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By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

Ron Santo addresses the Wrigley Field crowd during a ceremony to retire his jersey. (Amy Sternig/MLB.com)

The documentary "This Old Cub," which was filmed, produced and directed by Santo's son Jeff, follows the former Chicago Cubs third baseman through his health struggles with diabetes and is interspersed with film clips from his playing days. It will be shown Sunday on the last day of the Cubs Convention at the downtown Hilton Hotel.

Emerging Pictures, which released the movie "Hoop Dreams," is handling the distribution. Jeff Santo said the film was expected to be released in the Chicago and Phoenix areas in March.

As for Ron Santo, he was beaming on Friday. The color man on the WGN Radio broadcasts, he missed the playoffs last year to prepare for surgery to remove tumors on his bladder. It's the third straight winter that he's had to undergo an operation. The previous two years, Santo had one of his legs amputated below the knee because of complications with diabetes.

Santo, who will turn 64 in February, had missed the past two fan fests because of his operations.

"I believe that positive thinking is so important," Santo said Friday. "You've only got one other way to go. If you believe you're going to be fine, it's like invisible medicine.

"I'm probably better now than I was last year," he said. "It took me a while to get on my feet. I was walking without any aid in Arizona (at his winter home) because coming here I wanted to be ready."

The only downside was that Santo had laryngitis. It'll be hard for him to thank all of the fans who have sent cards and letters wishing him well.

"I love this convention. The fans have such a great time," Santo said despite his raspy voice. "That was my goal (to get here) and I made it."

Plus, he's excited about the 2004 season. The Cubs are the defending National League Central champs and have made some key acquisitions in the offseason.

"I thought last year was the best team I broadcast," Santo said. "I felt very strongly we were going to go all the way. I feel like we're like the Atlanta Braves. We have the young guns now. What (general manager) Jim Hendry has done is unbelievable."

The Cubs did offer Santo the option of only broadcasting home games to ease some of the strain from the travel.

"I can't do that -- I'd die," he said.

Some of the Cubs players, including pitcher Kerry Wood, called Santo before and after games during the playoffs to keep him involved. The team hung his No. 10 jersey in the dugout as well.

"When they won in Atlanta (in the NL Division Series), I wanted to be there to hug them," Santo said of the Cubs.

An emotional man -- and very resilient -- Santo has a tough time watching the movie of his life. It's all too real for him.

"I wouldn't allow a camera other than (Jeff's)," he said. "I can only watch it a couple times."

"It's about his spirit," Jeff Santo said, "and his overcoming all the adversity in his life."

And now it's up to the Cubs to help in the healing process.

"I believe we're going to get (Greg) Maddux," Santo said of the free agent pitcher, whom the Cubs have offered a two-year deal to. "I'm a positive guy. This team should win 100 games. I'm not putting any pressure on anybody, but if we stay healthy we'll be OK."

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.