Ron Santo gets 3 more years in Cubs' radio booth

December 14, 2009

BY TONI GINNETTI Staff Reporter

Ron Santo has had to learn to deal with mechanical problems as well as health problems since wearing prosthetic legs as a result of diabetes. But the popular former Cubs third baseman has taken care of one other deal, his contract with WGN-AM to continue as color analyst on Cubs broadcasts.

Santo has signed a new three-year contract continuing his 20-year career in the booth and that gives leeway to accommodate him taking time off is his health requires it. "There are a lot of perks because of my legs," said Santo, a double amputee because of his 50-year struggles with diabetes. "I go nuts when I can't be at the games, but I have to think about my family and my health. So if I'm not feeling well or get wiped out, I’ll take certain days off, and they [WGN] have no problem with that."

Santo, who turns 70 in February, had some health problems last season and took some road trips off. The new contract continues to allow for those situations.

Santo and play by play partner Pat Hughes have teamed for the last 14 years and remain extremely popular, even in years when the team has performed poorly on the field. Hughes' current contract extends through the 2010 season.

Santo experienced a problem in November when one of his artificial legs malfunctioned, but said he otherwise is feeling well. "You know, with mechanical legs, you sometimes can have some problems with screws and things," he said from his Arizona home Monday. "I'm feeling good and I'm on a real good [conditioning] program now where I'm on a stationary bike, and my wife got me a special chair that I can do sit-ups in. My sugar levels have been great and I'm been feeling great."

Santo plans to attend the annual Cubs Convention in January. "I know the fans look forward to seeing me, and I'm looking forward to meeting [new owner] Tom Ricketts."

At the same time, he's hopeful the new ownership will continue making Arizona the Cubs' spring training home. The team is weighing overtures from cities in Florida trying to lure the team there.

"I know the Los Angeles Dodgers and the White Sox got an $80 million facility built for them [near Goodyear, Arizona] and I'm sure [the Cubs] would like the HoHoKams [the local service organization which works with the City of Mesa running the team’s spring training facility] to build something new," he said.

The Cubs have spent the last 42 springs in Arizona, the last 31 in Mesa. The team's current facility was built in 1997. The Cubs are said to account for some $52 million in annual income for the state because of their popularity there.

Mesa and Maricopa County officials are weighing whether vacant land to the north of the current park could be used for a new facility.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

maybe im the only one but i like listening to ron santo. i know hes not gonna bring much to the table but hes entertaining. its ilke harry at the end of his career. he was kind of babbling and talked about ridiculous shit but he was funny. keeps things interesting

I think it's just time to spend some time with the family. Maybe go on less and less road trips, eventually only working home games.