RBI gets some well deserved respect. Of the 32 HOF candidates mentioned, 19 are RBIers:
The complete ballot (x-first time eligible): Bert Blyleven, x-Joe Carter, Dave Concepcion, x-Danny Darwin, Andre Dawson, x-Doug Drabek, x-Dennis Eckersley, x-Jim Eisenreich, x-Cecil Fielder, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Keith Hernandez, Tommy John, x-Jimmy Key, x-Dennis Martinez, Don Mattingly, x-Kevin Mitchell, x-Paul Molitor, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, x-Randy Myers, Dave Parker, x-Terry Pendleton, Jim Rice, x-Juan Samuel, Ryne Sandberg, Lee Smith, x-Dave Stieb, Bruce Sutter, x-Bob Tewksbury, Alan Trammell, Fernando Valenzuela.
Look for Sandberg and Molitor to get in...
Molitor, Sandberg and Mattingly.
Sandberg, Molitor, Eckersley, & maybe Lee Smith. Although one of the relievers may hurt the other's chances. It could easily be neither that get in because the vote gets split between them & Sutter & Gossage.
Personally I would say those four get in. There is a small chance that another pitcher may make it, either Morris (those idiots that can only think about that game 7 he pitched), or a smarter choice: Blyleven.
Mike
Oh and I'll add one dark horse for 2005, Pete Rose.
Mike