Political Quotes

“Mr. President, last night, Chicago and America lost a hero. Ron Santo was a Chicago Cubs legend and an inspiration to anyone who has ever faced a tough, uphill battle in life. During his 15-year career with the Cubs, Ron Santo batted .277 with 342 home runs and 1,331 RBIs. He was a nine-time All Star and a five- time National League Gold Glove winner. In each of four seasons, he batted .300, drove in 100 runs, and led the league in walks. What the public didn't know for most of his career is that he lived every day with a life-threatening illness. Ron Santo hid his diagnosis from the public for 10 years. He said he didn't want anybody to feel sorry for him. He didn't want to be held to a different standard. He wanted to be judged the same way every other ballplayer is judged--by the numbers. By that standard, Ron Santo earned his spot among the greats. We can't know how much better he might have been if he hadn't suffered from diabetes, in an era that suppressed the long ball or maybe for a team that, God bless them, never once saw postseason action, but it doesn't matter. Simply put, Ron was the best third baseman in Cubs history and maybe in the game. The last decade in Ron's life brought challenges that would have sidelined many others. In 2001, Ron lost the lower portions of both legs to diabetes. He earlier survived a bout of cancer and endured more than two dozen surgeries.…”