Help a Guy Who Doesn't Suck -- Ron Santo

For years, sucky people like former Cincinnati Red Joe Morgan and Philadelphia Phillie Mike Schmidt have blocked Chicago Cub and fan favorite Ron Santo from getting into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The two have argued that they don't want to taint the HoF by voting lesser stars in, which in their little minds means anyone who is not Joe Morgan or Mike Schmidt. And, since the decision to elect Santo into the HoF lies in the hands of the other current Hall of Famers, his opportunity to get in is lower than it should be.

Fortunately, fans now can help vote Ron Santo get into the Hall, sort of, by nominating him for the Ford C. Frick Award. The Frick Award is bestowed annually to one broadcaster who has made outstanding contributions to the game. They are not considered Hall of Famers, but they get to make a speech at the annual HoF induction ceremony, and they get a place on the Veterans Committee -- so Ronnie can help out other old players who are blackballed by the likes of Schmidt and Morgan.

You can vote for Ronnie once a day, every day in September by going to http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/awards/frick_2008/vote.jsp.

I love listening to Ron Santo and Pat Hughes on Cubs radio -- but a lot of people say that he doesn't add much to the broadcast, saying he doesn't provide in-depth analysis. My argument to those people would be that he already deserves to be in the Hall for his playing career, so visit the site and help him get some overdue recognition. Here's some more info to consider on Ronnie from the Baseball HoF:

RON SANTO: 19 years, all with the Cubs, as a WGN Radio color commentator…Played for the Cubs from 1960-73 and with the White Sox in 1974…Won five Rawlings Gold Glove awards during his 15-year major league career … A nine-time National League All-Star selection, batting .277 during his career with 342 home runs and 1,331 RBI… A member of the inaugural Cubs Walk of Fame Class of 1992 and was selected to the club's all-century team in 1999…A member of the board of directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation … His 28th annual Ron Santo Walk for the Cure walk-a-thon raised over $5 million for diabetes research in 2005…Over $63 million has been raised since he began his involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Good luck, Ronnie!

RoadRage