeout). Many of those veterans were ticked off by it and they kept him out. They always say that Brooks Robinson had comparable stats but my gut says he shouldn't be in. After all the hall doesn't have to take everybody.

Answer 7

He ranks well below Hall of Fame standards and thus shouldn't be in. He's a good person and played hard, but that doesn't count when it comes to voters and the veterans committe. After he dies, he may go in because they may feel sad about it. He's already lost his legs. Not sure how many years he has left. Sad story.

Answer 8

Do some people think if they write a long winded novel that they are giving the best answer? I find it annoying. Here's my answer, he doesn't rank very high at all, that's why he'll never get in.

Answer 9

AFTER LOOKING AT HIS NUMBERS, THEY WERE GOOD BUT NOT GREAT. IN 1998, HE RECEIVED 43% OF THE VOTE. THAT WAS THE LAST YEAR THAT HE WAS ELIGIBLE. NOW HIS ONLY CHANCE TO ELECTED IS THE VETERAN'S COMMITTEE.

Answer 10

Santo should be in!!! No he was not the greats but he has the #'s to be in!!