The 1980's has an inferiority complex. I grew up and became a fan of the game in that decade, so I have a soft spot for its players. The game was an exciting mix of power and speed (including some of the greatest base stealers in baseball history); there were some great playoffs, and the playing field was as level as it has ever been.

But there was a striking lack of greatness. There were no dynasties; no team won consecutive championships. There were great players, but none of the stature of a Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Barry Bonds or Babe Ruth. No one hit 50 home runs in a season. The hits leader was Willie Wilson, the wins leader was Jack Morris, and neither is going into the Hall of Fame.

Speaking of Cooperstown, the eligible BBWAA members are mailing in their ballots. It appears likely that one 80's star, Wade Boggs, will be elected; Ryne Sandberg may also have a shot on his second year on the ballot, or a reliever, probably Bruce Sutter.

Currently, there are 27 players who were active in 1980 who are in the Hall of Fame. The players from that season still have a long way to go before they match the illustrious class of 1928; 55 active players from that season were later inducted into the Hall of Fame. Some were voted in by the writers, but most were inducted by the Veterans Committee. More players from 1928 are in the Hall of Fame than from any other year.

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Mel Ott, Tris Speaker, Pete Alexander, Rogers Hornsby, Lefty Grove, Paul Waner, Frankie Frisch, Eddie Collins, Charlie Gehringer, Bill Dickey, Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, Heinie Manush, Sam Rice, Goose Goslin, Joe Cronin, George Sisler, Ray Schalk, Ted Lyons, Red Faber, Harry Heilmann, Joe Sewell, Red Ruffing, Jim Bottomley, Chick Hafey, Rabbit Maranville, Jesse Haines, Bill Terry, Fred Lindstrom, Travis Jackson, Edd Rousch, Carl Hubbell, Gabby Hartnett, Hack Wilson, Kiki Cuyler, Lloyd Waner, Pie Traynor, Burleigh Grimes, George Kelly, Eppa Rixey, Dave Bancroft, Max Carey, Al Lopez, Dazzy Vance, Chuck Klein, Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, Herb Pennock, Waite Hoyt and Stan Coveleski were all active in 1928, and all are in the Hall of Fame.

(And that's just the players in the American and National Leagues; eleven more Hall of Famers were active in the Negro Leagues. Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Willie Wells, Turkey Stearnes, Cool Papa Bell, Judy Johnson, Martin Dihigo, Pop Lloyd, Bullet Joe Rogan, Smokey Joe Williams and Bill Foster were all active in 1928, bringing the total to 66.)

If I had a ballot this year, I would vote for Boggs, Sandberg, Goose Gossage, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson, Dave Parker and Alan Trammell. I'm well aware that Parker and Trammell have no shot at getting elected, and things are looking grim each year for Blyleven, the Hawk and the Goose. If this were 1928, those five players would all be guaranteed of induction by the Veterans Committee, but that route now appears to be cut off.

But this is 2004, and the 1980's, which ended only 15 years ago, aren't getting much respect from the electors. There are a few more to go; looking into the future, I expect that Boggs, Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken, Tony Gwynn, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Tom Glavine, Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Sammy Sosa will all go in. I will also go out on a limb, and say that Pete Rose will get in eventually as well.

Players who might get elected include Gossage, Sutter, Dawson, Sandberg, Tim Raines, Fred McGriff, Edgar Martinez, Gary Sheffield, John Smoltz and Juan Gonzalez. I could also include Blyleven, Dale Murphy and Jim Rice... but does anyone really think they are going to be elected? I don't think so, not unless they are able to lead a Tony Perez-type campaign in their favour.

Here are the probable totals for each season from the 1980's:

1980

# Players Currently Inducted: 27
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, Henderson
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines
Final Total: 29-33

1981

# Players Currently Inducted: 26
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, Henderson, Ripken
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines, Sandberg
Final Total: 29-34

1982

# Players Currently Inducted: 26
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines, Sandberg
Final Total: 31-36

1983

# Players Currently Inducted: 24
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, , Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines, Sandberg
Final Total: 29-34

1984

# Players Currently Inducted: 22
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs, Clemens
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines, Sandberg
Final Total: 28-33

1985

# Players Currently Inducted: 21
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs, Clemens
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines, Sandberg
Final Total: 27-32

1986

# Players Currently Inducted: 17
Likely to be Inducted: Rose, Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs, Clemens, Bonds, Maddux, Palmeiro, McGwire
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Sutter, Raines, Sandberg, McGriff
Final Total: 26-32

1987

# Players Currently Inducted: 15
Likely to be Inducted: Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs, Clemens, Bonds, Maddux, Palmeiro, McGwire, Glavine
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Raines, Sandberg, McGriff, Martinez
Final Total: 25-31

1988

# Players Currently Inducted: 13
Likely to be Inducted: Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs, Clemens, Bonds, Maddux, Palmeiro, McGwire, Glavine, Alomar, Biggio, Johnson
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Raines, Sandberg, McGriff, Martinez, Sutter, Sheffield, Smoltz
Final Total: 26-35

1989

# Players Currently Inducted: 11
Likely to be Inducted: Henderson, Ripken, Gwynn, Boggs, Clemens, Bonds, Maddux, Palmeiro, McGwire, Glavine, Alomar, Biggio, Johnson
Possible Inductees: Gossage, Dawson, Raines, Sandberg, McGriff, Martinez, Sheffield, Smoltz
Final Total: 24-32

There is no season from the 1980's that is guaranteed to have at least 30 representatives in the Hall of Fame, and it is extremely unlikely that any season will approach 35. Compare those numbers to decades past:

(These stats all came from Bill James' book Whatever Happened to the Hall of Fame, updated where necessary)

As you can see, there are a huge number of players from the 1920's and 1930's in the Hall of Fame. It was a travesty that so many players from that era were elected, but what's done is done. I would be the last person to suggest that 66 players from 1980 should go into the Hall. But don't worry; so far, only 27 are in, and it doesn't look as if there will be many more.

