The Chicago Cubs today announced that they will retire the uniform number — #10 — worn by longtime Cubs third baseman / broadcaster Ron Santo. The special pregame ceremony will take place prior to the Cubs' Sunday, September 28 (2003), affair against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field.

Santo will become the third player to be so honored by the Cubs, joining Ernie Banks (#14) and Billy Williams (#26).

Santo, who played for the Cubs from 1960-1973 and with the White Sox in 1974, is in his 14th season as a WGN Radio color commentator in 2003.

The former third baseman won five Rawlings Gold Glove awards during his 15-year major league career. He was a nine-time National League All-Star selection, batting .277 during his career with 342 home runs and 1,331 RBIs.

"Very few players are as closely connected with a franchise as Ron Santo is with the Chicago Cubs," said Andy MacPhail, the Cubs' president and chief executive officer. "His extraordinary playing career, his rabid following as a broadcaster and his many charitable endeavors for the Chicagoland area — where he has made his home for nearly 30 years — makes his contributions to this franchise special and unique. The Cubs' organization has been privileged to have been associated with someone of the spirit and tenacity that Ron brings to both the ballpark and to life."

Santo, who was diagnosed with diabetes in his teens, is a member of the board of directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Since he began his involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation through his annual Ron Santo Walk for the Cure walk-a-thon, over $54 million has been raised for the charity.

Santo, who joined the WGN radio team in 1990, was a member of the inaugural Cubs Walk of Fame Class of 1992 and was selected to the club's all-century team in 1999.

Santo was born on February 25, 1940, in Seattle, WA. Ron and his wife, Vicki, have four children — Ron Jr., Jeff, Linda and Kelly — and one grandson — Samuel.