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Showing posts with label Ron Santo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ron Santo. Show all posts

Monday, February 26, 2024

Franklin High Star Ron Santo

 Fandom and it's associated collecting is a strange thing. When I first became a Ron Santo fan I was young boy.  Ron was in his prime, smashing home runs and snagging line drives at the Friendly Confines.  When his career was over, after that sad year on the South Side, I was a only a teen.  Later on I listened to him on the radio and saw him on TV.  Ernie Banks may have copyrighted "Mr. Cub" but I'll argue that Ron Santo was just as worthy of that honor.  When he failed to be elected to the Hall of Fame in life I was sad along with him.  It was bittersweet when he was finally honored posthumously in 2012.  My father, a generation older, like Ronnie, battled diabetes for many years.  He succumbed to it's effects at age 70.  When I learned that Santo had died in early December 2010 at the same age I was nearly as heartbroken.  Now I'm within shouting distance of the age when they both passed.  I miss them both.  Even now I'm still a Ron Santo fan and collector.  

I've only seen one copy of Ron Santo's 1958 Franklin High yearbook come up on Ebay.  I know I bid on it but lost.  About a month ago, before sunrise I received a notification that one had been listed again.  This time it was a Buy It Now and the price being within even my meager budget it took me about three minutes before I clicked the button.


A little research indicates that this copy probably belonged to Joan Akers, now Joan Akers Booms who still appears to be living in Seattle.  The seller takes donations and sells a small percentage of the books to support giving others to hospitals, shelters, teachers and other non-profits. I hope this was not donated by accident.  I'll take good care of it Joan. 
It's interesting to see that Ron's distinctive signature was the same since his teens.

Ron was a star athlete at good old Franklin, playing basketball, football and of course baseball.  I'd show more pictures but I'm afraid of breaking copyrights.  There is one baseball card that features Ron's senior head shot.  In it he's wearing a bow tie, as all the boys did. I don't own a copy.

Ron Santo, born on February 25, 1940 would have turned 84 yesterday.

Monday, October 25, 2021

Look Who's Back!

 No, not me.  Ron Santo!  The Hall of Fame 3rd baseman hasn't had a Topps presence in about a decade.  This Bazooka card, which I love, is the last base card I remember seeing.  There was a card in the 2016 Wrigley Field set.  There was also a giveaway or two.  Other than that, it appears that Panini held the exclusive right to produce Ron Santo cards.  I do own a small number of them but I bought them begrudgingly.  
2010 Topps Bazooka #35
 Holy Cow!  Topps Turkey Red Ron Santo in base and Chrome Versions.
2020 Topps Update Turkey Red #TR-30
2020 Topps Update Turkey Red Chrome #TRC-30
Art cards sets are always uneven. I looked at the artist's website and he's done some really nice work.
I don't know about this one.   He was a Mets batboy.   Sorry Mr. G. Everyone's a critic.
2020 Topps Gallery #MA-10
This was not a base card and I had misgivings about the price.  It is a really nice looking card.  
2020 Topps Heritage 1971 Greatest Moments Top Loader #55
This is not a Ron Santo card.  
The cards that make up the puzzle are pretty nice on their own, so, bonus!  (Nobody says that anymore.)
This is OK.  Shea, right?
2021 Topps Heritage Stars Bubble Gum Candy Lid # 18
Nice looking card.  I do prefer the photos of young Ron Santo.
2021 Topps Museum Collection #9
I am definitely not a completest at this point in my collecting life.  I'll gladly settle for this blue bordered variation.  I think there's an amethyst/purple one.  Someone else can have mine. 

2021 Topps Museum Collection #9 Blue Border 021/150



Man, did Topps give me shpilkes on this one.  I knew there was a chance Ronnie would appear in this set but the checklist wasn't released until just before the set came out.  I was very excited when it was confirmed.  This is Santo's first appearance in Allen and Ginter's 16th year.
2021 Topps Allen & Ginter #86
2020 Topps Allen & Ginter Silver Foil #86
I had to have the this one.  Pretty sharp! 
2021 Allen &Ginter X #86
Here are the three mini versions.

There have of course been been some relic and auto cards issued in recent sets.  They're not in my current budget and at any rate I have my share of both.  For the money I'd rather pick up the OPC's I'm missing.  I hope Topps will be releasing a few more base cards in upcoming sets.   Gypsy Queen? 
Thanks for visiting.  

Thursday, March 11, 2021

Joys of a Disorganized Collection Part 2

What will the box give us today?

I'm really back now and I'm going to kick NBA ass for another three years!
Is there a bad card of The Kid?
Machine Gun Kelly

One of many of my Ron Santo auto cards.  I'm not a sticker fan but this card looks good anyways.  Fortunately for me a majority of Ron's autographs are hard signed.
Here's another Chicago legend, Dan Hampton.  Boy did Danimal and the boys have fun in 1985.  This is a nice "art" card.
Which poor batter are they talking about blowing away this time.  Look at The Big Unit's stats mid-career.  Fear the mullet!
Thanks for stopping by!


Thursday, February 25, 2021

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Player

 Today would have been Ron Santo's 81st birthday.  Ronnie's been gone for 10 years now but he's certainly not forgotten.  I'm not a religious man but it's nice to imagine him reminiscing with all of the guys who passed in the last year, including his infield-mate Glenn Beckert. 

This is my favorite card.  It's a TTM from the days following Ron's retirement in the 1970's.


When Santo's jersey was retired by the Cubs in 2003 he famously said to the crowd at Wrigley Field, "This is my Hall of Fame."  
Ron finally did make it to the Hall of Fame but it's still sad to many of us that he didn't get to enjoy it in life.  I've never worn this shirt.  It's a really nice tribute.

I heard the cake discussion live on the radio.

Rest in Peace Ron!

Sunday, June 16, 2019

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there.  I don't have kids and my Dad has been gone for a couple of decades. 
Here he is outside of his School in Chicago


My Dad's favorite player growing up was Cubs third baseman, Stan Hack.  He acquired the autographed card below as an adult but I'd like to think he had a copy as a kid.
Coincidentally my favorite player growing up was also the Cubs third baseman, in my case Ron Santo. I miss my Dad and I miss Ronnie. Both Hall of Famers in my book.
I got this card signed TTM right after Ron retired.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Happy Birthday, Coach!

Ron Santo will always be my favorite player.  He died just over eight years ago and yesterday would have been his 79th birthday.  One of the saddest things was that he didn't live to enjoy his enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  I still find it a bittersweet honor.
This image (not an exact replica) is a little weird.

Do you ever find youself appreciating the packaging as much as the actual collectible.  
This is my all-time favorite  image of Ron.  I have a framed colorized copy hanging on a wall in my house.

Happy Birthday, Ronnie!
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