Were you always for a bigger HoF? I only ask because I used to be quite the opposite, but I remember exactly when I changed my mind. It makes me wonder how other people got there.
For me, it was Buck O’Neil’s death, when it felt obvious he was going to be in one day. So why the hell not do it before the man passed? We just did the same dopey thing with Dick Allen.
Pretty much. I remember as a kid, thinking that just about anyone who you'd call a star should be in the Hall. The Hall is a celebration of their respective sport's history, not merely a memorial to the handful of people the voters liked enough to give credit to. Anyone who left an indelible (positive) mark should be part of that celebration. My main example is Don Mattingly. He had a run of six years where he was one of the most prominent stars in the game, he won a shit ton of awards, sure, he was slow as molasses, but aside from stolen bases, his career stats aren't super dissimilar from Kirby Puckett's, but Puckett was first ballot, and Mattingly languished at sub 30% for 15 years and faded away. Why? Not a goddamned clue. Another one, I defy (generic) you to explain why Joe DiMaggio wasn't a first-ballot guy.
And you can find guys like that everywhere. No disrespect to Pierre Turgeon, but would you have put him in the Hall before Alex Mogilny, if you were asked about both during their playing career? Would anyone have expected Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne to still be on the outside looking in? Or Jared Allen, or Darren Woodson, or any of a number of guys who are finalists this year (and only 5 of the 15 possible candidates are going in at all)? I will never understand the line of reasoning that the 11th best, or 6th best, or Xth best candidate every year isn't good enough, just because someone else has a shinier resume. This isn't a job interview, you have a whole goddamned page of gold star stickers, hand the f***ers out.
Ultimately, the Hall should be about the game, and all the great players and moments that make you love it. There shouldn't be a bouncer at the door saying "you must be at least this popular to ride."
