by Dominic D.

Created on: December 03, 2010   Last Updated: December 04, 2010

The year was 1969, Ron Santo and the Chicago Cubs were in first place in the National League East for 156 days, before going 8 wins and 17 losses in their final 25 games, while the 1969 "Miracle " New York Mets  went 37-11 in their final 48 games. During that season, the Chicago Cubs sent their entire starting infield, including Ron Santo, to the All-Star game in Washington, D.C. Ron Santo finished the season with a .289 batting average, 29 home runs, and a career-high 123 runs batted in, and finished fifth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting.

Ron Santo became famous for  performing a heel click after a game on June 22, 1969, against the Montreal Expos. which pleased many, but annoyed some. Going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Expos leading 6-3. With one out, second baseman Paul Popovich hit a single, and moved up to second base after another single by left fielder Billy Williams. Although Ron Santo grounded out for the second out, Popovich and Williams each moved up a base. Then a future hall of fame inductee, first baseman Ernie Banks, singled to bring home Williams and Popovich and bring the Cubs to within a run. Rick Bladt, substituted as a pinch-runner for Banks. That set it up for Cubs right fielder Jim Hickman, who hit a a two-run walk-off home run to win the game, 7-6. When Hickman reached home plate, Ron Santo was so excited that after  congratulating him with a bear hug and a pounding on the head, Ron Santo ran down the third base line and jumped three times, clicking his heels on each jump. The next day, Ron Santo walked into manager Leo Durocher's office where Leo Durocher asked him to keep clicking his heels  whenever the Chicago Cubs won at Wrigley Field to motivate the team. Ron Santo continued to do this until the Chicago Cubs began their September skid. His final click was performed on September 2, the last Cub home victory while still in first place. Ron Santo never again performed the heel click, as Cubs critics decried the routine as being synonymous with the overconfidence that many felt destroyed the The Chicago Cubs' " No one can stop us" season.

Ron Santo was born on  February 25, 1940. He spent 14 years in the Major Leagues, from 1960-74, mainly as the third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. He was a very productive player despite suffering from diabetes, a condition he carefully concealed for most of his career. Eventually, however, it necessitated

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