As time marches on and old sportswriters begin to die and younger generation sportswriters take their place, the “reliever” section of the HOF will grow. Given that baseball has been around for approximately 165 years (Doubleday allegedly invented the game in 1839) and the modern closer has only been around for the last 30 or so years, the fact that there are only 4 “relievers” out of the 260 Hall of Famers is not surprising.

I beleive that at some point Gossage will get in as modern sportswriters acknowledge the fact that baseball has evolved and closers are an integral part of the game. As Buster Onely writes, there is probably no “magic formula” for closers in the hall. I think it will be purely a test of “was this guy so dominant that the other team looked at the scoreboard and said ‘If we don’t score now we’re done.’?” Under that standard (and purely on numbers alone) Rivera is a lock.

If guys like Gagne on Lidge go on to a long careers maintaining the dominance and intimidation factors they have now, they could (and I emphasize could) be on the track to the Hall. The questions will be about guys like Troy Percival and Trevor Hoffman. Long careers, fairly dominant, very high save totals. But are they Hall worthy? My guess is that Hoffman may eventually get in. I haven’t looked at his numbers, but my general feeling on him has always been. He comes in, the game is most likely over.