I’d often wince at the thought of Ron Santo leaving us in the middle of a Cubs Mets game at New York, in one of the late innings when Carlos Marmol or [fill-in-the-blank] inevitably loads the basis before retiring the side and saving the game.

Obviously this would not be an ideal situation and certainly was not what I hoped for. But it came as quite a disappointment when I heard, early this morning, that Santo passed from complications from a recurrence of bladder cancer at age 70.

I really thought he’d be around to see the Cubs finally win it all. Of course I imagine a Cubs championship as a likelihood every spring, only to have my heartbroken by August and inevitably lose interest in baseball altogether by the time the Wrigley Field ivy starts turning colors. But there were definitely a few seasons over the past decade in which I had a pretty-to-really good feeling that it was going to happen.

Santo raised more than $50 million for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund through his annual Walk for the Cure and other charitable activities. Every time a Cubs player was issued a base on balls, Santo took the opportunity to advocate for JDRF, thanks to a partnership in which Walgreens donated $100 to JDRF for every Cubs walk.

So let’s show some appreciation and thanks to #10, one of the greatest Cubs of all time, and see if we can raise 10 grand for JDRF in the name of Ron Santo over the next ten days. It’s as simple as filling in the box below or you can visit: http://www.razoo.com/story/Donate-To-Jdrf-In-Memory-Of-Ron-Santo.

Ron Santo embodied the spirit of the Cubs and of Cubs fans and unfortunately he also dealt with a lifetime of bad Cubbie luck. Diagnosed with diabetes at age 19, just prior to his rookie season with the Cubs, Santo somehow hid the fact that he was taking insulin from his teammates for most of his playing career. The diabetes eventually led to the need to amputate both of his legs. But he hardly slowed down, wearing prosthetics and still reporting to the ballpark for radio duties. He was too proud and too happy to be at the ballpark to make excuses. In spite of multiple campaigns to vote Santo into the Baseball Hall of Fame he never made it. He remained optimistic 162 games a year in spite of suffering through many of the toughest seasons (along with Ernie Banks and Billy Williams no less) since the Cubs last won a championship, in 1908. Last year he wrote an emotional article about his struggle with diabetes.

So sad that the the last stroke of bad luck would be fatal… after 50 years living with diabetes, it was ultimately cancer that took Ron Santo from us. Perhaps only one season too soon. Next year is nearly here. Rest in Peace, Ronnie!

Amazing night at — of all places — Miller Park. Much will be said about this night, and personally, I’m elated at the moment. But in the interest of getting out of the house, I’m going to post the audio highlights c/o WGN Radio, Pat Hughes, and Ron Santo. Yes, The Chicago Cubs, on the back of Carlos Zambrano — who nearly no-hit the Astros in the past — pitched his first career no hitter, the first no hitter by a Cubs since Milt Pappas in 1972.

Listen to the call of the 27th out:

[display_podcast]
Holy Shit Carlos!

And the Magic Number is 7!

Piniella, Zambrano talk to the media:

Game Highlights (WGN Radio):

Zambrano spoke to WGN TV’s Len Kasper after the game and according to the Sun Times, said:

“I felt good,” Zambrano said. “I think the rest helped me out a lot, and I was able to command my fastball today and all my pitches were working great today. I was watching the gun in the first inning and it said 99, 98 I said let’s get it on, challenge the hitter and be aggressive.

Geovany [Soto] just told me, ‘Just come on. Let’s go you and do it.’ The pitching coach [Larry Rothschild] in the ninth inning ‘use your leg,’ and that helped.”

photos via AP/Yahoo! Sports.

Words cannot explain the incredible joy and excitement I feel right now. I’ve been following the Cubs as close as ever this year, despite my current residence on the west coast and after 160 games, it IS HAPPENING! The Cubs are going to the playoffs and are the first National League team to clinch their division. Zambrano and Soriano were the heroes today — the two guys who got the fattest cash deals and boy do they deserve it. I don’t have cable, much less satellite but I am listening to the WGN radio stream and on a mad hunt for an Old Style. I am also loving the comment thread at Bleed Cubbie Blue as well as the Cub-cam at Clark and Addison showing the fans spilling out into the streets of Wrigleyville (the game was away in Cincinnati, btw). Soon to leave the house for a Friday night, but this is JUST the beginning of a great run. GO CUBS!