[Rodney King]

Like the DH, the closer is a specialized role that has developed in baseball's modern era. If it's an integral part of the game that these positions exist today, then shouldn't the best of them be acknowledged?

I think they are different. The DH exists solely to give old-fart home run hitters more years to hit home runs.

[BlackRazor]

I think they are different. The DH exists solely to give old-fart home run hitters more years to hit home runs.

Fair point, and one that should be considered on a player-by-player basis. But I'd say that a player who plays a substantial portion of his career as a DH shouldn't be penalized because he didn't play another position. I'm not necessarily saying they should be in the HOF, but I'd give guys like Edgar Martinez (69% of career games at DH), Harold Baines (58%) and Paul Molitor (44%) as full consideration as any player.