[Stardust]

This is an excellent post and I can agree with everything you have here. But I do think that this is still based on popularity. This year is a perfect example. Lee Smith and John Franco. Lee Smith has 50 more saves than Franco, but he did it in considerbly more years. Smith was a feel good story for many years, where Franco played for the Mets, or the New York Stepchild. Franco is the all-time saves leader for a lefthander, yet the more popular Smith got close to 60% and Franco got just over 20%. I'm not saying either deserve to be in, but there is NO WAY that the disparity in voting should have been as big as what it was.

In the case of Bernie Williams, his stats were not HOF stats, but he was what the voters want now, clean and nice guys. (Though I'd argue that the spitting Alomar is not a nice guy). Bernie by most every media person was conisdered the guy who was the glue and the true leader of the Yankees during there run in the late 90's. He not only played for the Yankees, but most Yankee fans adore Bernie as much as they do Jeter. That will mean a lot to voters.

I'm with you, it should be about who was the best during their days of playing. But if that was the case, why did Jim Rice never get voted in? It took the old-timers to finally give that guy his justice.

I would agree that Larkin needs to get the votes next year or he could wait for a while. As I stated in another thread, I hope the voters get a lot more selective in the future. The Hall should be for only the absolute best.

Using that standard, I don't think any of those becoming eligible in 2012 should ever be elected. That opens the door for Larkin.

For those becoming eligible in 2013, Piazza and Biggio stand out. Bonds and Clemens also stand out but the voters may exclude them because of drugs which is fine with me. I personally like Schilling but he isn't in the same class with the pitchers (other than Martinez) who should and will be elected in 2014 and 2015.

As for 2014, Glavine and Maddux (one of the six best pitchers of all time) are obvious Hall of Famers. Only Kent of the rest deserves serious consideration. He will get in sooner or later with my preference being much later.

Smoltz, Johnson, and Martinez (least of the three) should be elected in 2015.

Griffey is obvious in 2016.

I am a traditionalist. I think first year election should be limited to only the exceptional. Remember, the great Denton True Young wasn't elected until his second year on the ballot. And, surely we all can agree that the greatest record in all of sport is his career 511 wins.