Ron Santo

[Galah]

I grew up listening to the cubs

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101203&content_id=16246292&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[HalfSmokes]

This has been a bad year for beloved broadcasters

[Minty Fresh]

I hate to be the one making a disparaging post only three posts in, but.......

Santo SUCKED as a broadcaster.

[DPMOmaha]

I enjoyed listening to him occasionally.  I'd have to disagree with Minty, for what he was, he was perfect.  Of course it would never work on a national game, but as a home team color commentator, it was great.  Cubs games will be very different with him not there.

[Minty Fresh]

I enjoyed listening to him occasionally.  I'd have to disagree with Minty, for what he was, he was perfect.  Of course it would never work on a national game, but as a home team color commentator, it was great.  Cubs games will be very different with him not there.

I should say that I have no problem with broadcast crews hired by the teams to broadcast the games to the local audience being homers.  I don't care.  I, in fact, think they SHOULD be homers.  There should be a distinctly different feel between a home broadcasting crew and a national broadcasting crew.  That wasn't my issue with Santo.

My issue with Santo was that he often sounded like he was liquored up during broadcasts - routinely.  His breakdowns and "color" commentary provided little-to-no insight whatsoever and frequently sounded like mumblings that John Madden would be proud of.  When he'd get excited by a play on the field, it sounded as though he was masturbating and getting ready for orgasm.  It sounded like amatuer hour on the radio.

While I don't expect impartiality from my broadcasting crews, I do expect professionalism.  Santo never sounded professional when I listened to the Nats play the Cubs or when I'd listen to a day game at work (naturally, rooting against the Cubs).  I always felt as though I'd rather listen to sportsfan882 broadcast Nats games over Ron Santo broadcasting anything.

He was a great 2B; but a great broadcaster he was not.

[EdStroud]

I should say that I have no problem with broadcast crews hired by the teams to broadcast the games to the local audience being homers.  I don't care.  I, in fact, think they SHOULD be homers.  There should be a distinctly different feel between a home broadcasting crew and a national broadcasting crew.  That wasn't my issue with Santo.

My issue with Santo was that he often sounded like he was liquored up during broadcasts - routinely.  His breakdowns and "color" commentary provided little-to-no insight whatsoever and frequently sounded like mumblings that John Madden would be proud of.  When he'd get excited by a play on the field, it sounded as though he was masturbating and getting ready for orgasm.  It sounded like amatuer hour on the radio.

While I don't expect impartiality from my broadcasting crews, I do expect professionalism.  Santo never sounded professional when I listened to the Nats play the Cubs or when I'd listen to a day game at work (naturally, rooting against the Cubs).  I always felt as though I'd rather listen to sportsfan882 broadcast Nats games over Ron Santo broadcasting anything.

He was a great 2B; but a great broadcaster he was not.

Minty he played thirdbase

[Minty Fresh]

Minty he played thirdbase

Oops!  Typo.....

[DPMOmaha]

I should say that I have no problem with broadcast crews hired by the teams to broadcast the games to the local audience being homers.  I don't care.  I, in fact, think they SHOULD be homers.  There should be a distinctly different feel between a home broadcasting crew and a national broadcasting crew.  That wasn't my issue with Santo.

My issue with Santo was that he often sounded like he was liquored up during broadcasts - routinely.  His breakdowns and "color" commentary provided little-to-no insight whatsoever and frequently sounded like mumblings that John Madden would be proud of.  When he'd get excited by a play on the field, it sounded as though he was masturbating and getting ready for orgasm.  It sounded like amatuer hour on the radio.

While I don't expect impartiality from my broadcasting crews, I do expect professionalism.  Santo never sounded professional when I listened to the Nats play the Cubs or when I'd listen to a day game at work (naturally, rooting against the Cubs).  I always felt as though I'd rather listen to sportsfan882 broadcast Nats games over Ron Santo broadcasting anything.

