I agree that Alomar belongs and he will definitely make it easily next year. I’ve never really understood the “he’s a Hall of Famer, but not a first ballot HOF “ thing, but clearly that kept him out this year.
Dawson was one of the very best players of his era and deserves to be in. In his prime, Rice was the one of the top, if not the top hitter in baseball. His prime was a little short, but he did enough to get in.
I don’t agree with the idea that if there is any doubt at all, a player does not belong. You need to closely examine borderline players and decide which side of the border they belong on.
I kind of like Bill Simmons idea of a pyramid shaped HOF, with 5 tiers with bordeline guys on the ground floor, working up to a top floor with only the most elite, all-time greats. (I think he only listed about 14 players in his top tier).
This would allow a few more debatable guys to get in, while not diminshing the accomplishments of the even greater players.
To each his own. From my perspective, borderline means “not in.” Why put em in? Why not leave the hall to the true greats about whom there is no doubt? Why put Jim Rice in the same building as Ted Williams? He doesn’t belong there. Rice to me is like Mattingly, or Puckett, or Al Oliver, or any number of very good players who were hall of fame good for a couple of years, but not hall of fame players.