I was going to wait until tomorrow for this, but decided to forge ahead.

I would like to ask you to please take a moment to sign the petition to right a great wrong.  Ron Santo, five-time Gold Glove winning third baseman has been overlooked far too long in the Hall of Fame voting.  With statistics to be envied by many current members, Ron Santo continues to be overlooked for election to his rightful place in baseball history.  Hitting 346 home runs, major league leader in double plays six years, 366 doubles, leading the league in walks four times, as well as leading the league in triples (13) in 1964 with a lifetime average of .277, all while suffering from juvenile diabetes, Ron Santo was a humble man playing for a team that never made the playoffs during his entire career.  (Please, do not mention 1969 or the New York Mets!)

His best overall season was 1964, hitting .313, with 30 homers, 114 RBI, and a league-leading 13 triples. He followed that with three more seasons of 30 or more home runs and twice again topped 100 RBI. He enjoyed a 28-game hitting streak in 1966, and in 1967 he set a record of 393 assists at third base. He topped NL third basemen in putouts seven times, assists seven times, and double plays four times.  Yet, he can't get elected into the hall of fame.

In 2005, Ronnie came within 8 votes of being elected.  One of baseball's most respected statisticians, Bill James, also feels Ron's election is "long overdue:.

As Joe Sheehan, ESPN.com said:  "The omission of Ron Santo is the most egregious mistake ever made by the Baseball Writers Association of America. They should have inducted Santo 20 years ago, and that they overlooked him throughout his 15 years on the ballot is a shame. I sincerely hope that the new Veterans Committee rights the error quickly. It will be a boon to their credibility and a honor for a man too long left outside the hallowed halls of Cooperstown."

It doesn't matter whether you are a Cubs fan or not, or even if you are a fan of baseball.  If for no other reason than you believe in fair play, please take a moment to sign the petition supporting Ron Santo's election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

A copy of the form will be emailed to all the members of the Veteran Committee.

According to a CNN.com email alert:

-- Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. have been elected to baseball's Hall of Fame while Mark McGwire has failed to be admitted.

The Veteran Committee vote will be announced February 27 -- If you haven't already done so, please click on the link in the first post to show your support for Ron Santo.