Ron Santo Quotations

When you walked on the field, you felt like playing baseball. The electricity, the atmosphere, and it was always good baseball. Because it was the Cardinals, you always moved to another level. I think both teams did that. And the fans are just like Cubs fans, very knowledgeable.

We're getting closer. I believe a 5-year-old with diabetes will live long enough to be cured.

I believe very strongly - and I never brought this up as a player - but I put up, I feel, Hall of Fame numbers with diabetes. If I didn't have diabetes - nobody realizes that, when I was diagnosed at 18, even the doctors didn't know what to do about diabetes.

He's a Cub, there's no doubt about it. Not only is he a great ballplayer and a Hall of Famer, but he's a Chicago Cub.

He'd be good anywhere, but I think he'd be real good for the Marlins with those young pitchers. Joe knows how to handle a staff, and the first thing he'll do is get himself a good pitching coach he knows and trusts.

I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 18. I didn't know what it was, so I went to the library and looked it up.

Early in the season, we weren't getting guys on a lot in the top of the batting order. But Derrek was taking advantage of whatever he had. We've been doing better for him in that category in recent weeks.

Think about it -- not only is he a power hitter, but he doesn't strike out much. When he goes to the plate, in my mind, that pitcher is in trouble and that's the way he is. There's no doubt in my mind that this guy is going to put up big numbers if he stays healthy.

I've always loved this stadium, ... I'm going to miss it. I didn't like the turf, but the atmosphere was fabulous. You always felt like it was baseball here.

I've always loved this stadium. I'm going to miss it.

All 10 innings. I remember the box seats, there were people who left in the third inning. It was so hot, people were just passing out.

I truly believe the White Sox are going to win it,

It's much more difficult to do now. The pitching is diluted and so more home runs are hit. That makes that category, at least, a lot more competitive.

Oh, they'll go back, absolutely. Absolutely. Hey, they didn't stop coming, and that's a big thing.

It was against the Pirates and it was about 50 degrees,

The last thing I want is to die and then be put into the Hall of Fame. It's not because I won't be there to enjoy it, exactly. It's because I want to enjoy it with family and friends and fans. I want to see them enjoy it.

I'm a Cubbie. I'll always be a Cubbie.

I'm surprised. I would not replace it. The only thing I would do to replace this is to change the broadcast booths. I wouldn't change anything else. I'm definitely going to miss this place.

I know when we were ahead by eight games, I still felt we were ahead by eight inches, ... You're doing everything you can and things just aren't going your way. There's nothing you can do about it.

I'll talk about the '69 Cubs, but I feel bad about what's happening to the White Sox. Instead of talking about how they might lose it, let's talk about how good they are and how they are going to win it.

I know getting inducted into the Hall of Fame had to be something, but that flag is going to be hanging there after everybody is gone.

The Cardinals built their ballpark around their team -- they had speed,

There are a lot of guys who are respected but not liked.

Everything changes, money rules. In my era, if you were successful, you were going to make money, but you never worried about it.

I'm the perfect candidate to be affected by SARS. I'm highly susceptible to infections.

The last thing I ever thought would ever happen to me was losing my legs.

I've been a Cub all my life. I came up here when I was 20 years old and spent my whole career here in Chicago. I've always been an optimist; I believe you have to be in order to survive, to be honest with you - in health, with what I've been through. That's the way I am.

I think I've inspired a lot of people, and I'm one, if I get a letter and someone's in serious shape, I'll call them. I relate to these people.

I'm a Cub fan, and I sit up here and I know when we have a good team, I know when we're struggling, and it affects me just like any other fan, and I just happen to show it on the radio. I can't help it.

I want to be a homer. I'm getting paid for something that I love to do. I would do it for nothing.

Every player had a roommate for out-of-town games, so I had to slip into the bathroom early each morning and secretly take my insulin injection. I feared that if the Cubs found out and I slumped badly, they would attribute it to the diabetes and send me back to the minors - or worse, release me.

YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE TALENT IN THE WORLD, IT'S NOT GONNA GET YOU THROUGH... IT'S WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART.