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Former MLB catcher Benito Santiago loves catching up with fans at autograph sessions
Benito Santiago is one of the most iconic names in San Diego Padres history, as his 20-year major league catching career started with the Padres (1986-92) before stints with Florida, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Toronto, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati again, San Francisco, Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
He was a five-time All-Star (1989–92, 2002), the National Legue Rookie of the Year (1987), and the NLCS MVP (2002). Plus, Santiago was a three-time Gold Glove Award winner and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner (1987, ’88, ’90, ’91). He was inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 2015 along with shortstop Garry Templeton.
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Santiago’s rookie card was his 1987 Donruss (Rated Rookie) #44. It sells for about $2. Graded 9.5, it sells for about $290 on eBay.
He also appears on a 1986 Fleer Major League Prospect Rookie card (#644) with Gene Walter.
Other noteworthy early Santiago cards: 1987 Topps Traded and 1987 Fleer.
Santiago is not a memorabilia collector, though he does have limited items at home. He was never hooked on card collecting or autographs. But he is a willing signer. “I’m very happy,” when asked to sign autographs, he said.
Santiago was one of more than 150 autograph signers last summer at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Cleveland. He signed for a few hours on the first day at the I-X Center, and joined fellow baseball stars Dwight Gooden and Ellis Burks at the VIP Party.
“I was very happy to be at The National,” said Santiago, who wanted to score signatures for his collection from Pete Rose and others who he played with and against. “I like my [personal] cards, but don’t have many, just a few.”
His favorites were his rookie cards. He also appeared on a 1983 TCMA Miami Marlins Minor League Rookie Card.
Santiago was one of the premier catchers in the National League during his time with the Padres as the team signed him as a 17-year-old out of high school in Puerto Rico.
By the end of the 1986 season, the then-21-year-old Santiago was in the major leagues with the Padres and was the team’s Opening Day catcher on April 6, 1987. He was the unanimous pick as the NL Rookie of the Year and is still the only Padre to ever win the award. He hit .300 in 1987, with 33 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs and 79 RBIs.
In the final months of the 1987 season, Santiago set Padres and major league records that still stand. From Aug. 25 through Oct. 2, he hit in 34 straight games. The streak started with a three-run homer against the Montreal Expos and is still the longest hitting streak in Padres history. The second longest is a 27-game hitting streak by catcher John Flaherty in 1996.
Santiago’s 34-game hitting streak remains the Padres record, the longest ever by a major league catcher, and the longest by a major league rookie.
Ironically, it was Santiago’s play when he wasn’t standing that truly stands out. He had an amazing ability to throw out would-be base stealers at second base from his knees. His leg flaring out to the side while catching was also a Santiago trademark.
“What stands out [from my career] was that I could throw runners out, especially throwing from my knees,” he said.
Other career highlights were basic, he said, such as stealing a base or a key hit, be it a single or a home run. Plus, winning some awards over the years.
“San Diego was the place that gave me the chance to play in the majors. It is a very beautiful place, and I really enjoyed my time there,” Santiago said.
He called being named to the Padres Hall of Fame “a great honor” and one he will “truly cherish.”
In six-plus seasons with the Padres, Santiago hit .264 in 789 games with a .298 on-base percentage and a .406 slugging percentage. He had 124 doubles, five triples, 85 home runs and 375 RBIs.
He was seemingly forced to throw from his knees because the National League at the time featured such speedsters and base stealers as Tim Raines and Vince Coleman.
“I had to set myself up [to try to stop them from stealing], or they’d get the jump on me,” he said.
Nowadays, Santiago lives in Puerto Rico, enjoying time with his family, including his 7-year-old. And yes, he watches baseball on TV. His favorite players in today’s game include Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, among others.
He noted that Yadier Molina reminded him of himself, particularly defensively.
Santiago’s career spanned 1,978 games with 6,951 at bats for a .261 career batting average, 217 home runs, 920 RBI, and a .307 an on-base percentage.
