Legendary Cubs player and broadcaster Ron Santo died Thursday night at the age of 70.Family spokesman John McDonough confirmed to WGN in Chicago that Santo - widely regarded as one of the best players not in the Hall of Fame - died in an Arizona hospital.
WGN says the former All-Star third baseman had bladder cancer. Santo had called Cubs games on WGN since 1990.Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts released a statement:
"My siblings and I first knew Ron Santo as fans, listening to him in the broadcast booth. We knew him for his passion, his loyalty, his great personal courage and his tremendous sense of humor. It was our great honor to get to know him personally in our first year as owners. Ronnie will forever be the heart and soul of Cubs fans."Santo battled diabetes as a player and a broadcaster but always had a positive outlook. "What else am I going to do?" Santo told WGN this past season about working despite physical ailments. "Doing the Cubs games is like therapy for me."Santo was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 18 and battled a myriad of medical problems after retiring as a player. He lost both legs to diabetes.
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