Somebody posted this on the CBS boards....I think it is very telling:
Ron Santo elected to Hall of Fame
1978 - Mathews
1979 - Mays
1980 - Kaline, Snyder
1981 - Gibson
1982 - Aaron, F. Robinson
1983 - B. Robinson, Marichal
1984 - Killebrew, Aparicio, Drysdale
1985 - Brock, Wilhelm
1986 - McCovey
1987 - Billy Williams, Hunter
1988 - Stargell
1989 - Yazstremski, Bench
1990 - Morgan
1991 - Carew, Perry, Jenkins
1992 - Seaver, Fingers
1993 - R. Jackson
1994 - Carlton
That's every possible year Santo could have been elected to the Hall by the BBWAA. He simply wasn't as good as these players.
However, du to the paucity of 3B in the hall, it is nice to see some 3B get recognition. The way the Hall and Vets Vote, you'd think 3B and catchers weren't part of the game.
Santo's problem was he wasn't Robinson, Schmidt, or Mathews.