Santo stays home

Ron Santo makes a throw for the Cubs as shortstop Don Kessinger looks on

No sooner does Major League Baseball institute its new “10-and-5” rule to protect players’ rights than Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo becomes the first player to take advantage of that rule.

The new rule allows players to veto any trade so long as they have at least 10 years of service time in the majors and five seasons with the same team.

In Santo’s case, he has been with the Cubs for 13 full seasons when 51 years ago today he rejects a trade to send him from Chicago to the California Angels for pitchers Andy Hassler and Bruce Heinbechner.

Ron Santo with the White Sox

Six days after rejecting the move to Anaheim, the 33-year-old Santo accepts a trade to the crosstown Chicago White Sox for pitchers Steve Stone and Ken Frailing, and catcher Steve Swisher.

Santo, though, lasts only one season with the White Sox, retiring after a 1974 season in which he hits only .221 in 117 games with career lows in home runs at five and runs batted in at 41.

During his 13-plus seasons with the Cubs, Santo hits 342 home runs, wins five Gold Gloves and nine times is named a National League All-Star.

Eventually, Santo reaches the Hall of Fame, where coincidentally he is elected on this day in 2011 – a year and three days after he passes away at the age of 70.