I think this is the year of the reliever. Sutter and Gossage and Negro Leaguers. Blyleven could get the bump too.

The thing about guys like trammell, Rice and Dawson is the seperation between 'all-star' and 'Hall of famer'. I think all three were great players but not transcendant ones, all three were amongst the best at their positions, but never the best (excepting Dawson in '87, Trammell in '87 and Rice in '78). I actually think Rice even making it to this discussion is a little rediculous, but I'm not from New England. If Jim Rice has his career anywhere else, no one's talking about him for HoF.

I've always felt that if the Hall is going to accept guys like this, putting them on an even footing with the Ruths of the game devalues the contributions of the true greats. I'd love to hijack this thread or start a new one with a 'who are the 50 best players of all time' kind of conversation that can separate those guys from their mortal Hall-mates, but I dont want any *'s under my nick.

Gary