This Old Cub

For 14 years, Chicago Cubs third baseman Ron Santo's never-say-die hustle endeared him to the longsuffering bleacher bums in Wrigley Field. As player, broadcaster, and fan, Santo has been a booster of the Cubs for 43 years--not an easy task, considering the fact that the team hasn't won a World Series title since 1908. Amazingly, Santo is the only career player in the history of the game to suffer from insulin-dependent juvenile diabetes, and recent years have brought multiple health problems, resulting in quadruple bypass heart surgery and the amputation of both legs. Directed by his son, Jeff Santo, This Old Cub is a rousing portrait of a man who never gives up, on or off the field. Ron talks about his baseball career, bonds formed with fans and players, the pain of losing his parents in a car crash, dealing with his handicaps on a daily basis, and his campaign to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Narrated by Joe Mantegna, the film also features memories and tributes from players like Ernie Banks and Johnny Bench, as well as longtime Cubs fans such as actors Bill Murray, Gary Sinise, and Dennis Franz. While Santo's crusade to be voted into the Hall of Fame during 2003's balloting ends in disappointment, the film ultimately makes the point that seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome in the pursuit of lifelong dreams. An alternately inspiring and sentimental look at one of the "boys of summer," this extras-laden DVD (with behind-the-scenes footage, bonus interviews, and a filmmaker's commentary) is a "must buy" for libraries in the Chicago area, and warmly recommended elsewhere. Aud: P. (S. Rees)