Ron Santo was more than a great baseball player and beloved Chicago sports legend.

FORBES: Cubs Icon Ron Santo Granted Baseball Immortality

It took 15 ballot failures and a couple of post-election rejections before Ron Santo made it, but he made it.

CNN: A baseball game nobody wins

As Barry Larkin and the family of Ron Santo enjoy their Cooperstown induction ceremonies, McCarver picks up the Ford Frick Award for excellence in baseball broadcasting.

FORBES: Frick Award Winner Tim McCarver Has No Peers As Baseball Analyst

And so I believe that Gil Hodges is on that ballot, along with other old-timers like Ron Santo and as well as some other folks who didn't make it in the 15 years of their normal baseball writers eligibility, but then can be elected through the other door.

NPR: Ripken Enters MLB Hall of Fame, McGwire Snubbed