[stylin19a]

I like your criteria...

longevity is not supposed to be HOF criteria.
However, it got Ripken 3000 hits and how do you keep 3000 hits out of the HOF.

Used to be 400 homers were a lock for HOF...not so much anymore cause there a spit load of 500+ homer guys, of which a fistful of them wont be in the HOF.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks. I agree that longevity should not be a HOF criteria, but it's hard for someone to hang around long enough to get 3,000 hits and NOT be a really good ballplayer.

Cal Ripken is probably one of the toughest ballplayers to assess in these discussions. He switched from shortstop to third base later in his career, but he probably would have been a better third baseman all along. He was very much an unconventional shortstop for his time -- tall, limited range, good power numbers at the plate, etc.