If you want to see an interesting comparison, look at Sandy Koufax's career numbers and Ron Guidry's. They are remarkably similar, and yet nobody considers Guidry a serious HOF candidate -- mainly because his career started late (I think he was a rookie at the age of 27) while Koufax's ended prematurely.
Guidry was awesome and was nearly unhittable for a few years. Where is he today?
I completely agree with you about Ron Guidry. I wish he would get more HOF consideration, if not actual enshrinement.