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Ronald Edward Santo (born February 25, 1940 in Seattle, Washington) is a former All-Star third baseman for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball who played almost his entire career with the Chicago Cubs.
Santo made his debut for the Cubs on June 26, 1960. He played with the team until 1973, then finished his career with the cross-town Chicago White Sox in 1974. During his 14-season run with the Cubs, Santo won 5 consecutive Gold Glove Awards (1964, '65, '66, '67 and '68), hit 337 home runs and was selected a National League All-Star 9 times. He was the first third baseman to hit over 300 home runs and win five Gold Gloves, a feat since matched by only Mike Schmidt. During his playing career, he carefully concealed the fact that he had diabetes, knowing that if it were widely known, his career might be curtailed or ended. Today, he is a Cubs broadcaster on WGN radio with play-by-play announcer Pat Hughes.
Ron Santo has been endorsing the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes in Chicago since 1974, and has raised over $50 million for cancer research. In 2002, Santo was named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's "Person of the Year."
Santo, who wore the number 10 as a player, is one of only three Cub players to have his number retired, along with Ernie Banks (#14) and Billy Williams (#26).
His life and career are explored in the 2004 documentary film This Old Cub, directed by Santo's son Jeff.
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