#10

In my opinion, he's the biggest Cubs fan that ever lived. Sure I grew up watching Harry Carey on WGN, but I became a true Cubs fan listening to Ron Santo on WGN Radio. He lived and died with the Cubs. He was unabashed and unashamed of his die-hard, unwavering love for this Chicago team. He made me a better Cubs fan, too: if Ron can get through years of ups and downs as a Cubs fan, then so could I. And when we won? Oh my gosh, such joy you never heard come through the airwaves. It wouldn't matter if we were in the middle of a 10 game winning streak, either: his joy would still be just as pure as picking up a win after a wicked losing stretch.

Yesterday, a statue was unveiled outside of Wrigley for this awesome Cubs player, fan, and announcer. It's still bittersweet that our Ron isn't in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but deep down he probably wasn't too fussed about it. He just wanted to watch Cubs ball and help other children and adults with diabetes, the disease he was afflicted with that took both of his limbs. Even through his struggles with diabetes, he seemed like and upbeat, always look-on-the-bright-side-of-life kinda guy. He was a true original.

Our wonderful son was born on December 2, 2010, just hours before Ron left this plane for a far better one on December 3. Do I have high and mighty dreams that one day our lil man will take up Ron's missing space at 3rd base? Sure I do. But what would be even cooler is if our son could share the same unbridled enthusiasm for Cubs baseball that Ronny did. Hey, maybe we could even get to hear our kid announce a game from Ron's old booth seat. Now THAT might be even better.