The debate about who is a Hall of Famer or not is one of the most heated sports debates. It happens every few weeks. This conversation can last hours regardless of the sport.
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But what exactly is a Hall of Famer anyway? Does consistency and longevity suffice? Voters seem to view each league/sport differently. The MLB and NFL voters were always more rigid when it came to deciding who should be inducted into the hall. With its generalized Hall of Fame basketball, it is possible to be just about anywhere. This is because of the players' achievements starting at the college level. Already, the NBA should have its own Hall of Fame. You can also add the WNBA. They've been around for long enough to merit this.
This can be confusing when it comes to determining who does it. Some players take so many attempts it is hard to believe. Harold Baines is an example of such a player. Baines was a player on five MLB teams for 22 seasons before retiring in 2001. Baines was a six-time All-Star and won the Silver Slugger Award. His career average of.289 was also impressive. Baines waited for his HOF invitation for almost 20 years, despite all of these accolades. He was finally elected by the Veterans Committee in 2019.
Baines is just one example of the many we have seen over time. There are many similarities between the NFL and MLB. Players who were great for a long period of time, but not stars, make up the NFL. A Twitter post recently showed a comparison between two former NFL players. Both were linebackers, one of them is in the HOF while the other has similar career statistics.
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This graphic would make it seem like London Fletcher was as successful as Ray Lewis. Fletchers was a great player for a long period of time. This is not intended to discredit Fletchers. The graphic doesn't tell the whole story. Ray Lewis was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and seven-time All-Pro. Lewis was also named Defensive Player-of-the Year twice. Fletcher was selected to four Pro Bowl teams. This is a great accomplishment, but not enough to make it into the HOF. If it's enough, we will likely have to wait a while before it happens.
Let me return to my original question about whether longevity and consistency equal HOF meritiness. It is not enough to be consistent and play for a long period of time to get in the hall. It is possible in basketball. However, it is rare in the NFL or MLB. It is not the Hall of Very Good, but the Hall of Fame. Some exceptional players aren't up to par with the best. This is exactly what a Hall of Fame is supposed to be. Many players with great careers end up having to wait years before they are eligible for the Hall of Fame. Many people who have watched Terrell Owen's career believe he should have been a first-ballot selection. However, it took him three attempts. He declined, and he held his own ceremony. Owens could not wait for three years to get elected.
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There will be a lot of debate about Philip Rivers' HOF credentials in the years to come. Rivers enjoyed a 17-year stellar career. He passed for more than 63,000 yards and threw 421 touchdown passes. He also earned eight Pro Bowl selections. Rivers was not a first-team All Pro and did not appear in any Super Bowls. Rivers, like many other QBs of his era, had some impressive numbers. For quarterbacks, winning big games is important. Rivers did not do enough of this.
Rivers' contemporary Eli Manning doesn't have the same impressive numbers. Manning had two seasons in which he threw interceptions more than touchdowns. He also led the NFL's interceptions list three times. Eli has two Super Bowl rings to his name, one for each of his legendary Super Bowl performances and two Super Bowl MVP Awards. Manning and his Giants also defeated the Patriots in both Super Bowl wins. Manning is a fascinating case. Based on his Super Bowl win and beating New England twice, I believe Eli will be elected into the HOF. Although I doubt Manning will be on the first ballot of the ballot, the second or third ballot is possible.
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I believe that HOFs should only be awarded to the best in each sport. However, I understand that humans make mistakes and that different voters may have different opinions about what is great. I can generally say that both the NFL and MLB do a good job most of the times. The NBA must stop all the nonsense. Your league's history will be the basis for your HOF. Let's get down to the NBA. It's time to get started.
