[kq76]

If you really want to get some of those pioneering greats in your HoF I think you really need to start electing HoFers before I think you would probably think of doing it. That way there's no more impressive competition from players who got to have longer careers. Otherwise, it's very difficult to get your head around the fact that those older greats really didn't have the same chance. That is, if you're willing to even give them a chance in the first place which I imagine many people just are not. Perhaps it's thinking, "so, other players didn't get the chance to play more due to injury or whatever else, we don't elect them so why should we elect the old fogeys?". To me however, without the play of those early greats to bring out the fans the league does not progress to its later stages. It's only right to honour the early greats.

If you do start late though and those pioneering greats are not making it then maybe you should have a special committee of the longest serving league members electing some of them as they probably have a greater appreciation of the good old early days.