In what might be one of the most improbable quotes in history, baseball great (just ask him) Joe Morgan  thinks Ron Santo should be in he hall of fame.  Morgan, who has craploads of pull on the committee that elects players, finally admitted Ronnie was good enough to join their club .

For many years, it was speculated that Morgan led the opposition to Santo being admitted.  Santo's teams, as good as some of them were, didn't win a pennant.  They didn't make the playoffs, which began in 1969.  And, they choked horribly in 1969, something some still blame on the former Cubs captain.

The difference between Ron Santo and Brooks Robinson was that Robinson played in three world series and had the opportunity to showcase his considerable talent in front of a national audience and national sportswriters.  Remember, there was a time when there was no ESPN and only one national game a week.  If a player played for the Cubs, you didn't get to see him on WGN America.  Because the Cubs never made the post season, Santo didn't get the recognition he deserved.

Add to that his old school personality, actually disliking opponents.  None of that kissy face huggy bear M-Ram and Big Papi crap, Santo wanted to beat your brains out every time he lined up against you.  The man played hard and was disliked by not only players from other teams but some of his teammates as well (you know who we are talking about Don Young and Dick Allen.) He was every bit as intense as Pete Rose and a bit surly too. 

Not being the prom king doesn't get you many votes for the hall of fame.  Bert Blyleven belongs too, but was a such a combination goofball/diva that his peers weren't too fond of him either.  If you don't think making the hall of fame is part popularity contest, you need to wake up and smell the Folgers.

Now that Morgan is on the Santo bandwagon, it is hopeful that this most deserving candidate get his day in the sun.  I have championed Ron Santo's election to the hall for a long time because I actually saw the man play.  Outside of being slower than Benji Molina, Santo not only was a solid hitter and great in the clutch, he was also one of the best fielding third basemen in baseball during his era.  Add to this, he was a closeted diabetic in an era where you couldn't disclose something like that without the possibility of losing your job. Today, players are allowed to wear insulin pumps, which surely would may have made Santo even better.

I also want to point out that my all out love for Santo is not based on his health struggles later in life where he lost both his legs to diabetes or his broadcast career.  I saw the guy play.  He was awesome.  My whole opinion is based only on that.

The next election for the veterans in 2011 and I hope Santo gets elected.  I hope he gets elected while he is still alive and can be given the honor of making a speech.  He deserves it.

In the Mt. Rushmore of the late 60's and early 70's Cub teams, three of the four faces (Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins) are in the hall.  Only Santo is on the outside looking in.  And that needs to change.