Santo for Hall

In July 2005 I made a long bus trip from Chicago to Cooperstown, New York to see my boyhood hero, Ryne Sandberg, get inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Despite “woo” some annoyances “woo” on the trip “woo,” it was one I’ll never forget. I’ll do my best to give you some highlights, but only with the following disclaimer … Until you go to Cooperstown yourself - with your buddies (or someone who you love) – and sit in a lawn chair or on a blanket that you carried yourself – eating $4 ice cream bars and $2 (or $1 depending on who’s buying) sausages - to see someone whom you watched (and hopefully admired) play the game of baseball for many years … you won’t truly appreciate the experience!

The Town – I didn’t realize this until I actually went myself, but the induction ceremony is actually held a mile or so away from the Hall itself. It’s walking distance from downtown Cooperstown, but you better wear comfortable shoes. True there are free trollies and buses that will transport you from Main Street to the ceremony, but I’ll tell you that if you don’t make the walk at least one way, you’re missing out on a great experience. Along the walk, you experience small-town America at it’s best. Beautiful old homes, children out playing in the yards, flags flying, and lemonade stands are the norm. On top of that, you’ll probably end up walking with several thousand other people who have made the same trip on the same weekend because they have the same love for baseball (and their childhood hero) that you do.

The Hall – Every baseball fan needs to visit the Hall of Fame to have a true appreciation for the history and evolution of the game. True it’s fun to see the artifacts (the #xxx home-run that slugger so-and-so hit, the spikes that pitcher you-know-who was wearing when he threw his no-hitter, etc.), but that excitement quickly fades. What you’re left with then is a well thought-out and laid-out history of the game. If you don’t already know, you can learn about the impacts that various wars had on the game, you can learn about Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues, and you can learn about how technology (from the first radio broadcast to the first wireless “call to the pen”) has influenced the game. A few hours in the Hall of Fame will teach you more than you ever imagined.

The Fellowship – Hopefully every trip you take to the Hall of Fame will be with friends or family. That was the case for me: my first trip was with my wife, and the second trip (Sandberg’s induction) was with buddies. Both trips opened conversations and passion in areas we had never talked about much before. For my wife, the trip gave her not only an understanding of how much I love baseball, but also a new appreciation for the game itself. With my buddies, we took time to talk about things that don’t typically come up at the office (our favorite baseball players, the number of sausages one should eat at a game, and our dislike for people who say “woo” between every word). Oh, and we played catch … more than once. I challenge you to find grown men in your area having a friendly catch just for the enjoyment of doing so. I also challenge you to find a grown man who loves the game of baseball who wouldn’t love to play catch with his buddies more often.

The Respect – Ryno talked about it, and I think most Hall of Famers have it, but it is slowly slipping away from the game. I won’t get on my soapbox (just read Ryno’s induction speech), but I will say that the Hall of Fame is for those who respect the game. If you respect the game, it’s great to be surrounded by so many others who do as well.

Only time will tell if the McGwires, Sosas, Palmieros, and Bonds of the game make it into the Hall. On the other side of that coin, time is running out for a should-be HOFer, Ron Santo. My case for Ron goes beyond the numbers. True he stands up with many others already elected. However, I say Ronnie deserves to be in the Hall of Fame because he accomplished what he did, the right way (as Ryne Sandberg would say). That gets lost in todays world of corked bats, steroids, and juiced balls … but it’s important. At least it’s important to those willing to make the trip to Cooperstown.

The other reason I would like to see Ronnie inducted is because of the fans’ love for him. I challenge you to give me another player more loved by such a wide audience. Does love for a player mean he deserves to be elected? Not always – but in Ronnie’s case, it would be great for the game. I believe his induction would bring a record number of people to the ceremony, and I think more people would make the effort to see Santo’s plaque hanging in The Hall. All of that would not only bring the right people, but by getting them to Cooperstown, they’ll add to their historical knowledge of the game, and have the opportunity for some great fellowship with other baseball fans.

To some extent, that movement is going on in Chicago today as people rally to support Ron. We have one of the best kept secrets in Chicago … it’s a shame that we’re willing to share him with the Hall of Fame and he hasn’t been inducted yet.

When Ron Santo gets inducted into the Hall of Fame, look for me in my lawn chair, eating sausages and ice cream with my buddies, and my wife and kids … and bring your glove because I’ll be ready for a game of catch.