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warshawlawMolitor had a long career of excellence and ended up near the pinnacle of the game for hits. Of all the "clubs", I think 3,0000 hits and 300 wins are really the gold standards and that anyone who reaches those levels deserves to be in the Hall. You just cannot inflate wins or hits the way you can homers or K's.
Eck's selection was more likely than the other relievers on the ballot given the evolution of the game. He is the first true modern style closer to make it into the HOF. Wilhelm was an anomaly and Fingers was a transitional figure between the old school reliever and the newer relievers, as can be seen from his record. For that reason, I do not see Gossage, Lyle, or any other 1970's and early 1980's relievers getting into the HOF any time soon. They are sort of lost in the transition between types of games. The later relievers who are not in (Sutter, Smith, etc.) lack the winning team panache that Eck enjoyed. What is really interesting to me is what Eck's selection means for the future. Mariano Rivera has to be considered a strong HOF candidate now, as will Smoltz if he continues on his current path, and what about Gagne if he continues soldiering on as he has been?