Fortunately, bartenders at Murphy’s Bleachers bar fished the items out of a dumpster and returned them to the family of Santo, who died in 2010, the Chicago Tribune reports.

“I’m glad the stuff was saved by Beth Murphy, and I’m looking forward to going to see it Saturday,” Jeff Santo, the former Cub's son, said.

Here's how the strange story unfolded: On Monday, the Cubs got rid of several banners and other items, one of which was a giant card signed by fans in 2011, just months after Santo's death. On Tuesday, the team apologized and said they had retrieved the items. Later, they backtracked and admitted they were gone.

Enter tavern owner Beth Murphy.

“I saw them when I was walking my dog,” Murphy told the Tribune. “I’m a big Ron Santo fan and I thought we should display them. At first I didn’t want the Santo family to know it was in the dumpster. But I did give them right of first refusal.”

The items are on display at Murphy's Bleachers.

“It was almost like it was displayed in the dumpster,” she said. “It was hard to miss.”

The Cubs called Jeff Santo to apologize.

“I’m sure it was just a mistake on someone’s part," he said. "I’m just wondering who my dad ticked off to put his stuff in the dumpster.”

Santo played for the Cubs from 1960 to 1973, making nine All-Star teams and winning five Gold Gloves. He later became a popular radio broadcaster for the team.

"I loved him on the radio, had never seen anyone play third base like him and loved his personality,” Murphy said.


EX-PLAYER CURTIS SENTENCED


Former major league outfielder Chad Curtis was sentenced Thursday to seven to 15 years in prison for inappropriately touching teenage girls.

Curtis was sentenced in Michigan by Barry County Circuit Judge Amy McDowell, who called the two-time World Series champion a "predator."

But Curtis, who this summer was found guilty of six counts of criminal sexual conduct, told McDowell Thursday that the three victims lied. He described himself as a Christian servant and said he and one of the victims "could write a book together someday, and it could have a positive impact on a lot of people."

According to prosecutors, Curtis, 44, sexually assaulted the girls last year when he was a volunteer weight-room strength trainer at a high school in Barry County, located between Grand Rapids and Lansing. A 16-year-old girl said he touched and kissed her breasts. Two 15-year-old girls said Curtis inappropriately touched their buttocks.

"You certainly are a threat to any community you get into," McDowell told Curtis.

One of the girls spoke during the sentencing hearing, saying Curtis was a manipulator who knew what he had done.

Between 1992 and 2001, Curtis played for the then-California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. He won the two World Series rings with the Yankees.


ROSS UNDERGOES SURGERY


Padres pitcher Tyson Ross has had surgery on his non-throwing shoulder and is expected to be OK for spring training.

The Padres made the announcement Thursday, a day after the right-hander had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.

The 26-year-old Ross went 3-8 with a 3.17 ERA this season. He pitched in 35 games, including 16 starts.

San Diego got Ross from Oakland in a trade last offseason.

KELLY IN GAME 3

Joe Kelly is going to start Game 3 of the NL division series for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Manager Mike Matheny made the announcement Thursday prior to the opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kelly appeared to be the likeliest choice given rookies Shelby Miller and Michael Wacha were set to be available out of the bullpen in Game 1.

Kelly was 10-5 with a 2.69 ERA and was perhaps the strongest link in the rotation for about a month-and-a-half.

Contributors: Justin McGuire, The Associated Press