Ron Santo to be succeeded in broadcasting role soon
December 2nd marked a sad end to one of the top legendary careers in the Chicago Cubs’ ranks.
Ron Santo, regarded as the franchise’s second Mr. Cubs, passed away on that day and since that time there has been a dilemma at the Cubs’ WGN – AM station.
There is a move to put someone in Santo’s vacant seat and the organization isn’t taking the matter lightly. There have been various ways to go about the task and the first order of process has been complete.
The Cubs are coining the move as an effort to ‘succeed’ Santo, rather than ‘replace’ him. The deadline for selection is apparently February 27 and the spring training period in baseball is the major influence in the decision.
Santo provided 20 seasons to the Cubs, in the form of a radio host and played the field for another 15. His co-worker Pat Hughes knows the situation well and he has asked the fans to give the new man at the post a chance.
Hughes teamed up with Santo for 15 years and delivered an amazing show to the fans.
Hughes formed a deep partnership with Ron Santo on the show. He and Santo were famed for their catchy lines and comedic interludes. Their banter would be coined, The Pat and Ron Show, in the later years that followed.
“Whoever the new guy is, I hope the audience gives him a chance”, said Hughes. “He’s not going to be as entertaining or as popular. Ronnie was one of the all-time icons of Chicago sports”.
“You have Ron and Billy Williams and Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg and Gale Sayers and Mike Ditka and d**k Butkus and Walter Payton and Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita and Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. They are the pantheon of Chicago sports. And the chemistry
thing we had, it didn’t take long to develop, but it did take a few years to perfect”.
Some of the top candidates for the vacant role are, Dave Otto and Keith Moreland.
The two have worked on the show before and they have filled in for Santo on various occasions. It really will be hard to see a change in the show, given Ron Santo’s legacy. It will have to be seen how the fans would react to the change in the booth and organization.
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