Ron Santo was remembered by many as a hero, a legend and an all around good guy Friday morning.
"If you loved baseball you loved Ron Santo," said Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "Ron Santo was a great player but was even a better human being."
Selig was one of many olleagues and baseball officials who delivered eulogies during the late Cubs broadcaster's funeral Friday at Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago.
"Ron was the fan's broadcaster, he was the fan in the booth," said Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. "(Ron) was so in touch with the fan he could describe the game without using words at all," Ricketts added, referring to Santo's trademark moans and groans.
Santo's booth partner Pat Hughes saved the best for last. He told stories about Santo's antics that would have brought a tear to the eye of anyone who listened to their broadcasts.
For instance, Santo was so upset when Brant Brown dropped the ball in the outfield in midst of pennant race on September 23, 1998 in a game against the Brewers that Cubs Manager Jim Riggleman had to cheer up a distraught Santo after the game. Hughes had to hide his laughter.
"Do you think Mike Ditka ever had to cheer up Wayne Larrivee?"
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Hughes said no one word described Ron Santo, because he was unique, unforgettable, amazing, courageous, inspirational, natural, genuine, real, generous" the list went on and ended on a humorous note: "nosey, fashion cop, food cop, backseat driver, No. 1 Cub fan ever, partner and friend."
"However you remember him," said Hughes. "Please do so with a smile on your face."
Following the services, the funeral procession embarked on a route toward Wrigley Field.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Santo's memory to the Illinois chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
JDRF Illinois Chapter
11 S. LaSalle St.
Chicago, IL 60603-1344
JDRFIllinois.org
312-670-0313
Santo died last Thursday at the age of 70.
