Santo to sign autographs at Saturday's Chiefs game

[ryno4ever]

Ron Santo will be at the ballpark tonight. He will throw out a first pitch and sign autographs.
There will also be post game fireworks compliments of Auto Owners.

If anyone lives around the Peoria area, I highly suggest checking out Ryne Sandberg's Chiefs on Saturday night! Santo and Sandberg there...Wow it's gonna be awesome. O' Brien Field is absolutely a beautiful park and very easy to get to. I will be there and post pictures when I get back!

[ryno4ever]

Well, I'm off to Peoria...I'll post an update when I get back! Santo is only signing for an hour, so I hope to get in line early.

[ryno4ever]

I'm back. What a wonderful man. He has such a passion. I got there early enough where I was one of the first fans to get in line. I waited there for almost two hours, but it was well worth it. By the time he started to sign autographs, the line started at the left field corner and snaked almost half way around the concourse. It was in the upper 90's and so humid that sweat was running down my back just standing there! Before he signed autograpahs, he gave a presentation as part of the fundraiser in a private patio...then, right before the first pitch, they directed everyone's attention to the centerfield doors, and the music they played when his number was retired started, the doors opened, and he was driven out in a convertible around the right field to just in front of the Chief's first base dugout, where he got out and was escourted to the pitcher's mound as a parachuter carrying the American flag came from the sky. The guy parachuting is a Marine who lost both of his legs AND became the first person to re-enlist in the service after having both legs amputated. It all gave me goosebumps.

When I got up to him, he shook my hand, and I asked him how he handled the game today. He was so funny. He put the marker down and looked at me and I felt like Pat Hughes! He says "Geez... I was listening in and by the eighth inning I was so afraid that Zambrano was going to throw a no hitter and I wasn't going to be there for it!" I asked him if he would write Happy Birthday on the one for my mom (it's her birthday) and she was back sitting down. He said "well, yes, what is her name?" and totally personalized the photo! As I walked away with my dad (who took pictures), it dawned on me that Ron was probably the only Cub fan in the world NOT rooting for the no no today!

To top off the night, the Chiefs won in the 9th inning. I didn't get a lot of pix of Sandberg as he was the 3B coach and so most of my pix are from behind! On a side note, Juan Mateo is starting for the Chief's tomorrow in the last game of the first half of their season.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2393Small.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2391Small.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2378Small.jpg

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[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2398Small.jpg The picture he signed for my mom.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2403Small.jpg My poster

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2374Small.jpg

Sandberg gets interviewed before the game
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2377.jpg

[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2392Small.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/firstpitchSmall.jpg Santo throws out the first pitch

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/100_2380Small.jpg The parachuter

[ryno4ever]

Wow, it's been a couple of days since I have been on... Sunday morning, my mom woke up with no short term memory at all and has been hospitalized because of it. They are calling it Transient Global Amnesia.... she doesn't remember any events in recent history, including this trip to Peoria where Ron signed the picture for her birthday. Good news is she is now retaining new information given to her and should be fine from here on out, but the bad news is that she will probably never remember anything that she has forgotten (including her birthday trip to the Chiefs game and the birthday gift from Ron Santo!). So, this weekend, we are going to re-present the picture that Ron signed for her as a late birthday present. But, now that it is all figured out, I will hopefully be able to be here participating with everyon here at fogpog.

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

Sorry to hear that Heather. Hope everything goes well and she is Ok I couldn't even begin to imagine what that would be like. My prayers are with you and your family for a full recovery.

[ryno4ever]

Thank you... she is now out of the hospital and she is doing much better and has her immediate short term memory back, although, she will probably never remember the stuff she forgot.

[CubbyBlue10]

I went to the Chiefs game Saturday night with my wife to see Ron Santo. We were in PEPSI plaza in right field for the fundraiser where he spoke and signed autographs. He was awesome. I got two autographs, had my picture taken with him, and got to talk to him about wearing his number in high school when I played baseball. It was one of those lifetime moments for me.

I hope that your mom is okay now.

[ryno4ever]

I went to the Chiefs game Saturday night with my wife to see Ron Santo. We were in PEPSI plaza in right field for the fundraiser where he spoke and signed autographs. He was awesome. I got two autographs, had my picture taken with him, and got to talk to him about wearing his number in high school when I played baseball. It was one of those lifetime moments for me.

I hope that your mom is okay now.

Thanks...and she is doing much better, yet, she will never remember the awesome day in Peoria...they believe it may have been induced by the heat as you know just how hot is was in Peoria that day/night.

As far as Saturday goes, yes, it was a "lifetime moment".... I did see where he was speaking in the Pepsi Plaza...as I was standing in line for his autograph, I could every once in a while catch his voice when the wind blew just right. It was amazing. I hear him on the radio every day... we hear about his wife, dog, kids, granchildren, so when I finally got up to him, it was like seeing an old friend. It was absolutely awesome when he put aside the signing for just moments and talked Cubbies with me (Z's almost no hitter). He is such a wonderful man and his love and passion for the team and the game can't be matched by anyone in that Cubs organization.

[ARamfan]

Thanks...and she is doing much better, yet, she will never remember the awesome day in Peoria...they believe it may have been induced by the heat as you know just how hot is was in Peoria that day/night.

As far as Saturday goes, yes, it was a "lifetime moment".... I did see where he was speaking in the Pepsi Plaza...as I was standing in line for his autograph, I could every once in a while catch his voice when the wind blew just right. It was amazing. I hear him on the radio every day... we hear about his wife, dog, kids, granchildren, so when I finally got up to him, it was like seeing an old friend. It was absolutely awesome when he put aside the signing for just moments and talked Cubbies with me (Z's almost no hitter). He is such a wonderful man and his love and passion for the team and the game can't be matched by anyone in that Cubs organization.

I feel for your mom, and for you, Heather. It was for sure a lifetime moment, meeting an "old friend." You never know, when she gets better, she may remember it. She will no doubt know that you took her there that day and made it her special day! And of course, that is what matters. :)