He was a great 2B; but a great broadcaster he was not.

I understand all that.  I'm not saying he should go into the broadcasters wing of the HOF, but for what he was, I found him enjoyable on occasion.  That's all.

[Minty Fresh]

I understand all that.  I'm not saying he should go into the broadcasters wing of the HOF, but for what he was, I found him enjoyable on occasion.  That's all.

I guess I just have high standards.  Won't be the first (or last) time I've been accused of being a snob.   

[soxfan59]

I should say that I have no problem with broadcast crews hired by the teams to broadcast the games to the local audience being homers.  I don't care.  I, in fact, think they SHOULD be homers.  There should be a distinctly different feel between a home broadcasting crew and a national broadcasting crew.  That wasn't my issue with Santo.

My issue with Santo was that he often sounded like he was liquored up during broadcasts - routinely.  His breakdowns and "color" commentary provided little-to-no insight whatsoever and frequently sounded like mumblings that John Madden would be proud of.  When he'd get excited by a play on the field, it sounded as though he was masturbating and getting ready for orgasm.  It sounded like amatuer hour on the radio.

While I don't expect impartiality from my broadcasting crews, I do expect professionalism.  Santo never sounded professional when I listened to the Nats play the Cubs or when I'd listen to a day game at work (naturally, rooting against the Cubs).  I always felt as though I'd rather listen to sportsfan882 broadcast Nats games over Ron Santo broadcasting anything.

He was a great 2B; but a great broadcaster he was not.

As far as the critique of Santo as a broadcaster, i agree wholeheartedly.  Ronnie was a tool.  Not only a bad broadcaster, but I think WGN and Cubs management played him for a fool in order to make the broadcasts more entertaining.  If you listen to how Pat Hughes guided him into some of the most inane conversations -- it was like putting your addled grandfather on the radio and asking him to talk about "the old days," or do a running commentary on soup or something. 

Here in Chicago, we shall also endure the endless crying and moaning about how Santo should have been in the hall of fame.

Part of my issue is I hate the Cubs and everything related to the Cubs, so I view Santo's radio career through a biased lens. 

He was a premier ball player in his day, and his battles with illness, particularly late in his life, make him an inspiration.  He loved baseball, obviously, and who can fault him for that? 

[tomterp]

Here in Chicago, we shall also endure the endless crying and moaning about how Santo should have been in the hall of fame.

Of the group of players who just can't seem to get in, Santo draws a fair amount of objective support for his candidacy.

[Lintyfresh85]

Baseball Reference has him right on the cusp, but not quite good enough for the HOF.

I wonder if his death will push him into the Hall?

[Potomac Cannons]

Loved Santo the player.  Santo the announcer was Rob Dibblesque.

[Galah]

It's just a reminder of how old I am, I remember him as a player, never listened to him as a broadcaster.

I grew up on the Southside and went to college on the Northside - honestly, there was no in city rivalry in my day, neither team was ever going to play the other, so why get excited.

First time I ever cut class in college was to see the Cubs home opener from the left feild bleachers at Wrigley - Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams, Joe Pepitone, Jose Cardenal...great Americans - cold grey windy day at the ball park as I recall

[mitlen]

-- it was like putting your addled grandfather on the radio and asking him to talk about "the old days," or do a running commentary on soup or something. 
 

Um, kind 'o like Phil Wood.

[EdStroud]

It's just a reminder of how old I am, I remember him as a player, never listened to him as a broadcaster.

I grew up on the Southside and went to college on the Northside - honestly, there was no in city rivalry in my day, neither team was ever going to play the other, so why get excited.

First time I ever cut class in college was to see the Cubs home opener from the left feild bleachers at Wrigley - Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Williams, Joe Pepitone, Jose Cardenal...great Americans - cold grey windy day at the ball park as I recall

Would that be 1973 vs Montreal (Nationals) Expos
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B04060CHN1973.htm