Sports

Long-lost letters show Santo’s career nearly went Cub-boom

One thing I learned early on in this business is that ya never know. So I began to file shards of info about the people and things I cover, or might cover. One file cabinet begat five.

When Ron Santo, the Cubs’ beloved third baseman and chauvinist broadcaster, died on Thursday, I pulled his file, hoping to find then relate, here, some mostly unknown or forgotten tale of a character’s character who actually named his hair pieces, saving his “Gamer” for the big games.

Then there it was, something I long ago forgot I had, something a local reader, Bob-something, his last name long forgotten, sent me maybe 20 years ago.

In Santo’s file there are two pieces of paper, in my judgment original, typewritten letters — one from Santo, one to Santo — in the winter of 1959-60.

A nine-time All-Star, Santo joined the Cubs, a 20-year-old rookie from Seattle, in 1960. Apparently, one of the very most popular Cubs nearly wasn’t a Cub, not even for a day.

I don’t know how this reader had these letters, but, again, by feel, appearances, content and instinct, I’d swear they’re originals. The first begins:

Seattle, Washington.

Dec. 27, 1959

Dear Mr. [Cubs’ business GM H.B. “Spec”] Richardson: I am returning, unsigned, your contract for 1960. I appreciate the offer, but I feel that the salary is insufficient.

I would also like transportation home at the end of the season.

Respectfully yours, Ron Santo [also signed in ink]

On Jan. 11, 1960, Richardson responded:

Ronald E. Santo

2310 25th Ave. South

Seattle, Washington

Dear Ron: This will acknowledge receipt of your unsigned contract you returned to us for the 1960 season.

On Page 3 of the enclosed contract, you will find a clause which reads: “Player is to receive first-class transportation home at the close of the 1960 season.” I feel that I have been very fair in giving you a $200-per-month raise for the 1960 season over what you made in 1959. You made $400 per month at San Antonio last year.

I hope you see your way clear to sign this contract and return it to me immediately, in order for us to set up your transportation to Mesa, Ariz., for the early instructional camp which starts on Dec. 7.

Very truly yours, H.B. “Spec” Richardson.

[Gene Lawing, Cubs’ farm director is copied at the bottom.] So there it is.

How close was Santo to not being a Cub? A few bucks? A ride home? And what are those letters doing in my file cabinet? Ya never know.

Tiger flirts with Vick-tory

With NBC announcers cheerleading every step of his way — as if he’d returned from war as opposed to scandal — Tiger Woods nearly won yesterday.

If he keeps it up, the TV guys and gals can apply to him the redeemed-soul nonsense they have applied to Michael Vick: Playing well is a reflection of a man’s character.

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TV’s experts, the last two seasons, congratulated the University of Miami for hiring a football coach, Randy Shannon
, who eliminated the long-standing and well-deserved image of the team as a full-ride criminal sanctuary. Last week, after a 7-5 season, Shannon was fired. Perhaps he was a poor recruiter.

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Nice job by ESPN, last week, sympathetically profiling Kyle Brotzman
, the otherwise reliable Boise State kicker made miserable by two-missed shorties vs. Nevada that cost BSU an undefeated season.

We’ve heard from priced-out Jets season ticket-holders and priced-out waiting-listers who find it noteworthy — and satisfying — that last week, at 9-2 and the Dolphins coming, this Sunday, the Jets still had to advertize that tickets are available.

Friday on MSG, Kansas State, school color Royal Purple, played basketball in black uniforms. Wednesday, UNLV, school colors scarlet and gray, played in new black uniforms.

You don’t think the sneaker companies that run NCAA programs know exactly what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and to whom, the last 20 years?

“Big Blue Hits,” weekly Giants’ show hosted by Anita Marks
on Verizon systems, last week included a chat with LB Keith Bullock
. When Marks told him that the Giants’ D is ranked first against tight ends, Bullock said, “I didn’t know that was a stat.”

ABC needs the sound of silence

We don’t ask much. When we sit down to watch a game, all we want to do is watch a game, right? So why do TV folks think that we expect more, like a headache?

Rutgers-WVU on Saturday on ABC/ESPN. Mike Patrick and Craig James attacked our good senses early, endlessly.

Six minutes into the first quarter it seemed as if we needed 30-second reminders that we’re watching a football
game.

“He’s a good football player . . . They’re a good football team. . . . They have to run the football. . . . He wants to throw the football. . . . They want to control the football game.”

In the first quarter, West Virginia WR Jock Sanders lost a fumble. After a previous fumble, James had a theme: You can’t “expose” the ball to defenders, or they’ll swat it from your grasp.

Fine. Agreed. But this is what he repeated after Sanders’ fumble even as a replay clearly showed that Sanders simply dropped
the ball — er, dropped the football
— without being touched by a defender.

“Believe What I Say, Not What You See.”

And to think that James could have chosen to say nothing. All he had to do was just let us watch what we couldn’t miss.

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Redskins-Giants on FOX yesterday: Moose Johnston
had some good points to make about offensive-line play during the second. But prior to and after that, he just talked, and talked and talked (and talked) — until he drowned himself out.

Is there no one at Fox to save us from him and him from himself?

Late in the game, Johnston, on next week’s Giants-Vikes, wrapped up a spiel about Minnesota’s QB situation with, “What is their future going forward?” Help me, Rhonda.

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Hey, Mo! Lookalikes: As seen yesterday on CBS (and suggested by many), Raiders’ coach Tom Cable
and the Three Stooges’ Curly Howard
.