Due to expansion, there are almost twice as many players in the game today as there were in 1960. There should be more great players in the game as well; baseball players are recruited from a far greater population base today than ever before. Yet, while the number of players goes up, the number who go into the Hall is going steadily downwards.

You might want to argue that the players in the 1980's weren't as great as in other decades. I will concede that there was no Willie Mays or Barry Bonds; but there were a lot of players whose skills were unique to that decade. There has never been another Ryne Sandberg, a Gold Glove second baseman who could steal 50 bases in one season, hit 40 homers in another.

No players in baseball history could dominate the basepaths like Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines. Ripken, Yount and Trammell redefined the shortstop position by hitting for power and playing good defense. Gossage and Sutter redefined the closer's role, as did Eckersley. When they retired, Nolan Ryan, Steve Carlton and Bert Blyleven were the three greatest strikeout pitchers ever.

Even if my imaginary ballot become reality, and eight players were elected this year, no season from the 1980's would have even 40 active players in the Hall; the most would probably be 38, from 1982. Only by opening the floodgates and letting in a large group of players, with the 1980's achieve equal representation in Cooperstown with past decades.

Of course, the Veterans Committee could always have its rules changed in the future, making it easier for the Dawson's and Blyleven's to get in. But why wait? There is no chance of the 1980's being overrepresented in the Hall of Fame, so let's let a few more guys in.

Anyways, here's how I would group this year's candidates:

THE CREAM OF THE CROP

• Wade Boggs - 3010 hits, lifetime .328 batting average, .415 on-base percentage.
• Bert Blyleven - fifth all-time in strikeouts, won 287 games. His career ERA and winning percentage aren't spectacular, but they're both better than Nolan Ryan's.
• Goose Gossage - the greatest relief pitcher ever. Have you checked out his 1977 season lately?
• Ryne Sandberg - apart from hitting more home runs than any other second baseman, winning nine Gold Gloves, winning an MVP Award, leading the Cubs to the playoffs for the first time in 40 years... he wasn't all that impressive.

THE BEST OF THE REST

• Dave Concepcion - a guy whose candidancy I have taken more seriously of late. A decent hitter, and a great defensive player. Revolutionized the position with his play on artificial turf.
• Andre Dawson - outstanding power and speed, and a great defensive player. A long career, and one of the most popular and admired players in the game.
• Keith Hernandez - borderline candidate, needed to last a little longer to give him a chance.
• Tommy John - won 288 games, had surgical procedure named after him.
• Dennis Martinez - the midsection of his career is missing, but the first part was good, and the last part was way good. 245 career wins.
• Don Mattingly - finished as a great player at age 28, but still an awesome personality.
• Dale Murphy - a great player from 1982-87; 398 homers, Gold Glove centre fielder. Didn't age well.
• Dave Parker - the best player in baseball 1977-79. 2712 hits, 339 homers. Won an MVP Award; five times finished among the Top Five in MVP voting. In 1977, had 26 outfield assists, including nine double plays. A drug problem killed his chances of election.
• Jim Rice - didn't do much except hit, but he could hit.
• Bruce Sutter - a great pitcher for seven years. Have you checked out his 1977 season lately?
• Alan Trammell - great player with both bat and glove. World Series MVP in 1984, the league's best player in 1987.

NOT GREAT, BUT YOU WERE PRETTY DARN GOOD

• Chili Davis - the DH gave him a second wind. Has impressive career totals, including 350 home runs.
• Steve Garvey - I have no idea why he didn't follow up on his political aspirations. He was perfectly qualified.
• Jack Morris - 80's win leader.
• Lee Smith - all-time saves leader.
• Darryl Strawberry - a great player whose career was ruined by drugs and alcohol.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES (from a Blue Jay fan)

• Otis Nixon - a guy who could run, and later in his career learned to hit a little
• Tom Candiotti - see you in 2005, Tom

WHY HAVEN'T YOU BEEN ELECTED ALREADY????

• Minnie Minoso
• Ron Santo

MISSING FROM THE BALLOT

• Ted Simmons - apparently, he played in an era when there was little appreciation for a player who hit for average, hit for power, drove in runs, and played 2000 games behind the plate.
• Lou Whitaker - Lou, what happened to the Tigers after you retired?
• Dwight Evans - at some point, it would be nice if the writers would recognize that Evans was a better player than Rice.

ONE YEAR ONLY

• Jim Abbott
• Mark Langston
• Jack McDowell
• Willie McGee
• Jeff Montgomery
• Tony Phillips
• Terry Steinbach