University Southern California Trojans
USC Baseball Great Tony Santino Dies at 89
February 26, 2024 | Baseball
LOS ANGELES – One of the greatest hitters in USC baseball history, Tony Santino, passed away this past December just four months away from his 90th birthday. He was in good health until the end and passed away peacefully in his sleep at home.
Santino was a three-year letterman (1954-56) who earned all-conference honors all three seasons and all-region honors twice under legendary coach Rod Dedeaux. His .362 career batting average is still fifth all-time in USC history.
Santino began his career as a first-baseman before moving to centerfield his last two seasons. He led the Trojans in batting average in 1954 (.338) and in runs scored in 1955 (27). His .393 average in 1955 is still the 10th best single season average in Trojan history and he was named the CIBA League MVP that same season after hitting .438 in league play.
Following his collegiate career, Santino went on to play in the Milwaukee Braves organization for three seasons. During that time, he compiled a career batting average of .281 with 8 home runs and 71 RBI in his 306-game career with the Visalia Cubs, Fresno Sun Sox and Lewiston Broncos. During his third and final season with Lewiston, Santino hit .321 with 3 home runs and 33 RBI in 128 games. During his time in the minors, he was added to the 40-man Major League roster twice, but elected to end his baseball career rather than remaining under contract with the club for 3 more years.
Santino was recruited out of the Bay Area by Dedeaux, where he attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in the heart of San Francisco. As a four-year varsity starter, he led Sacred Heart to three City Championships and batted a remarkable .500 his final season. The Bay Area Sportswriters named Santino the top player in the Bay Area his senior year and he was presented with the Joe Devine Memorial Trophy by Ty Cobb in 1952. Santino was later inducted into the Sacred Heart Prep Hall of Fame and in 2003 was named to the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame, with Mayor Willie Brown declaring May 21, 2003 "Anthony 'Tony' Santino Day" in the city.
Following his illustrious baseball career, Santino had a very successful business career in TV broadcast commercial sales, which spanned over 30 years. He began working as an account executive for KTTV in Los Angeles and after two years, he was transferred to New York with KTTV. During his three-year stint in New York, Metromedia purchased KTTV. This transaction enabled Santino to return to his childhood roots, as he was promoted to sales manager by Metromedia and offered the opportunity to open an office in San Francisco to represent KTTV and several other TV stations it owned in major markets. During his time in San Francisco, Metromedia decided to hire KATZ Communications to represent its television stations for them. Upon taking over, Santino continued to run the office for KATZ, and he was promoted to Vice President, a position he held for the remainder of his broadcast career.
Even more significantly following his final season in professional baseball, Santino met the love of his life, Mary Lou, whom he was married to for over 50 years, until she passed away in August of 2014.
He is survived by his three children: Todd Santino, Cara Ladrech, and Michelle Isaak, and his eight grandchildren. All three of Santino's children were graduates of USC. Todd was a member of the baseball team in the mid-1980's, and his sister, Michelle, played on the women's basketball team in the early 1990's.
Santino resided most of his life in Marin County, Calif. where he and his wife raised their children. Three years ago, he decided to relocate to Arizona to be near his son and their family until his passing.
Gallery: (2-19-2024) Tony Santino
Santino was a three-year letterman (1954-56) who earned all-conference honors all three seasons and all-region honors twice under legendary coach Rod Dedeaux. His .362 career batting average is still fifth all-time in USC history.
Santino began his career as a first-baseman before moving to centerfield his last two seasons. He led the Trojans in batting average in 1954 (.338) and in runs scored in 1955 (27). His .393 average in 1955 is still the 10th best single season average in Trojan history and he was named the CIBA League MVP that same season after hitting .438 in league play.
Following his collegiate career, Santino went on to play in the Milwaukee Braves organization for three seasons. During that time, he compiled a career batting average of .281 with 8 home runs and 71 RBI in his 306-game career with the Visalia Cubs, Fresno Sun Sox and Lewiston Broncos. During his third and final season with Lewiston, Santino hit .321 with 3 home runs and 33 RBI in 128 games. During his time in the minors, he was added to the 40-man Major League roster twice, but elected to end his baseball career rather than remaining under contract with the club for 3 more years.
Santino was recruited out of the Bay Area by Dedeaux, where he attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in the heart of San Francisco. As a four-year varsity starter, he led Sacred Heart to three City Championships and batted a remarkable .500 his final season. The Bay Area Sportswriters named Santino the top player in the Bay Area his senior year and he was presented with the Joe Devine Memorial Trophy by Ty Cobb in 1952. Santino was later inducted into the Sacred Heart Prep Hall of Fame and in 2003 was named to the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame, with Mayor Willie Brown declaring May 21, 2003 "Anthony 'Tony' Santino Day" in the city.
Following his illustrious baseball career, Santino had a very successful business career in TV broadcast commercial sales, which spanned over 30 years. He began working as an account executive for KTTV in Los Angeles and after two years, he was transferred to New York with KTTV. During his three-year stint in New York, Metromedia purchased KTTV. This transaction enabled Santino to return to his childhood roots, as he was promoted to sales manager by Metromedia and offered the opportunity to open an office in San Francisco to represent KTTV and several other TV stations it owned in major markets. During his time in San Francisco, Metromedia decided to hire KATZ Communications to represent its television stations for them. Upon taking over, Santino continued to run the office for KATZ, and he was promoted to Vice President, a position he held for the remainder of his broadcast career.
Even more significantly following his final season in professional baseball, Santino met the love of his life, Mary Lou, whom he was married to for over 50 years, until she passed away in August of 2014.
He is survived by his three children: Todd Santino, Cara Ladrech, and Michelle Isaak, and his eight grandchildren. All three of Santino's children were graduates of USC. Todd was a member of the baseball team in the mid-1980's, and his sister, Michelle, played on the women's basketball team in the early 1990's.
Santino resided most of his life in Marin County, Calif. where he and his wife raised their children. Three years ago, he decided to relocate to Arizona to be near his son and their family until his passing.
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